Spring Up captures Mecke Handicap

Gary Barber’s Spring Up called upon his back class to capture Sunday’s $50,000 Mecke Handicap at Gulfstream Park by three-quarters of a length under a perfectly judged ride by Miguel Vasquez.

The Grade 1-placed 7-year-old gelding was rated in second along the backstretch, more than 10 lengths behind pacesetting Diamond Bachelor, who set swift fractions of 23.53 seconds and 46.87 during the first half mile of the 1 1/8-mile overnight handicap on turf. Vasquez, who picked up the mount Sunday morning, asked the son of Spring at Last for his run entering the far turn and the veteran turf runner responded, taking over the lead at the top of the stretch and holding off a late run by Galleon Mast.

“That horse [Diamond Bachelor] has so much speed and our horse was so far back, but Miguel rode a great race,” said Nick Tomlinson, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “We’re so happy to get a win. This horse is a barn favorite.”

Spring Up ($9.80) ran 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf course in 1:46.48. Galleon Mast finished a length ahead of Two Step Time, the 6-5 favorite who was never a serious factor. Diamond Bachelor faded to fourth.

Spring Up, who finished third in the 2014 Eddie Read (G1) at Del Mar, had previously captured a June 22 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while coming off a 10-month layoff.

“I’m so happy to see him get a win,” Tomlinson said. “It’s a pleasure to watch him train. It’s a pleasure to watch him in the morning. Everybody loves him. He’s so good to us.”