Tudox Expectations gets the jump on Hazit in Roar Stakes

Tudox Expectations got the jump on Hazit leaving the turn into the homestretch in Saturday’s $75,000 Roar Stakes at Gulfstream Park and held on late to register a half-length victory over the heavily favored rival who had registered a victory over 2018 Kentucky Derby contender Good Magic last year.

The Pennsylvania-bred son of Any Given Saturday ran seven furlongs in 1:23.63 to register his first stakes victory in a field reduced to six 3-year-olds by the early scratches of King Humor, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, and My Chinumado.

Ridden by Willie Martinez, Tudox Expectations rated off the early pace set by Aequor and pressed by Hazit, the 1-2 favorite ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. The Ron Potts-trained colt advanced on the far turn before unleashing a sweeping move around the leaders on the turn into the homestretch. Hazit, who failed to respond to urging on the final turn, got untracked in the stretch and came back to come within a half-length of the winner while finishing a neck clear of Transistor and jockey Edgard Zayas.

“It set up well for him,” said Potts, whose trainee was sent to post as the 5-1 third betting choice. “He broke well as he always does. Willie just sat and let the speed go, worked his way outside, got up close at the quarter pole, and once he asked him to run, he was home free.”

Tudox Expectations won two of his first three career races over Presque Isle Downs’ synthetic track before finishing in the money in his next three starts over the main track at Parx to conclude his juvenile campaign. In his 2018 debut, he finished an even third behind King Humor in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream April 1.

“I think this is a horse that’s going to want to go two turns down the road. Being a Pennsylvania bred, we’ll be going up to Pennsylvania and we’ll be working with Pennsylvania-bred company and 3-year-olds up there,” Potts said. “Hopefully, he progresses, but we’re happy with where is at right now for sure.”