U. S. S. O’Brien Sails Home in Golden Beach

U.S.S. O’Brien ($9) cruised to a front-running victory in Wednesday’s $50,000 Golden Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, but trainer Kathy Ritvo hasn’t always had smooth sailing with the temperamental 3-year-old filly.

The daughter of Empire Maker bolted after the saddle slipped at Gulfstream in June in her first start after being purchased by Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and also proved a most difficult filly to train in the mornings.

After seeking advice and help from fellow trainer Wesley Ward, who personally galloped the filly to get a better understanding of her behavior, Ritvo returned U.S.S. O’Brien to the races on Sept. 11, and she responded with a professional 5 ¾-length triumph in an entry-level optional claiming allowance. The abundantly talented filly earned a chance to make her stakes debut in the one-mile Golden Beach, and she came through with a dominating victory by 2 ¼ lengths. 

The second straight victory didn’t come without its uneasy moments. U.S.S. O’Brien unseated jockey Manoel Cruz in the walking ring and again in the post parade, but she came through with model behavior during the race and in the winner’s circle.

“She’s got a lot of talent. Kathy’s worked real hard and gone real slow with her to get her comfortable. She has a mind of her own, which you could see out there, and she gets a little mad. She wants it her way. As Kathy says, ‘If she thinks it’s her idea, she’s OK with it,’” said Dean Reeves, whose stable campaigned 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Mucho Macho Man. “But she has a tremendous amount of talent and we were really impressed with her race.” 

U.S.S. O’Brien broke alertly to assume a quick lead and never looked back under a confident Cruz, completing the mile in 1:37.19.

“Wesley has helped with the filly. He’s been a huge help in getting the filly turned around, and I’ve learned a lot. She’s back on the right track,” Ritvo said. “To see her run like that, for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Dean and Patti, is great and it’s great for the filly.”

Flutterby made a determined bid leaving the turn into the homestretch under Luca Panici but was no match for the winner through the stretch. You Never Learn finished third, another 8 ¼ lengths back.

                        Thursday’s Super Hi-5 Carryover Stands at $68,108.25

The Super Hi-5 Carryover stands at $68,108.25 for Thursday’s program. The $1 base exotic wager, which requires the bettor to correctly select the first five finishers in order in the last race, paid off Wednesday on the first two finishers ($137.40).         

Thursday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot pool will be $33,149.90. The Rainbow 6 paid off on five of six winners Wednesday, returning $2,188 to multiple ticketholders.

                  Late Pick 4 will offer $100,000 Guaranteed Pool Saturday and Sunday

The Late Pick 4 will offer a guaranteed pool of $100,000 on Saturday and Sunday. The Late Pick 4 spans Race 7 through Race 10.

In addition, the 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover pool will be guaranteed at $50,000 on Saturday and Sunday and the 50-cent Pick 5 will also offer a guaranteed $50,000 pool both days.

Who’s Hot:  Jockey Paco Lopez scored back-to-back victories aboard Black Jet ($7.80) in the sixth race and Party Til Dawn ($6.80) in the seventh.

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $33,149.90

Super Hi-5 Carryover: $68,108.25