Uno Mas Modelo 'just kept going' for Claiming Crown win
Loooch Racing Stables’ Uno Mas Modelo overcame a troubled start to capture Saturday’s $110,000 Rapid Transit, closing from last to register his fifth victory in his last six starts.
The Rapid Transit, a seven-furlong sprint for horses that raced for a claiming price of $16,000 or lower, kicked off the nine-stakes $1.1 million Claiming Crown on opening day of the 2018-2019 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.
Uno Mas Modelo, whose only loss in his last six starts came in an off-the-board finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park Sept. 29, left the gate several lengths behind the field before steadily make up ground on the backstretch. Swung to the outside by jockey Albin Jimenez on the far turn, the 5-year-old gelding made a sweeping move leaving the turn into the homestretch before launching a protracted stretch drive to prevail by a neck.
“We planned to be up close but the horse was moving a little bit in the gate before the break and we got a bad break. He broke in the air and we missed a lot right there. So, I just got him relaxed down the backside and tried to make one move and that’s what we did,” Jimenez said. “I could see the other horses were pretty tired and my horse just kept going.”
Magnifier, who set fractions of 22.75 seconds, 45.61 and 1:11.09 while showing the way into the stretch under Paco Lopez, held second, a lengths ahead of late-closing Nominal Dollars.
Uno Mas Modelo, the 4-5 favorite who was coming off a victory in the Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs, ran seven furlongs in 1:25.23 to win his eighth race of the year.
“He kept coming – he’s something,” trainer Anthony Quartarolo said. “At the beginning of the race, I said, ‘He has a lot to overcome. Let’s see if he can do it.’ He did.”
Appealing Future Looking Good in Express Victory
Jon Marshall’s Appealing Future was the recipient of a picture-perfect trip in Saturday’s $110,000 Express, parlaying a ground-saving journey at Gulfstream into a narrow victory in the six-furlong sprint for horses that have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or lower.
The 4-year-old home-bred gelding, who once ran for a $5,000 claiming price, captured his third straight victory after scoring back-to-back optional claiming allowance wins at Parx.
“We didn’t have too much to do with him here in South Florida; they had him prepared with our team up at Parx, which is a huge effort to them. He shipped here about three weeks ago and they took care of the job. He came ready to run,” said Tyler Servis, trainer John Servis’ son and assistant. “I told (jockey) Nik (Juarez), being in the two hole, just to use him enough to hold his position, let him take a little breather and make one good run.”
Sent to post at 5-2 in a field of 14, Appealing Future was involved with the early pace before Juarez eased him back to save ground behind the pacesetters, Harryhee and Small Fortune. Juarez continued to save ground on the turn into the homestretch before easing the son of Successful Appeal out to the two-path at the top of the stretch. Appealing Future responded with a strong stretch drive and held off the late-run of Brother Chub by a neck. Fast Pass rallied late to finish third, two lengths farther back.
Appealing Future ran six furlongs in 1:12.16 to win his ninth race in 23 career starts.