Crevalle D’Oro rallies to win the Suwannee River, Gulfstream Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Crevalle d’Oro, a 4-year-old filly purchased for $500,000 at the Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale six weeks ago, began paying dividends Saturday when she rallied down the stretch to win the $150,000 Suwannee River, a prep for the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) here Jan. 24.
A daughter of Constitution trained by Jose D’Angelo, Crevalle d’Oro is a Kentucky-bred who won four of 18 starts and was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Nov. 1 Goldikova (G3) at Del Mar before being purchased at Keeneland by TCC Stables LLC and Michael and Jules Iavarone.
“She arrived in excellent condition from the sale from [trainer] Lauren Robson,” D’Angelo said. “It was hard for her became she traveled from Kentucky to California and California to the sale, so we gave her some time to recover from the trips. This went very well today.
“She’s a special horse. You can see it just from her walk. We were pointing to this race trying to get to Pegasus Filly and Mare. I think it worked perfect.”
It was Leo Toro who broke on top before Spinning Colors took the lead past :21.98 quarter and :45.39 half. Sitting fourth along the rail down the backstretch, jockey Jorge Ruiz tipped Crevalle d’Oro three-wide entering the stretch and drove past a game Movin’ On Up in the final strides.
Reef Runner Returns to Win Janus
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Reef Runner, making his first appearance since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), took advantage of a hot pace and a patient ride by Tyler Gaffalione to win the 10th running of the Janus, covering a firm five-furlong turf course in :54.18 while drawing away to a one length victory over And Uwish.
Coppola, the favorite and pacesetter, finished third in his first race for trainer Dale Romans in four months.
Trained by David Fawkes, Reef Runner has four wins in 11 turf races at Gulfstream and has never been worse than third. In the Janus, while Coppola raced off to an opening quarter in :21.67 and a half in :42.63, Gaffalione sat back sixth in the eight-horse field before rallying down the middle of the course and taking the lead inside the final 50 yards.
“I got a little nervous when it looked like Coppola got a comfortable lead, but he’s been off a while,” Fawkes said. “[Reef Runner] ran his race. I think the middle fractions might have helped. They went 42 [seconds] in the middle. He’s got a strong kick when he’s ridden right.”
A trip to Saudi Arabia might be next for Reef Runner. “If they invite us,” Fawkes said, “we’ll go.”
Ms. Bucchero Rallies Inside to Win Sugar Swirl
Ms. Bucchero, owned and trained by Diane Morici, rallied along the inside down the stretch to win the 43rd running of the Sugar Swirl by 1 ½ lengths, covering six furlongs on the main track in 1:09.47.
Nic’s Style was second while favorite and defending champion Mystic Lake was third.
A 5-year-old mare by Bucchero, Ms. Bucchero has now won 10 of 19 starts and more than $400,000. The mare has been worse than third only five times in her career.
Ms. Bucchero raced second along the inside past an opening quarter of :22.48 but was back to fourth after slightly checking under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. approaching the turn. But the mare charged back along the inside down the stretch for her ninth win in 15 starts at the distance.
“She checked there for a second, and I thought we were in a little trouble,” said assistant trainer Colton Moore. “She just came back and fought. She has been training like I’ve never seen her train before. She’s why you come here every single day and do this.”
