Peter Walder With Fast Pass
Paradise Farms Corp. and Walder Racing’s Fast Pass rallied from last to score a dominating victory in Race 8 feature on Wednesday’s New Year’s Day card at Gulfstream Park.
“I think we’ve got to step it up next time. We’re looking at the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship,” trainer Peter Walder said.
The $100,000 six-furlong Grade 3 stakes is scheduled for Feb. 22.
Fast Pass ($7) had previously finished second by a nose to Brother Chub in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Express at Gulfstream Dec. 7, two months after running in the $838,000 Korea Cup Sprint, in which he finished far back.
The 7-year-old gelded son of Successful Appeal broke sharply but dropped back to last, trailing his five rivals into the far turn as Travy Boy and Whyruawesome vied for the lead past fractions of 22.76 and 45.44 seconds for the first half mile. Fast Pass made a wide sweeping move on the turn into the homestretch under apprentice Cristian Torres and stormed through the stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths going away.
“I wasn’t worried when I saw those two horses hook up in the first quarter, even though it was slow. A lot of people would have panicked when he was way back there, but I knew my horse,” Walder said. “As awesome as he ran today, if I had one more work in him last time he would have won the Claiming Crown. That hurt.”
Fast Pass, who won the Open Lead Stakes during the Summer Meet, ran six-furlongs in 1:10.28 in the optional claiming allowance.
Who’s Hot: In addition to winning aboard Fast Pass in Race 8, apprentice Cristian Torres won Race 4 with Cabre ($5).
Paco Lopez rode back-to-back long shot winners Wednesday, scoring aboard Golden Note ($25.80) in Race 6 and Go Poke the Bear ($22.40) in Race 7.
Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot: $1,322,193.03
