Set takes the Cutler Bay to make his a record a perfect for 2-for-2 (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.— Set, an impressive maiden winner when making his debut last month, continued to impress Saturday when he drove home under Emisael Jaramillo to win the $125,000 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park.
The Cutler Bay, for 3-year-olds at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf, was part of a blockbuster 14-race program featuring 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.425 million in purses anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa.
Owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Mark Casse, Set, a son of Oscar Performance, raced second behind King Julien through an opening half mile in :47.83. After drawing alongside the leader approaching the final turn, Set took the lead entering the stretch and drove home while covering the distance in 1:28.10. Double Your Money was second and Salvattore Prince was third.
I knew [King Julien] was coming out of a five-furlong race, so I allowed him [to go to the front],” Jaramillo said. “I put my horse in position and then when I asked him he responded very well. He is an extremely fast horse, but he was still running at the end.”
“He trained really well going into his first race, and we were pretty high on him,” said Casse’s assistant Nick Tomlinson. “We weren’t 100 percent sure if he was fit enough but he still got there. He trained wonderfully again coming into this race. Jaramillo came into the paddock and said that there was some speed on the inside. I said, ‘It’s up to you. You know him best.’ He sat off them, made a nice run and kept on with it.”
“He’s a lovely horse. I think as everybody knows Graham [Motion] had him before us and he gave him a lovely foundation, so a lot of the credit has to go to his crew, as well. Lovely horse, bright future, and we’re excited to see what happens.”
