Gulfstream Park’s leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. ruled Saturday’s $75,000 Mr. Steele, finishing first, second, and third in the 1 1/16-mile turf event.
Sir David Seale’s Renaisance Frolic beat stablemate Max K.O. by a nose while Noble Indy, Joseph’s pacesetter, held the show.
Renaisance Frolic, a 6-year-old by Paynter ridden by Edgard Zayas, covered the firm course in 1:40.87. Bred by Stride Rite Racing Stable, Inc. he was foaled & raised at Hidden Farm in Paris, Kentucky and is also graduate of Hidden Brook sales program.
While Noble Indy set an opening quarter in :23.59 and half in :48.32, Zayas rated Renaisance Frolic along the inside before moving four-wide around the final turn after Caribou Club took a narrow lead into the stretch. But Renaisance Frolic came flying outside of Max K.O. to get up in time. Caribou Club finished fourth and Vow Me Now, who lacked room entering the stretch, was fifth.
A winner of nine races, three blackype races and $463,396, Renaisance Frolic was making his second start since finishing second in March in the Grade 3 Appleton. The gelding finished third May 31 to Chuck Willis, the 2-1 favorite in Sunday’s $175,000 Grade 2 Connaught Cup at Woodbine.
-edted from www.PaulickReport.com
