El Padrino closed in strongly from just off the pace to win a one mile and a sixteenth, $53,500 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park.
Under a perfect ride by Javier Castellano, the son of Pulpit settled into the fourth position early on as longshot Bartolome set the pace. He was being tracked by Take Charge Indy and Casual Trick, with El Padrino in a pocket right behind them on the rail. They were being followed by Big Screen and Gaelico, while A Boy Named Em -- after a slow start -- was back in seventh, leading only In the Beat and Argentine Tango entering the backstretch.
The early pace over the sealed good track was a good one, as Bartolome ran an opening quarter mile in :23.49 and a half-mile in :47.12. Then Take Charge Indy made a bold move to take over the lead and opened up on the field, coasting away through three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.95 to lead by 2 1/2 lengths around the second turn. But he would not be alone for long, as Castellano had guided El Padrino to the outside and was asking his colt to run down the leader. As the field entered the homestretch, it appeared as though a tremendous stretch battle was in the making, for Take Charge Indy was still going strongly. But in the blink of an eye, El Padrino had blown right by the leader and continued on strongly to the finish to win by two lengths, stopping the clock in a good 1:42.68.
Take Charge Indy finished at least ten lengths clear of third-place finisher Argentine Tango, who came on strongly to defeat Big Screen for third. A Boy Named Em, In the Beat, Bartolome, Casual Trick, and Gaelico trailed the field.
El Padrino is trained by Let's Go Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher. The Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) or the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) could be logical options for his next start.
-Keelerman
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