Saturday, February 25, 2012

A THREE-YEAR-OLD TO WATCH: OUR ENTOURAGE

Add one more name to your list of promising Todd Pletcher-trained three-year-olds: Out Entourage. The son of Street Cry stamped himself as a young runner of high caliber with an impressive victory in a 1 1/16th miles allowance optional claiming race on the turf this afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, the colt got off to a good start and settled into second place early on as Film Shot set a good pace of :23.88 and :47.60. Throughout the race, Our Entourage gave the impression that he was just sitting and waiting to pounce; that his stretch bid would be one of impressive strength and dominance. That turned out to be exactly the case.

Rounding the final turn Our Entourage moved up to confront Film Shot for the lead and gained it following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.88. From then on, the race was his. Our Entourage burst clear of the field by running a fourth quarter in :23.32, and while several horses turn in impressive late bids, they could not seriously cut into Our Entourage's lead, as the colt turned in a final sixteenth in :5.65 to hit the wire in front by about a length in 1:40.85.

Easy Crossing finished second, followed by Gold Megillah and Buzz the Deputy. Owned by Repole Stable of Uncle Mo fame, it should prove quite interesting to see whether Our Entourage is kept on the turf, or if his connections will try him on dirt in an effort to join the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trail.

-Keelerman

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