Stat stamped himself as a three-year-old of very high caliber when he drew off in the Gulfstream Park homestretch to win a one-mile allowance optional claiming race by 6 1/4 lengths.
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Stat got off to an excellent start and settled into the second position early on behind even-money favorite Scatter Joy, who set an good pace of :24.05 and :46.98. Bellefire was racing behind them in third, followed by Space Race and Junior Officer.
The positions remained relatively unchanged as the field moved down the backstretch, but around the turn Stat moved up strongly to take over the lead from Scatter Joy and was in front by a length following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.03. Isutalkintome was making an eye-catching move on the far outside, but proved no match for Stat in the stretch, who drew off powerfully under a strong ride to win in impressive fashion, stopping the clock in 1:35.90.
Isutalkintome finished second, 3 3/4 lengths clear of Scatter Joy, while Bellefire, Space Race, and Junior Officer completed the order of finish.
-Keelerman
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