It seems that Team Valor International has found themselves another good Kentucky Derby contender! Cerro, an Irish-bred colt trained by Graham Motion, showed a great deal of promise in winning a nine-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park by 2 1/2 lengths.
Ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Cerro got off to an excellent start and quickly assumed command of the lead, setting fractions of :23.69 and :46.64 while being tracked by Wild Billum. El Gran Joyful, Sky Captain, and El Duro were next in line, while Craving Carats trailed the field.
Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.65 seconds, Sky Captain moved up to challenge Cerro for the lead, but the front-running colt had something left in the tank, turning back Sky Captain's challenge and opening up a 2 1/2 length lead, which he maintained to the wire. The final time was 1:50.29 seconds.
Sky Captain finished second by three lengths over El Duro, while Wild Billum, El Gran Joyful, and Craving Carats completed the order of finish.
The winner, a son of Mr. Greely out of the Giant's Causeway mare Ballette, has now compiled a record of 2-0-1 from five starts, with earnings of $46,125.
-Keelerman
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