BY BROCK SHERIDAN
In the second race of the year for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park and the first open to colts and geldings, Amy E. Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Squire came from off the pace to win a $68,000 maiden special weight by a neck, making it two-for-two for Florida-breds in juvenile races in South Florida this year.
Florida-bred Mythical won a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park Thursday.
Ridden to victory by Joe Bravo, Squire settled mid-pack after being bumped at the start to race almost six-lengths behind the front-running pair of Florida-bred Chance to Party and Street Player, who had sprinted well clear of the field heading into the turn. Chance to Party and Street Player were still four lengths in front of Beers On Me through two furlongs in a prompt :22.06 as Squire began to get under way in fifth while racing three-wide. Turning for home, Squire and Beers On Me hit the front on the outside of the two early leaders then dueled to the finish.
“I breezed this horse a couple times for Patrick. He had high hopes,” Bravo said. “He broke good. We always knew he’s not the fastest leaving the gate, so I really couldn’t panic as long as I knew he had something to run at, and he did. When he made the lead he kind of waited on other horses.”
Squire completed the four-and-a-half furlongs in :54.11 with Beers On Me second, three-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Chance to Party in third. Florida-bred Vito’s Wildcat, the 6-5 favorite, was fourth followed by Florida-bred My Favorite Bird, Sleeper Sullivan, Street Player, then Florida-breds Luna Estrella, Housebuster Dude and Triple Stitched. Florida-bred Jalapeno was scratched while Florida-bred Bowie and Sir Lomax did not draw into the race off the also-eligible list.
“We’re trying to prepare him for the [$100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile] here May 10. I think this was a good indication from him. He’s going to go longer. We’re very happy with him,” Biancone said. “Turf is better. Leinster was a turf horse,” Biancone said. “But they’ll go everywhere. Good horses go everywhere.”
Squire paid $7.20 to win.
Squire is the second winner for Pleasant Acres Stallions’ freshman sire Leinster, who was also represented by Keeneland maiden special weight-winner Lennilu on April 6.
Bred in Florida by Amy and Ciaran Dunne, Squire is the second winner from three starters for the Lucky Pulpit mare Saudi Chroma, who also produced multiple stakes-placed Florida-bred Fun Money, by Mrazek.
Squire earned $50,000 in victory, including money from the Florida-bred Incentive Fund and bonus money from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association as he is fully registered for the lucrative FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program.
Return to the April 18 issue of Wire to Wire
