BY BROCK SHERIDAN
MARCH 22, 1982—In his fourth career start, Florida-bred Star Gallant kept his perfect record intact with a four-length victory in the $91,050 Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at Gulfstream Park.
Distinctive Pro broke on top in field of nine 3-year-olds before Star Gallant and jockey Sandy Hawley took over heading into the clubhouse turn. Star Gallant was never headed from that point on, finishing the mile-and-a-sixteenth in 1:43 1/5. Florida-bred Distinctive Pro, who was made the favorite by the crowd of 12,785, was second, two lengths ahead of 60-1 longshot Cut Away in third.
Trained by Leonard Imperio for owner Mahmoud Fustok’s Buckram Oak Farm, Star Gallant paid $6.60 to win and earned $54,630.
The Fountain of Youth set up a Florida-bred showdown for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 3 at Gulfstream, where Star Gallant would face-off against Timely Writer, winner of the Grade 1 Flamingo at Hialeah on March 6.
Star Gallant led in the Florida Derby until mid-stretch when Timely Writer went by to win by two lengths as the 4-5 favorite. Star Gallant finished two lengths back in second at odds of 6-5. Our Escapade was eight lengths farther behind in third followed in order by Royal Roberto, New Discovery, Sharp Johnny and Florida-bred Laser Light.
Star Gallant made one more start before the Kentucky Derby in the Derby Trial on April 24 at Churchill Downs. The speedy bay again led until the final 50 yards when 56-1 longshot Listcapade went past him to win by length with Star Gallant holding for second.
Star Gallant remained at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby but missed his chance to again face his Florida-bred rival when Timely Writer suffered a bout of colic 10 days before the Run for the Roses.
Unfortunately, with jockey Bill Shoemaker aboard, Star Gallant could not make the lead in the Derby and finished eighth as Gato Del Sol rallied from last two win at odds of 20-1.
Star Gallant left the Triple Crown trail to win the Grade 3 Illinois Derby at Sportman’s Park on May 15 before finishing third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile won by Florida-bred Conquistador Cielo on May 31.
After a two-month break, Star Gallant won the Suffolk Downs Sprint Handicap on Aug. 8 then finished the year running fifth in the Forego Handicap and seventh in the Grade 2 Fall Highweight Handicap.
For his career, Star Gallant won nine of 22 races with four seconds and two thirds, earning $443,110. He was by My Gallant out of Liza Star, by Bold Hitter and was bred in Florida by Roma Stable.
He was a graduate of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale in 1980 but did not meet his reserve. Roma Stable then consigned him to the 1981 Select 2-Year-Old in Training Sale at Hialeah where Buckram Oak Farm purchased him for $42,000.
Return to the March 22 issue of Wire to Wire
