Applicator connects at 51-1 in Gleaming Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In what can only be described as a stunning result, the 51-1 Applicator, a 3-year-old still eligible for his entry- level allowance condition, led from start to finish to upset older, proven three-turn horses in Saturday’s 1 1/2-mile , $75,000 Gleaming Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

With jockey Leonel Reyes aboard, Applicator controlled all the pace and then had enough left to withstand mild rallies from runner-up Quiet Force and the 2-1 Xaverian to register just his second victory in 16 career starts. Applicator did drift out nearing the wire, but a claim of foul by jockey Mathew Rispoli aboard Xaverian for alleged interference was quickly dismissed by the stewards.

Applicator, a son of Henrythenavigator trained by Mikhail Yanakov for Olympia Star Inc., had finished off the board in all three previous stakes starts. He had never raced beyond 1 1/16 miles prior to the Gleaming.

Applicator completed the distance in 2:28.53 over a “good” turf course and paid $104.80.

“We just wanted to try him at a mile and a half. I knew already that he’s a grass horse,” said Yanakov, who registered the first stakes victory of his training career. “The distance, we thought he might like it. I know he’s fast. I told [Reyes] to go to the front but to do it carefully. Now, only long races.”