Averill adds Oak Bluffs to warhorse contingent

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s not too often you see a 9-year-old get claimed, but that’s the way Rich Averill operates. Averill, the leading owner at the Tampa Bay Downs meet, claimed Oak Bluffs for $25,000 from the third race Sunday at Gulfstream.

“I just love the older horses,” said Averill, whose stable roster includes Adios Nardos (10 years old), Pay Any Price (9), Fire Mission (9), and others age 7 or 8. “They know where the wire is. I’d rather claim them than ones with conditions.”

At his peak, Oak Bluffs, a $5,000 claim by owner-trainer Mary Eppler in November 2015, was a stakes-class turf sprinter in the Mid-Atlantic. He was up late Sunday to win as a 13-10 favorite, marking his 17th career score from 49 starts while increasing his bankroll to $598,806.

Averill enlisted Jorge Navarro to drop the claim, marking the first time they have teamed together as owner and trainer. “The plan is to get the horse ready for Monmouth Park,” said Averill.

◗ A pair of six-furlong stakes Saturday will serve as highlights of the penultimate week of the four-month championship meet. The Grade 3, $100,000 Hutcheson, for 3-year-olds, will be accompanied by the $75,000 Any Limit for 3-year-old fillies.