Burn the Mortgage scores as Eight Miles East favorite

Burn the Mortgage posted a convincing victory for owner-trainer Mike Maker when he got a perfect trip under Edgard Zayas in the $75,000 Eight Miles East Stakes, the Saturday feature at Gulfstream Park.

Allowed to settle early, Burn the Mortgage saved ground on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile turf race before angling out for the drive, easily overtaking the tiring front-runners and drawing off without urging. He paid $5.40 as favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds and upward.

Decisive Moment was second, with Dustymour third and Dashing David fourth.

The Eight Miles East was run over a yielding course after heavy rain fell earlier in the day. Three earlier races scheduled for turf all were transferred to the main track.

Burn the Mortgage, a 5-year-old horse by Kitten’s Joy, was claimed by Maker last fall for $62,500. This was his second win in seven subsequent starts and followed a Mountaineer Racetrack race in which he finished eighth with a horrendous trip.

The $2 exacta (9-1) paid $54.40, the $1 trifecta (9-1-6) returned $209.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (9-1-6-10) was worth $129.35.