C. Zee sheds blinkers to win Cherokee Run Stakes

The equipment change “blinkers on” usually gets a handicapper’s attention, but it was the lesser-regarded angle of “blinkers off” that proved the right way to go in Saturday’s $75,000 Cherokee Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Racing without the shades for the first time in his last four starts, C. Zee rallied from near the rear of the field to a one-length decision over the 15-1 Casiguapo, whose trainer, Mario Morales, also removed the blinkers for the 6 1/2-furlong Cherokee Run.

Little Daddy, the 5-2 favorite, racing with blinkers on for the first time, got to the lead at midstretch but faltered late and finished a tiring fourth in a field of 11 3-year-old colts and geldings.

C. Zee was unhurried while able to angle down near the inside from post 11 under jockey Abdiel Jaen. C. Zee, who captured the one-mile Sir Bear Stakes while equipped with blinkers this spring, advanced on the turn, angled five wide to continue his bid into the stretch, overtook Little Daddy near the sixteenth marker, then withstood Casiguapo’s closing surge.

Casiguapo broke a step slowly and lagged early, came wide off the turn, and finished best of all to just miss. Victory Nor Defeat rallied from last along the inside to finish another half-length back in third.

C. Zee ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.37 over the “good” track and paid a seemingly generous $13.80 as the 3-1 second choice on track linemaker Ron Nicoletti’s morning line. C. Zee is owned by his breeder, Jacks or Better Farm, and trained by Stanley Gold.

“The plan was to break and see where we were at and ride our own race,” Gold said. “I told Abdiel about the horse and what he was like, and I left it up to him to ride the race. [C. Zee] was in a couple places and got bumped twice when I was watching the head-on, but he got the job done. He’s versatile like that because he’s kind of laid-back. He’ll let you do what you want, but he’s got the speed if you want to use it. [Jaen] used him right.”

Little Alexis wins Cash Run

Little Alexis remained perfect in two starts for owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza, holding on gamely in late stretch to register a popular three-quarter-length victory over the 11-1 Nesso in the $75,000 Cash Run for 3-year-old fillies. The victory was the fourth on the card for jockey Edgar Prado.

Little Alexis won her only previous start at Gulfstream on Feb. 9, when easily defeating My Miss Sophia, who has gone on to become a Grade 1 winner. Little Alexis, sidelined as a result of a minor issue after her debut, was scratched from an allowance race here last week due to a wet racetrack.

Prado rated Little Alexis, a daughter of Mr. Greeley, near midpack while allowing her to save ground on the turn. Little Alexis angled out four wide entering the stretch, came through a narrow opening with her bid at the top of the lane, then outgamed both the rail-skimming Nesso and Florida Sun, who finished another three parts of a length back in third after looming boldly outside the top pair in late stretch.

Little Alexis returned $4.20.

"For her to run like this right off the bench, it tells you something about her," Vaccarezza said. "She ran huge."

Vaccarezza was not sure what would be next for Little Alexis, although he said a race at Saratoga was a good possibility.