Calder: Surprise! Brei, Gold sweep Stallion Stakes

MIAMI - Owner Fred Brei and trainer Stanley Gold continued their hot hand in Calder’s Florida Stallion Stakes on Saturday, winning the opening legs of the longstanding series with Redbud Road in the $75,000 Desert Vixen and Fort Loudon in the $75,000 Dr. Fager.

Brei and Gold swept the 2009 open divison with Jackson Bend and last year’s filly series with ultimate Eclipse Award winner Awesome Feather.

Even heavy downpours, which turned the main track to slop earlier in the afternoon, couldn’t slow Brei and Gold down.

Redbud Road rallied wide to engage pacesetter Montessa G into the stretch and after edging clear withstood a belated rally from Queen Drama to post a 1 1/4-length decision in the six-furlong Desert Vixen. Queen Drama, whose brother Big Drama won all three legs of the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes in 2008, raced greenly and took an erratic path down the stretch but was able to wear down Montessa G for second after the latter steadied behind the winner nearing the wire.

Redbud Road had to withstand a stewards’ inquiry and claim of foul before the result became official.

“She kept running hard all the way to the wire. She didn’t come in,” Gold said, referring to the inquiry and objection in deep stretch. “The other horse [Montessa G], the jock was hitting her left-handed and she came out.”

Redboad Road completed the distance over the sealed track in a relatively slow 1:14.46 seconds and paid $4.80.

Brei’s Awesome Belle, who finished second behind her stablemate Redud Road in last month’s J J’sdream Stakes, was fifth.

“I don’t think she handled the track very well and she did get squeezed back some, but she can run,” Gold said.

Brei and Gold went one better in the Dr. Fager, finishing one-two after Fort Loudon registered a 1 1/4-length triumph over his late-running stablemate Argentine Tango. Longshot for Oby held on gamely after disputing all the pace to be third. Boltzapper, the even-money favorite, was also part of the early duel up front before fading to finish fourth.

Fort Loudon returned $22.80 despite having won his maiden by 10 lengths in his previous start and combined with Argentine Tango for a $182 stable exacta. Fort Loudon was ridden to victory by Luis Jurado. Luis Saez guided Redbud Road to her earlier win. Fort Loudon ran six furlongs in 1:13.55.

“It’s been a great day,” said Gold. “I was concerned when the jock took him back off those horses that went to the front. You don’t know if they’re going to come back, but he rode a good, heady race and deserves a lot of the credit for the win. The other horse [Argentine Tango] got shut off at the start, but he came running, too.