Coltimus Prime rallies to Copa Invitacional victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Coltimus Prime, winner of the 2014 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, added to his impressive resume’ by rallying to a 2 1/2-length victory over El Kurdo in the $91,200 Copa Invitacional on Saturday’s Clasico Internacional del Caribe program at Gulfstream Park.

Coltimus Prime, on the Kentucky Derby trail in his 3-year-old campaign, is owned by former jockey Rene Douglas, who was paralyzed in a riding mishap more than eight years ago. Coltimus Prime earned his way to the Copa Invitacional by winning the President de la Republica, a Group 1 race, on June 4 in Panama. Douglas is a native of Panama City.

Coltimus Prime, the second of three winners on the day for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., advanced steadily around the second turn, overtook the pace-setting Jade Master at the top of the stretch and edged clear despite drifting near the end. El Kurdo finished willingly down the center of the wet track to be second, a length in front of the 3-5 favorite Mishegas.

Coltimus Prime, a Canadian-bred son of Milwaukee Brew, was trained locally for Douglas by Juan Arias. He completed 1 1/14 miles over a sloppy and sealed track in 2:04.90 and paid $9.60.

Copa Velocidad del Caribe
Master Supreme was a bit unruly before the start but all business after the break, leading throughout to register a two-length triumph over fellow Venezuelan bred Forze Mau in the $114,200 Copa Velocidad del Caribe. The win was the second in a row for jockey John Velazquez, who was briefly unseated prior to the start of the six-furlong dash.

Master Supreme, a lightly raced 3-year-old owned by Rontos Racing Stable Corp. and trained by Ernesto Ochoa, returned $24.40 after recording his second victory in four career outings. Justiciero finished another 3 3/4 lengths farther back in third.

Confraternidad del Caribe

El Tigre Mono, an off-track specialist in his native Panama, took readily to a sealed and sloppy local strip Saturday, surging late up the rail to post a neck decision over defending champion Arquitecto in the $100,000 Confraternidad del Caribe. Igor, the 2-1 co-choice, finished a distant third.

El Tigre Mono, a 4-year-old son of Concerto, came into the race off a Group 2 victory and had registered seven wins and four seconds in 16 previous starts over wet tracks. Velazquez rode the winner, who is trained by Carlos Esino for Stud Marathon. He paid $18.20.

“The plan was try to be in the first three and he broke so well I just tried to keep him there. Once he broke good, I said, ‘I’m just going to let him do it,’ and he responded right away,” Velazquez said. “The Caribbean Classic day is crazy, but this is how we do it and we’re enjoying it.”

Copa Dama del Caribe

Jaguaryu got the Clasico Internacional card off to a rousing start by cruising to an easy 7 3/4-length triumph over the heavily backed Gladiadora in the $124,000 Copa Dama del Caribe.

Jaguaryu, representing Mexico, entered the race off two similarly easy wins back home that included a Group 1 victory over a muddy track on Sept. 30. The 3-year-old Point Determined filly was another who obviously relished the off going, drawing away to a commanding advantage in early stretch then holding sway despite drifting steadily near the end.

Jaguaryu was guided to victory by Ortiz for trainer Faustio Gutierrez He completed 1 1/16 miles over the sloppy surface in 1:45.77 and paid $24.40.