Csaba adds another Florida stakes with Skip Trial win

Csaba added the $75,000 Skip Trial Stakes to his litany of south Florida stakes victories, rallying to a 1 3/4-length victory Saturday over Grand Tito at Gulfstream Park.

The Skip Trial was the 13th victory of Csaba’s career. Eight of those wins have come in stakes races at Calder and Gulfstream, only one of which, the Fred Hooper Jr. last fall at Calder, was graded. The Skip Trial was also the second win in as many starts for Csaba since trainer Phil Gleaves put blinkers on his star prior to his victory eight weeks earlier in Calder’s Memorial Day Handicap.

With Manny Cruz aboard, Csaba rated within easy striking distance of the early leaders, the 5-2 favorite Palatine Hill and Sr. Quisqueyano. Palatine Hill won that battle only to be engaged by Csaba approaching the quarter pole, the latter ultimately taking control near the furlong marker and edging well clear.

Grand Tito rallied wide into the stretch but lacked the necessary response to menace the winner. He finished a half-length better than Palatine Hill and Kings Over, two Peter Walder trainees who dead-heated for third.

Csaba ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.12 and returned $9.40.

“I put blinkers on him for his last two starts. That’s given him a new lease on life. He’s gotten a lot sharper,” trainer Phil Gleaves said. “He was acting sharper saddling. He was sharper in the paddock. It was something to change him up a little bit. This horse is a grinder. He just grinds away, and I just love him. He just does what it takes to win.”

Csaba likely earned a trip to Saratoga for a start in the $100,000 Alydar Stakes on Aug. 17.