Dynever explodes onto scene

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It took a while but Dynever finally lived up to expectations, surging away from a game Supah Blitz in late stretch for a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $250,000 at Gulfstream Park.

Dynever was bet down to the 4-5 favorite in the Aventura, despite coming into the race having had only two previous starts. A son of Dynaformer, Dynever rated off a contested early pace, rallied four wide into contention around the second turn, was briefly head by Supah Blitz into the stretch, then asserted his superiority to win going away under jockey Edgar Prado.

Supah Blitz, second in the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes, rallied widest into the stretch and was easily second best, finishing 6 1/2 lengths in front of Massive.

Dynever returned $3.80 and ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.07 over a very fast and speed-favoring track.

Dynever is trained by Christophe Clement for owner-breeder Catherine Willis and Peter Karches.

"This was great," said Clement, who also trains Kentucky Derby hopeful Region of Merit. "At the three-sixteenths pole it looked like he was beat and he came back to win. Every race he gets a little better and that's what you want."

Clement is uncertain about what will be next for Dynever. "Where we go next I don't know," he said. "The Lone Star Derby [May 10] is a possibility. I have an owner [Peter Karches] who reads the condition book really well and is a chairman of NYRA, so I guess at some stage we'll have to go to New York."

Prado, who gave up the mount on Take Charge Lady in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom to ride Dynever, also was pleased with the lightly raced colt's performance.

"He showed a lot of courage today and is moving forward very quickly for a horse who has had only three races," said Prado. "He's really going in the right direction."

Highway Prospector rallies last to first

Highway Prospector rallied from last over a speed-favoring racetrack to outfinish 80-1 Swift Replica and post a 1 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Artax Handicap.

Highway Prospector was coupled in the wagering with the pacesetting Native Heir. The entry paid $6.20. The time of 1:21.74 was slower than third-level allowance horses ran at the same seven-furlong distance earlier on the card. Cornelio Velasquez rode the winner, who is trained by Mark Shuman for owner Michael Gill.

As expected, Highway Prospector dropped well off his stablemate's early pace. Swift Replica slipped inside of Native Heir and edged clear while leaving the rail in early stretch, and Highway Prospector squeezed through a narrow opening on the rail near the sixteenth pole and won going away.

Native Heir held on for third, followed by 7-5 favorite Burning Roma, who raced wide. Tour of the Cat, the 118-pound highweight, was seventh in the field of eight.