Finallymadeit all the way

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After five previous chances that included second-place finishes in both the Grade 1 Donn and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park handicaps earlier in the meet, Finallymadeit finally made it into the Gulfstream Park winner's circle on Saturday. And he did so while leaving little doubt as to his superiority, drawing away to a convincing 8 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Skip Away Handicap.

Leading throughout under confident handling by his regular rider, Eduardo Nunez, Finallymadeit set moderate fractions while stalked by Fierce Wind from the outset of the Grade 3 Skip Away. But once he entered the backstretch, Finallymadeit left everybody in the dust, steadily extending his advantage once roused by Nunez at the head of the stretch.

Tizbig outlasted Cool Gator by 1 1/4 lengths to finish second. They were followed by Fierce Wind, Imawildandcrazyguy, Nistle's Crunch, and Tomcito.

Finallymadeit, a son of Concerto owned and bred by Rolando Rodriguez's Rolbea Stables, covered 1 3/16 miles over a fast track in 1:56.76 and paid $5.40. The win was his 15th in 42 career starts and second graded stakes triumph. He also captured Calder's Grade 3 Fred Hooper in his 2008 finale.

"I am a poor man, and Finallymadeit is my credit card," Rodriguez said after the race.

The winner is trained by Javier Negrete.

Finallymadeit will waste little time getting back to work. Rodriguez said he will go next in the Grade 3 Texas Mile at Lone Star on April 25 as a prep for the Grade 2 Met Mile at Belmont one month later.