Gouldings Green closes with a rush

Gouldings Green may have earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic after launching a torrid run down the center of the Polytrack to win the on Saturday in Florence, Ky.

Trainer Tony Reinstedler said he was unsure what race, if any, might serve as a prep for the Nov. 4 Classic at his home track, Churchill Downs, but he was very impressed by the effort his latest stable star gave in capturing the Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Championship by a half-length over It's No Joke.

"I thought he ran a superb race," said Reinstedler. "He had a lot of obstacles to overcome, a lot of running to do, and he did it. I'm going to point him to the Classic."

Ridden by Corey Lanerie, Gouldings Green was still about eight lengths from the lead with a quarter-mile left in the one-mile Fall Championship, the first stakes of the 22-day Turfway fall meet. But the horse responded with a searing late run, drawing even with It's No Joke with about 30 yards remaining and edging away.

Gouldings Green, owned by the Melnyk Racing Stables of Eugene and Laura Melnyk, finished in 1:38.15 and returned $4.20 as the favorite in a field of 12 older horses. It's No Joke finished another three lengths ahead of Alumni Hall, while Honor in War rallied mildly to be fourth, another 1 1/2 lengths behind.

Gouldings Green, a 5-year-old horse by Charismatic, now has won four stakes, all at different tracks, from seven overall starts this year. He previously captured the Alysheba at Churchill, the Hanshin (by disqualification) at Arlington Park, and the Seagram's at Woodbine.

The stakes win was the second in six days for Lanerie, who also won the Sept. 4 Cradle Stakes at River Downs.