Gulfstream Park: Devil’s Cave sets track record in winning Sabin Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Devil’s Cave parlayed her abundant speed and a lightning-fast track into a track record and an easy 3 1/2-length victory over archrival Sweet N Discreet in Sunday’s $215,000 Sabin Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Devil’s Cave quickly sprinted to the lead and set a lively pace in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Sabin, posting splits of 23.52 seconds, 46.98, and 1:10.62 for the opening six furlongs, with Rose to Gold, Kipling’s Joy, and Triple Arch in closest pursuit.

Despite the crisp pace, Devil’s Cave had plenty left in reserve under jockey Javier Castellano, repulsing a bid from Triple Arch into the stretch before drawing well clear. She stopped the teletimer at 1:41.00, eclipsing the old course record of 1:41.17 established by Golden Lad just 11 days earlier.

Sweet N Discreet, who chased and ran down Devil’s Cave to win the Sunshine Millions Distaff in their previous meeting Jan. 18, rallied mildly to be second-best, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Triple Arch in third.

Rose to Gold, the 5-2 favorite, retired early and finished seventh in a field of eight older fillies and mares.

Devil’s Cave, a 4-year-old daughter of Put It Back owned by Alpha Delta Stable and trained by Marty Wolfson, paid $10.40.

“She has such high speed, and [jockey Joel Rosario] said he knew he made a mistake making her go 1:14 and 2 in her last start, yet she still came back again,” Wolfson said, referring to the Sunshine Millions Distaff. “The plan today was to go to the front. She’s a very fast filly. I think she’ll run a mile and one-eighth. She’s got high cruising speed. I don’t think Javier knew she was going that fast. She’s just a freaky type of filly for her pedigree.”