Gulfstream Park: Singanothersong makes statement in Mr. Prospector

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Singanothersong served notice he’ll be a force to reckon with in the sprint division here throughout the winter after looking 6-5 favorite Star Harbour in the eye then drawing off to an impressive 1 3/4-length triumph in Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector.

Singanothersong has come back better than ever after missing six months due to a chipped knee discovered after his third-place finish in the Big Drama overnight stakes this spring at Calder. With Juan Leyva aboard, Singanothersong stalked the speedy Star Harbour through early splits of 22.36 and 44.75, shook off the favorite upon settling into the stretch then easily withstood a final bid from Fort Loudon who was making his third start in just 20 days in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.

Star Harbour, coming back on short rest himself off his popular victory in the Sunshine State Stakes earlier this month, gradually weakened and finished another length farther back in third. Black Diamond Cat was fourth followed by Travelin Man, Apriority, Trinni Heart, and Upgrade.

Singanothersong is a 3-year-old son of Songandaprayer owned and bred by Herman Van Den Broeck and trained by Ron Pellegrini. He completed six furlongs in 1:09.92 over a track officially listed as “good” and returned $10.80.

“We thought the three [Star Harbour] would be on the lead and we could just lay off of him,” said Pellegrini. “We thought he could take the lead anytime he wanted and were pretty confident he would win. This is a pretty nice horse. Juan said he had a lot more at the end if he wanted it. We worked very hard to get him to rate, and since he came back after the knee operation he’s run three bang up races in a row.”

Pellegrini said he has no plans just yet for Singanothersong’s next start but that his ultimate goal next season would be to get him to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Mr. Online holds on in El Prado

Kendrick Carmouche took advantage of his inside post with the improving Mr. Online, setting an uncontested pace from the hedge then having just enough left in the tank to withstand the wide-running Salto to register a head victory in the $100,000 El Prado Stakes on the turf.

Mr. Online, a 4-year-old son of Silent Name trained by Michael Pino, was stretching out around two turns off a steady diet of sprint races that included a second-place finish in Woodbine’s Grade 1 Nearctic at six furlongs on Oct. 13. Carmouche was able to slow the pace over the yielding turf course, settled into the stretch with a commanding advantage then narrowly held off the final surge of 8-5 favorite Salto. The latter was hung wide throughout after breaking from post nine in a field of a dozen older turf specialists, rated within easy striking distance, rallied willingly once straightened for the drive only to fall just short with his bid.

Utley, who broke on the extreme outside, had a very wide trip and finished third. Nikki’s Sandcastle, the defending El Prado champ, scratched earlier in the day because of the soft condition of the turf course.

Mr. Online completed a mile in 1:39.60 and paid $12.60.