Gutierrez breaks through as Quatrocento takes Appleton
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Fausto Gutierrez saved his best for last.
Gutierrez was winless with 31 starters at Gulfstream Park’s winter meet when he saddled Quatrocento for Saturday’s $150,000 Appleton Stakes – his last starter at the meet which ends Sunday.
Quatrocento ended Guttierez’s meet-long drought with a front-running, three-quarter length victory over late-running longshot Westside Tide in the Appleton. It was also three-quarters back to Beach Gold in third.
Quatrocento gave Gutierrez his second overall win of the year, having taken the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs two months ago.
“I know sometimes I have to wait,” Gutierrez said. “I hope to come with more chances, different horses, but this win covers the ones I didn’t win at the meet.”
While Quatrocento was the lone speed in the Tampa Bay Stakes, it looked like he could have a pace challenge from Prevent in the Appleton. But under Julien Leparoux, Quatrocento broke on top, cleared the field entering the first turn and was clear through fractions of 24.68 seconds for the quarter, 47.61 for the half-mile and 1:10.30 for six furlongs. Leparoux allowed Beach Gold and Spirit of St Louis to get near him approaching the quarter pole but Leparoux and Quatrocento had plenty left. He put those two horses away and held Westside Tide at bay to the wire.
“My horse always breaks pretty sharp, I was able to get to the first turn in front of them, the scratch [of Nantasket Beach] was a big help too,” Leparoux said. “From there we controlled the race , he traveled very nicely the whole backside. He wanted to go today, but he finished very nicely and I still had some horse at the end so that was good.”
Quatrocento, a 5-year-old son of War Front owned by St. George Stable, covered the mile 1:32.92 and returned $4 as the favorite.
The Appleton featured the return to the races for Grade 1 winners Spirit of St Louis and Carson’s Run, who finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the seven-horse field.
Gutierrez said he would like to get Quatrocento to the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the fall at Keeneland. While he plans to run the horse at Kentucky Downs – he won twice there in 11 days last year – he’s not sure exactly what will be next.
“He’s a real contender in this country at a mile on the turf,” Gutierrez said.
Cutler Bay
Immortalised may lack focus. He does not lack talent.
Immortalised capped a 3-for-3 winter meet at Gulfstream Park with rail rally under John Velazquez to win the $150,000 Cutler Bay Stakes by a head over Ababajoni. It was a neck back to Blinging it Back in third.
Immortalised broke from the rail after the scratch of Knoty Knicks and held his position all way around the course, while being held inside by Javier Castellano aboard Behold the King. Both were chasing the pacesetting Ababajoni who, under Anthony Thomas, was three paths off the rail.
Approaching the quarter pole, Velazquez shot Immortalised through that opening and took a narrow lead turning for home. Velazquez said Immortalised kept looking at the infield, but he did just enough to get the win.
“He’s not a horse that opens up,” Velazquez said. “He gets to the lead and he stops and now he’s looking at everything in the infield. I’m like ‘Come on man, pay attention, you have a horse next to you.’ He put up a good fight but I I think he could do more than that.”
Immortalised, a French-bred son of Romanised owned by Feld Family Racing and Starry Night Racing and trained by Brendan Walsh, covered the 7 1/2 furlongs over firm turf in 1:27.24 and returned $5 as the favorite.
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