Identifier tops longshot exacta in Hal's Hope Stakes

Identifier rallied from well off the pace to pull a 60-1 upset Saturday in the 29th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope, part of the Florida Derby undercard at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Ridden by Marcos Meneses, Identifier prevailed by a length over Just Whistle, paying $123 to win as the second-longest shot in a field of 11 older horses. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Creative Cause, Identifier finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.25 over a fast track.

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Rare Form set a swift pace when prompted by the 2-1 favorite, Bodexpress, who gave closest chase well ahead of the others before taking command midway through the final turn. The opening fractions of 23.34, 47.24, and 1:11.04 eventually took their toll on Bodexpress, as Identifier flew past him with about 70 yards to go, and Just Whistle (24-1) also went past in the final yards to get second by a half-length. It was another 8 1/4 lengths back to Eye of a Jedi, a 128-1 shot, in fourth.

Identifier had won two of nine career starts before being turned over to trainer Oscar Gonzalez this winter by Gelfenstein Farms. In his only start for Gonzalez, Identifier was a narrow winner in a field of five in a Feb. 1 off-the-turf allowance route at Gulfstream.

The $2 exacta (4-5) paid $2,114.60, the $1 trifecta (4-5-2) returned $6,314.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-5-2-7) was worth $3,074.09.