It’s Not Me by a neck in Buffalo Man Stakes

MIAMI – It’s Not Me, who broke his maiden under a $16,000 claiming tag less than six weeks earlier, became a stakes winner Saturday by beating the late-charging Brother Bobo by a neck in the $75,000 Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West.

Trainer Jorge Navarro haltered It’s Not Me, a son of D’wildcat, for $16,000 in the interests of White Wabbit Wacing LLC on Oct. 20. It’s Not Me won by 6 3/4 lengths that day, then returned two weeks later to return quick dividends with an equally impressive 3 1/2-length triumph against $30,000 selling rivals.

With apprentice Arny Fontanez aboard, It’s Not Me broke in stride to contest the early pace of the six-furlong Buffalo Man with X Y Jet. It’s Not Me inherited a comfortable advantage after the latter steadied back sharply along the inside approaching the far turn. It’s Not Me settled into the stretch with a long lead, then held safe the fast-closing Brother Bobo while shortening stride near the end.

Brother Bobo, a half-brother to the multiple stakes winner Ribo Bobo, finished best of all down the center of the track to just miss. Bluegrass Singer was just another head farther back in third after racing forwardly throughout.

Richard the Great, undefeated and untested in two starts entering the Buffalo Man, was never a serious factor, finishing fifth after steadying back sharply near the rail midway down the backstretch.

It’s Not Me returned $16.60 after completing six furlongs in 1:11.88 over a fast track.

“We didn’t pay big money for the horse, but we thought he was a nice horse, and when they dropped him in for 16, we went for him,” said Navarro. “The strategy was to go to the lead. He loves this track – that was his advantage.”

Leap Year Luck takes House Party

Leap Year Luck rallied from last exiting the backstretch to a 1 1/2-length victory over Ekati’s Phaeton in the $75,000 House Party for 2-year-old fillies. Concealedwithakiss finished third.

Leap Year Luck, who captured the Juvenile Filly Sprint Stakes in similar fashion going 6 1/2 furlongs here earlier this month, covered six furlongs in 1:12.27 and paid $6.40. Leap Year Luck, a homebred daughter of Hear No Evil owned by Jacks or Better Farm, was ridden to victory by Jesus Rios for trainer Stanley Gold.