Lemieux easy victor in Brethren Juvenile Fillies
Favorites won both stakes races for Florida-bred 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Lemieux was an easy 6 1/2-length winner of the $60,000 Brethren Juvenile Fillies. She paid $4.20 for her convincing victory over her stablemate, Fish Money, in the about mile-and-seventy-yards race. She was running on Tapeta for the first time and posted a record final time of 1:43.16.
With Edwin Gonzalez riding, Lemieux broke on top and, after posting a half-mile time of 48.28 seconds, had plenty left when she was challenged by Brittiz on the stretch turn. After repelling Brittiz, she drew off under mild urging. Fish Money rallied to finish second over Brittiz, who finished a clear third.
A daughter of Nyquist, Lemieux races for D. J. Stable and is trained by Mark Casse. She was bred by Westbury Stables.
Make it Big paid $3.60 for his win in the $60,000 Ocala Stud Juvenile Sprint and helped make it a big day for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The leading trainer won four races at Gulfstream and the $150,000 Hudson Handicap for New York-breds at Belmont Park with Ny Traffic.
Edgard Zayas was aboard the four winners for Joseph at Gulfstream.
Make It Big tracked the speed from along the rail before Zayas moved him to the middle of the track just after turning for home in the seven-furlong dash on the main track that drew six colts. Once clear he finished with authority to win going away. The final margin over Lightening Larry was 2 1/4 lengths. Lightening Larry was forwardly placed, held the lead at the eighth pole, but was no match for Make It Big. Clapton, third, flattened out after looking like a threat on the stretch turn.
The final time was 1:25.00.
A son of Neolithic, Make It Big was bred by SHH Ventures and races for Red Oak Stable.