Monforte wins Showing Up, American Giant takes Cellar's Shiraz

Monforte paid $8.80 for his 1 3/4-length victory over Jolting Joe in the $60,000 Showing Up Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park West on Saturday.

With Edgard Prado aboard, Monforte broke inward, but quickly recovered and tracked Allegedly Perfect through a half-mile in the one-mile turf race. He took over the lead on the stretch turn, held a two-length advantage at the eighth-pole and never looked like losing to Jolting Joe, who came from well back. Island Commish stalked early, looked like a serious threat while going three-wide on the stretch turn, but flattened out late to finish third.

The final time over a course rated good was 1:38.58.

By Carpe Diam out of She’s a Ketch, Monforte is trained by Ruben Gracida. The Florida-bred colt races for Rancho Alegre.

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It was Monforte’s fifth win in six starts since Gracida claimed him for $35,000 on Sept. 26, 2019. The $34,968 winner’s share brought his career earnings to $249,813.

Paco Lopez showed why he is one of the top jockeys in North America with a textbook ride aboard American Giant in the $60,000 Cellar’s Shiraz for 3-year-old fillies, also contested over one mile on turf rated good.

She paid $9.40 and posted a final time of 1:38.37.

American Giant broke from post 9 in the 10-horse field and by the time they hit the first turn Lopez had her on the rail in a stalking position. He eased her off the rail heading down the backstretch and, moving between horses, she took over the lead turning for home. Under strong handling, she held off the late move from Secret Time to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Charge Account came from midpack to finish third.

The daughter of More Than Ready is trained by Michael Trombetta and races for Live Oak Plantation. She was bred in Florida by Live Oak Stud.

It was her first victory this year and the first since she won the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 9. The $35,340 she received boosted her career earnings to $142,800.