Octane back on top following Gil Campbell Memorial triumph

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Octane, the king of the local Florida-bred 2-year-old division in 2021, is back on top following his 1 3/4-length decision over Big and Classy in Saturday’s $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Octane, who won his last three starts at 2 including both the Affirmed and In Reality divisions of the Florida Sire Series, is now atop the older Florida-bred handicap division after winning the 1-mile Campbell Memorial for owner-breeder Arindel and trainer Juan Alvarado. The win was the second in just six starts this season for Octane, a homebred son of Brethren, who was also second in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper to launch his 2023 campaign in January.

Octane, idle since finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park on June 17, rated just off the early pace set by Boca Boy and pressed by 8-5 favorite Dean Delivers. Octane gained command outside horses before six furlongs, edged clear upon settling into the stretch before holding safe from a final try by Big and Classy, who was in search of his ninth win of the season. Big Daddy Dave rallied to finish another 3 1/2 lengths farther back in third.

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Dean Delivers, idle since his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga nearly three months ago, gave way after seven furlongs, ultimately finishing a disappointing sixth in the field of nine Florida-bred colts and geldings.

Octane got the mile over a fast track in 1:36.18 seconds under jockey Edgard Zayas and returned $13.80.

“He had been so good as a 2-year-old, but he’s not the biggest horse and had run a bunch of races in a row so we decided not to ship to California for the Breeders’ Cup but wait until he was a 3-year-old and point for the Derby,” said Arindel’s stable manager, Bryan Cohen.

“But then he developed a foot problem and it took him forever to come back from that. He was running big races last winter and the plan after freshening him on the farm after the Monmouth race was run in an allowance and maybe try one of the stakes here in December with the thought that since we don’t have Clapton any more, maybe he can be our Pegasus horse. But the way he was training and the fact Edgard (Zayas) was available, we figured we’d try this race and it all worked out. He’s such a gamer. Hopefully we’ll be able to have a big winter with him.”

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