Provacateur gives Pletcher record-extending eighth Hutcheson
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sprinters took center stage Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a trio of $100,000 stakes spread over a 12-race card, capped by the 66th running of the Hutcheson for 3-year-olds going six furlongs over a fast track.
Hutcheson
Todd Pletcher was scheduled to leave Sunday night for Dubai, where he’ll saddle the big favorite, Life Is Good, for the $12 million Dubai World Cup next weekend. But before that, the Hall of Fame trainer was on hand to extend his own record for wins in the Hutcheson to eight when Provocateur drew clear from heavily favored Nitrous Channel in winning by two lengths.
Provocateur, an Into Mischief colt owned by Spendthrift Farm and My Racehorse, returned $7 after finishing in 1:09.60. He was coming off a runner-up finish in the Jan. 15 Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs, after which Pletcher considered switching him to the turf. Instead, Provacateur proved clearly best when staying on dirt as the second choice in a field of six in the Hutcheson.
Nitrous Channel, the 1-2 favorite, dueled just outside of Golden Juan down the backstretch while jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. kept Provacateur in a prime stalking spot just behind them and to their outside. Midway through the turn, Provacateur began edging closer, then ultimately, strode clear.
“He wasn’t training as promising as we’d hoped,” said Pletcher, “but recently he was really coming around. We’re really pleased with how he performed today.”
Pletcher sent out the winner in a remarkable seven runnings of the Hutcheson from 2000-2012, so this was his first in 10 years.
Provacateur was the fourth winner of the day for Ortiz.
Any Limit
Nearly three hours earlier, Spirit Wind shot to the front and never looked back in a 2 1/2-length score in the Any Limit, the 3-year-old filly counterpart to the Hutcheson.
“She’s fast,” a smiling Tyler Gaffalione said after he and Spirit Wind opened up a big lead in midstretch before the filly appeared to tire a bit in the final 100 yards.
“She was a little more on her toes before the race today, and when I took her away from the pony I was kind of regretting it. She got a little too forward, a little too warm, and it may’ve taken a little out of her, so I think that’s why we kind of saw her come back to the field late. But she’s a quality filly and I’m looking forward to more from her down the road.”
Spirit Wind, by Bahamian Squall, returned $4.40 as favorite in a field of six after getting six furlongs in 1:11.43.
One Identity was along to get second by 1 1/4 lengths over Strategic Bird, the 8-5 second choice who had given Spirit Wind closest chase for much of the way.
Bred and owned by the Jacks or Better Farms of Fred Brei, Spirit Wind was following up on a 15-length romp in her second and most recent start versus Florida-bred maidens in an eye-catching effort that equated to an 85 Beyer Speed Figure and made her the Any Limit favorite.
“She does have some talent,” said trainer Ralph Nicks, adding the May 20 Miss Preakness at Pimlico could be a possible next spot.
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Silks Run
Between the two 3-year-old stakes, Yes I Am Free ($14.20) won a second straight turf-sprint stakes at the championship meet when fending off an inside rally by Belgrano to prevail by a neck.
Yes I Am Free was second for most of the five-furlong trip before reeling in the front-running Warrior’s Pride, then holding sway under steady handling from Emisael Jaramillo when finishing five furlongs in 56.23 seconds over a firm course. The Silks Run followed by five weeks a victory in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Turf Sprint.
“He’s a special horse,” said an elated Laura Cazares, who trains Yes I Am Free for the Golden Kernel Racing Stable of John and Joanne Szalay.
Belgrano, a 10-1 shot under Jose Ortiz, had another three-quarters of a length on Arrest Me Red, the even-money favorite in a field of 10 older horses.
Yes I Am Free has now won three of eight starts since being claimed here last April for $62,500. He was sixth in this race last year for his previous connections.