Rose Brier's disqualification gives Tropical Turf to Lubash

MIAMI, Fla. - Lubash has done the majority of his campaigning during his long career in his native New York. But the 9-year-old certainly is fond of the turf course at Gulfstream Park West as well.

Lubash, a winner of nearly $1.5 million, won the Tropical Turf Handicap for the second time in three years Saturday, this time after the stewards disqualified apparent winner Rose Brier and placed him second for drifting out and causing interference near the wire.

Lubash, unhurried early, angled widest into the stretch and was finishing strongly down the center of the course. He was steadied sharply by jockey Joe Bravo, in behind a drifting Rose Brier, about 70 yards from the finish line. Lubash crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths in back of Rose Brier, but after a claim of foul by Bravo and a stewards inquiry, the order of finish was quickly reversed.

Coalport, who raced well-placed throughout, could not kick on leaving the furlong grounds, finishing another length behind Lubash with War Correspondent a neck farther back in fourth.

Lubash, a son of Freud owned and bred by the Aliyu Ben J Stable, is trained by Christophe Clement. He returned $11.20 for his 18th victory in 51 career starts.

“I really don’t like to win a race that way, nevertheless I’m thrilled for the horse,” Clement said several minutes after the final result was made official. “Of course, we’d like to win the race the right way, but we’ll take it.”

Clement said a decision will be forthcoming by the owner as to whether Lubash will be retired after this season.

“The idea was to retire him, but it’s pretty hard to retire a horse after they win a Grade 3,” Clement said.