Salute the Colonel pulls $84 surprise in Soldier's Dancer

Salute the Colonel, 12-1 on the morning line, was completely overlooked in the wagering and paid $84.40 for his 1 1/4-length win over Til the End in the $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The $1 exacta paid $322.60.

With Leonal Reyes aboard, Salute the Colonel went wide around the first turn and then bided his time while Driven by Thunder posted a moderate half-mile time of 49.22 seconds in the 1 1/16-mile race on turf for statebred 3-year-olds and up. He moved between rivals to get into the race on the stretch turn, and then finished with a rush while going five wide in the stretch to win going away.

Till the End rallied late but couldn’t get to the winner. Class and Cash sat just off Driven by Thunder early, took over the lead at the six-furlong mark, and after holding a 1 1/2-length at the eighth pole he tired late to finish third. The 6-5 favorite Galleon Mast moved into contention with the winner but came up empty in the drive while finishing fourth.

Salute the Colonel posted a final time of 1:41.84 over turf rated firm. Immediately following the race it was downgraded to good.

Salute the Colonel is trained by Joseph Orseno and owned by Patricia Generazio. It was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old son of Colonel John.