Second Mate wins first stakes in Soldier's Dancer

Second Mate became a stakes winner Saturday, when he closed for a 1 1/4-length victory over Driven by Thunder in the off-the-turf $100,000 Soldier's Dancer at Gulfstream Park. It was another half-length back to My Point Exactly in third.

The Soldier's Dancer was a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Florida.

Second Mate ($7.40) was content to settle off fractions of 23.95 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.09 for the half-mile, and 1:11.42 for six furlongs, all courtesy of pacesetter Driven by Thunder on the sloppy, sealed track. Second Mate moved past that rival in the stretch and went on to cover the distance in 1:44.37.

Miguel Vasquez was aboard for owner and trainer Mike Maker.

Second Mate is a son of Mizzen Mast. He has now won 7 of 31 starts for earnings of $334,515.