Splash Rules upsets Groomstick Handicap

Splash Rules came from a stalking position to upset heavily favored Richard the Great in the $50,000 Groomstick Handicap at Gulfstream Park Sunday. He was 7-2 on the morning line, but paid $15.40.

Splash Rules broke on top from the outside post in the seven-horse field, but leading rider Tyler Gaffalione eased him off Richard the Great and Coronado Again, who posted a fast half-mile time of 44.75 seconds in the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up. Richard the Great held a head advantage over Coronado Again at the eighth pole, but couldn’t hold off the determined bid by Splash Rules, who won by a neck. Coronado Again lost the head bob to Richard the Great for second.

The final time was 1:09.08.

It was the first stakes win for Splash Rules, a Florida-bred son of Pomeroy who is trained by John Vision and owned by Douglas Gibson.