Tamiami Handicap win a bright spot for trainer Milt Wolfson

The biggest story when it came to Sunday’s $50,000 Tamiami Handicap was the trip jockey Jose Batista orchestrated for Extravagant Kid, who rallied up the rail to register a 1 1/4-length decision over the wide-running odds-on favorite Brandy’s Girl in the five-furlong turf dash.

But the best story when it came to the Tamiami happened immediately after the race – watching trainer Milt Wolfson posing alongside Extravagant Kid and participating in all the winner’s circle festivities.

Wolfson has been wheelchair-bound since January after waking up one morning and finding himself with no feeling from the waist down. Wolfson, who’ll turn 85 next month, has been in and out of hospitals ever since while doctors try to determine what is at the root of his problem.

“They tell me now it’s inflammation pressing on a nerve,” Wolfson explained on Monday. “And they told me there isn’t much they can do for me, that I’m going to be paralyzed from the waist down.”

Wolfson, who has been training since 1964 and owns 532 career wins, said he’s recently started experimenting with acupuncture and already is noticing some improvement in his condition.

“A trainer friend, Ron Spatz, told me he had some success with acupuncture for some issues he’d been having and recommended I try it,” said Wolfson. “Ever since this whole thing started, I’ve had no feeling at all in my right leg, but after just one treatment I can move my leg. So this is the route I’m going to take for now, and hopefully one day I’ll be able to get out of this chair and walk again.”

Despite his issues, Wolfson has returned as a regular at his barn each morning, with his live-in girlfriend and longtime assistant Kathy Davey overseeing the operation during his absence. Wolfson has 10 horses in training, half of which he owns himself or in partnership, and the others he trains for outside owners.

As for the Tamiami and Extravagant Kid, whom he trains for the Vicino Racing Stable, obviously Wolfson had nothing but praise for Batista’s skillful ride, which likely made the difference between winning and losing the race.

“The kid followed my instructions and rode him perfectly,” said Wolfson. “I told him there was a ton of speed in the field, to just let them go, and wait until he turns for home to make his move. He had the patience to wait, the hole opened up on the rail, and the rest is history.”

The Tamiami was Wolfson’s first win from a limited number of starters during the summer meeting, and the second in eight starts for the versatile Extravagant Kid in 2017. Of the gelding’s five career wins, three have come on dirt, two on the turf.

“I think he’s better on the turf, although with his running style you always need a little luck in these kinds of races,” said Wolfson, who added he might consider wheeling Extravagant Kid right back on the grass in the $75,000 Mr. Steele Stakes on Sept. 30.

◗ Racing resumes on Wednesday, originally a scheduled dark day. Gulfstream Park management added three additional cards to the schedule to make up for programs lost as a result of Hurricane Irma. There will also be racing next Wednesday and on Sunday, Oct. 1, which is now closing day for the 2017 summer meet. The Gulfstream Park West meet opens on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

◗ With two weeks remaining in the meet, the battle for leading trainer honors figures to go right down to the wire. Ralph Nicks and Victor Barboza Jr. enter Wednesday’s card in a dead heat atop the standings, having won 20 races apiece, with Antonio Sano lurking right behind with 19 victories.