Eye of a Jedi Upsets Diamond Oops in Coaltown Handicap

Longshot Eye of a Jedi rallied down the Gulfstream Park stretch June 13 to defeat even-money favorite Diamond Oops in the $46,000 Coaltown Handicap.

Eye of a Jedi, owned and trained by Steve Budhoo, won at 17-1 under jockey Marcos Meneses. In addition to beating Diamond Oops, a multiple grade 3 winner who is grade 1-placed on dirt and turf, the 5-year-old Eye of the Leopard  gelding bested Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Math Wizard and multiple stakes winner Garter and Tie.

Saturday's win followed a third-place effort in the May 17 Sunday Silence Stakes, in which Eye of a Jedi was away late after dwelling in the gate.

"He's a good horse. These are old tough veterans that he beat," Budhoo said of his horse. "They don't come back in a race; they go. He's just coming into his own. He ran a good race last time and ran fourth in the Hal's Hope (G3) before that."

Wentz showed the way through the first half of the one-mile handicap. He set fractions of :23.86 and :46.17 while Red Crescent and Diamond Oops battled for position a half-length back. Eye of a Jedi and Math Wizard were fifth and sixth, respectively, through the first quarter and swapped positions by the halfway point.

Wentz ran out of speed, but Diamond Oops and Red Crescent continued to battle it out. Red Crescent was a head in front as he ran three-quarters in 1:10.39. Eye of a Jedi was shifted out five wide by Meneses, and the gelding rolled down the track and past the leaders. He completed the mile on a fast track in 1:35.17 while 1 1/4 lengths in front.

"The last time, I made a little mistake with the horse," Meneses said. "Today, it was perfect. He broke good from the gate, I helped him a little bit, and he had a perfect trip. I liked being outside. The trainer did a great job. It was a difficult race, but the horse was doing perfect and he got the job done."

Diamond Oops battled back for second, beating Red Crescent in third by a length. Garter and Tie, Math Wizard, Noble Drama, Colour Guard, and Wentz completed the order of finish.

Diamond Oops carried 125 pounds, spotting his rivals two to nine pounds. Eye of a Jedi carried 118.

Eye of a Jedi was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm out of the Elusive Quality mare Sea Song's Grace. He was purchased in the name of Big Easy for $1,500 from the Darby Dan Farm consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. From 27 starts, he has a 4-4-6 record, which includes a win in the Sea of Tranquility Stakes over Red Crescent in July, and earnings of $204,812.

"I only race him sparingly," Budhoo said. "He always gives his best and he's sound."