Leinster Returns on Top in Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Leinster catches High Crime in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Leinster came through as the 2-5 favorite when racing Feb. 13 in the sixth race at Gulfstream Park, where the Rusty Arnold trainee added the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) to his growing list of graded stakes victories.
Rated in third early by Luis Saez, as High Crime and Inter Miami posted a :21.03 opening-quarter in the five-furlong turf dash, Leinster was urged into action leaving the turn and the skilled turf sprinter responded down the stretch to catch High Crime by a neck.
"That was the trip that we expected. I know we had some speed inside, but he's that kind of horse that you can't rush him early. You have to let him get his feet," Saez said. "When he came to the stretch, he knows what to do. He was always responding and it was easy for him. When we came to the stretch, I knew we were going to be OK. I know (High Crime) was a pretty tough horse, but Leinster, he came from the layoff, too, so we didn't want to push him early. He did his job."
Making his first start since finishing third in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland, Leinster ($2.80) ran five furlongs on a good turf course in :55.29.
"I liked the way he did it. They were going head and head; they were going so fast, (Saez) took him back and gave him a breather," said Arnold. "It looked for a second he might not get there, but he (found) that gear."
High Crime, the 3-1 second choice ridden by Julien Leparoux, held second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Harry's Ontheloose.
Leinster now is a four-time graded stakes winner, including twice at the grade 2 level. Last year he took the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) and the Woodford Stakes Presented by TVG (G2T) at Keeneland before beaten a length by Glass Slippers in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Arnold said that the 6-year-old son of Majestic Warrior would likely return in either the March 27 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) on the March 28 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) undercard or the April 3 Shakertown at Keeneland.
Racing for Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables, and Jean Wilkinson, Leinster improved his earnings to $764,971 with a record of 6-6-5 from 24 starts. Bred in Kentucky by Gryphon Investments out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar, he is a half brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal, the champion turf male of 2018.
Leinster was a $75,000 RNA at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale as part of the Wavertree Stables consignment. Dunne and her husband, Ciaran, operate Wavertree.