Red Danger Battles to Pulpit Stakes Victory
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Red Danger (pink cap) prevails in the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Silverton Hill's Red Danger , a runner-up in the Street Sense Stakes over Churchill Downs main track last time out, made a victorious return to turf in the Dec. 3 $75,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Pulpit, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds, co-headlined the opening day of the 2021-22 Championship Meet with the $75,000 Wait a While, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies.
Red Danger's hard-fought victory opens up the possibility that trainer Brian Lynch could decide to point the son of 2013 Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Orb toward Gulfstream's upcoming stakes for 3-year-olds on dirt.
"It's a pipe dream. Is he as good as some of the others right now? That quest is here to be answered," Lynch said. "But he's as honest as they come and a model of consistency. He's an honest horse that brings it every time. Today, we'll just enjoy today."
Red Danger, the 4-5 favorite, settled in mid-pack under Julien Leparoux before making a sweeping move on the turn into the homestretch to set up a winning stretch drive, during which he gamely passed pacesetter Biz Biz Buzz and held off an outside challenge from Speaking Scout by a head.
"You have to love a little horse that tries as hard as he does and brings it every time you lead him over there," Lynch said. "It's a nice way to start the Championship Meet. He's our first runner and it's nice that it was in a stakes."
Red Danger, who broke his maiden on turf and annexed the Global Turf Juvenile Sprint Stakes on turf at Kentucky Downs, ran second behind Howling Time in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense on dirt.
"That's the main thing with him, he just keeps fighting. He's probably a better grass horse, but even on the dirt last time he tried hard and dug in and ran a great second," said Leparoux. "He's a trier, for sure."
Red Danger prevailed in the Pulpit despite Leparoux dropping his crop in mid-stretch.
"It was great to see him pull this off. He's battled hard for a few good wins all year against good company," Lynch said. "Julien said he dropped his whip. He might have been better off. He might have learned something."
Runner-up Speaking Scout finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Biz Biz Buzz.
The fractions and final time for this race were unavailable.
Video: Pulpit S. (BT)
Lia Marina Aces Stakes Debut in Wait a While
Lia Marina wins the Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Following another successful sojourn to Kentucky and New York in the summer and fall, Tyler Gaffalione, the 27-year-old native of nearby Davie, Fla., celebrated his return to Gulfstream Park by guiding Lia Marina to a half-length victory in the $75,000 Wait a While earlier on the Gulfstream opening day card.
Gaffalione was greeted with cheers and applause when he returned to the winner's circle aboard Lia Marina (who paid $7.60), the narrow second choice in a field of nine behind European import Sunstrike , making her U.S. debut.
"It's so nice. I grew up here. It's one of the first tracks I've ever been to," Gaffalione said. "Coming back here and winning races, it's a feeling like no other. I feel on top of the world."
The Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 2015, represented by agent Matt Muzikar, Gaffalione won the fall meet at Keeneland, his fourth career title there, and swept all four meets this year at Churchill Downs, including the fall meet that immediately preceded Gulfstream.
Breaking from outside of all but one horse, Gaffalione positioned Lia Marina in second, just off the right hip of pacesetter Gun Boat , with Sister Lou Ann poised to their outside through a quarter-mile in :21.95 and a half in :45.53. Lia Marina forged a short lead exiting the far turn after six furlongs in 1:09.48 with Sister Lou Ann matching strides, but the daughter of Uncle Mo never let that filly get by the entire length of the stretch to win in 1:33.06 over a firm turf course.
Gun Boat was third.
"There was a lot of speed on form, but my filly was coming out of sprints so we didn't want to take much away from her," Gaffalione said. "We just wanted to get her over, save some ground, and get some cover. She relaxed good around there and when I called on her she responded nicely."