Grand Bili Upsets Barbados in Carry Back
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One of the least experienced horses in the Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) field at Gulfstream Park July 5 pulled off the upset when Grand Bili fought off favored Barbados for a one-length victory under Javier Castellano.
One of two Carry Back entrants for Groupo 7C Racing Stable and Delgado Gustavo, Grand Bili forced the pace set by Bluegrass Singer in fractions of :22 :43.76 along the backstretch and around the turn before taking the lead into the stretch run of the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.
With six furlongs completed in 1:08.75, Grand Bili held a two-length advantage before Barbados made his move along the rail. Jockey Luis Saez moved Barbados, the 6-5 favorite who won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) in January before undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a knee chip in his left front leg, out for the stretch drive and mounted a serious challenge to Grand Bili. The winner dug in gamely to hold off Barbados, completing the distance in 1:22.11.
"It was a fast pace, but that was what I expected. There were a lot of fast horses in the race and I knew Bluegrass Singer would want to set the pace. I just wanted to have us on target. It worked out perfect," said Castellano, the defending two-time Eclipse Award champion jockey who won three straight stakes on the July 5 Gulfstream card. "That was a dream trip. I give all the credit to the trainer (Gustavo Delgado). He gave me a lot of tips about the horse and the way he runs. I think he's a nice horse."
Grand Bili paid $12.20, $4.20, $2.80, as Barbados returned $3.00 and $2.80. Juan and Bini, the winner's stablemate, steadily made up ground to finish third, paying $6.00.
The Carry Back was the second victory in five starts for Grand Bili, who has earned $130,530. The colt had previously won his career debut, finished second in an allowance/optional claimer under Castellano at Gulfstream in February, checked in 10th of 11 in the Chick Lang Stakes, and lost a close one in the Big Cypress Stakes at Gulfstream at the Carry Back distance of seven furlongs.
Bred in Ontario by Gustav Schickedanz, the 3-year-old son of City Zip was purchased for $30,000 from the Woods Edge Farm consignment to the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.