Itsaknockout Returns a Winner at Gulfstream
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Itsaknockout returned a winner in an allowance/optional claiming event Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park.
Starlight Racing's Itsaknockout, who hadn't raced since his ninth-place finish in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), returned a winner in an allowance/optional claiming event Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Todd Pletcher, the 3-year-old Lemon Drop Kid colt won the one-mile event in 1:35.02 on a fast track over Elnaawi, who finished third in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) earlier this year, and Just Call Kenny.
It was the fourth win in five tries at Gulfstream for Itsaknockout, who broke his maiden and won an allowance race last winter before he was placed first in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) upon the disqualification of Upstart. He then finished fourth in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I).
"The time off definitely served him well," Starlight co-managing partner Don Lucarelli said. "It allowed him to mature, and he put on some weight. All systems were go and he showed it today.
"It's nice to see when they run like they work in the morning. He seemed to be working very well, so to see him put that effort in he should be able to build on that. If he comes out sound I'm sure Todd has a game plan, hopefully to get him to the (Feb. 6) Donn Handicap."