Little Mike Fifth After Lengthy Layoff
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Gentlmens Agrement wins July 10 at Gulfstream; Little Mike fifth
Gentlmens Agrement won for the fourth time in six starts July 10 to spoil the anticipated return of 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Little Mike after a more than two-year layoff at Gulfstream Park.
Diamond Racing and Jay and Joan Janssen's Gentlmens Agrement, trained by Leo Gabriel Jr. and ridden by Luca Panici, rated in third early in the 1 1/16-mile allowance test on the turf, as Little Mike led the way with Rizwan stalking in second. Gentlmens Agrement made his move in tandem with Copingaway to get the jump on Rizwan after six furlongs in 1:10.80, passed Little Mike and held off Rizwan to win by in 1:41.13 on a turf course rated firm.
Copingaway finished third. Daddy's Kid just got past Little Mike for fourth. Gentlmens Agrement, a 4-year-old Yankee Gentleman gelding, returned $7 to win as the second choice behind 4-5 favorite Little Mike, who was ridden by Elvis Trujillo.
Little Mike, a 9-year-old Spanish Steps gelding bred and trained by Carlo Vaccarezza and owned by his wife, Priscilla, has earned more than $3.5 million. Before the lengthy layoff, he won the Flying Pigeon Stakes in May of 2014, at Gulfstream. He wasn't injured, but his connections said Little Mike had tendonitis and wear and tear that needed time.
"I think the 26 months caught up with him," Carlo Vaccarezza said after the July 10 race. "He ran good but got tired. We'll see how he comes out of the race and see what he can do next time."
During the layoff, Carlo Vaccarezza had Little Mike evaluated by equine surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage. He sent the gelding to WinStar Farm in Central Kentucky for hyperbaric treatments, and then to Ocala Stud, where he went through a swimming regimen.
"I know I overdid it—whatever needed to be done," Vaccarezza said several days before Little Mike's return. "The acupuncture, the vibrating floor, the swimming—I did it all. We didn't spare any expenses, because the horse deserved it."
The trainer said he would retire Little Mike if the return to racing doesn't pan out.