Braddy Reaches Milestone Win at Gulfstream

Trainer David Braddy notched his 1,000th career victory when Flemish Cap scored a front-running victory in the sixth race Sept. 22 at Gulfstream Park.

    

"This is a milestone I wanted to reach," Braddy said. "By today's standards it's not that big a deal, but for a little guy who's just plugging along [it is]."

 

Braddy, who is stabled at Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder Race Course), has been training in South Florida since 1981.

 

"For a guy who trained at Calder all these years with 20-25 horses [it's special],' Braddy said. "We just kept grinding away."

 

Braddy saddled the multiple-stakes winner Sweet Repent to victories in the 2009 Stage Door Betty Handicap (gr. III) and 2010 Sunshine Millions Distaff. He also trained Yes He's the Man to victory in the 2007 Spend a Buck Handicap (gr. III) and Good Morning Diva to win the 2012 Calder Derby.

 

Braddy has had success in the Florida Sire Stakes (formerly Florida Stallion Stakes), winning the Desert Vixen and Susan's Girl Divisions in 1989 with Stacie's Toy, the 1991 Desert Vixen Division with Mystic Obsession, and the 1998 Affirmed Division with Sly Rajab.

 

The veteran trainer also has the distinction of saddling the first South Korean-bred horses to win a race outside its country when Feel So Good scored a seventh-length win on Sept. 6, 2012 at Calder.

 

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Flemish Cap ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.89 to capture the race for $35,000 maiden claimers. The 2-year-old son of Graeme Hall   finished eighth after showing early speed in his debut at Gulfstream Aug. 28

"I loved him when I ran him that day in the maiden special weight. I was devastated the way he ran. He broke good and got between horses and faded out of it. He faded back to last and never tried a lick," Braddy said. "We intended to go to the lead (Thursday), because that's what he wanted."