Bahamian Squall Ends Skid at Gulfstream Park

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Bahamian Squall captured his first race in more than a year in impressive fashion Oct. 2, stalking a fast pace before taking over on the turn into the homestretch and continuing on to a 1 1/4-length victory at rainy Gulfstream Park.



Winless since capturing the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) July 6, 2013, Donald Dizney's homebred 5-year-old son of Gone West ran seven furlongs in a swift 1:21.47 over a fast track, despite a brief rain shower during the running of the $40,000 allowance/optional claiming allowance. He ended a seven-racing losing streak



"That was fast," said trainer David Fawkes, whose 7-10 favorite was ridden by Ramsey Zimmerman. "He'd been training real good for this race."



Bahamian Squall, who paid $3.40 to win, made his 2014 debut July 5 at Gulfstream, finishing third in the Housebuster Stakes, before finishing a distant seventh in the Vanderbilt (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. Before shipping back to Gulfstream, the Florida-bred sprinter finished third in a restricted stakes at Saratoga over a sloppy track.



"When he ran here the first time, he always needs his first race back. Then, he went to New York and that was a tough race, a tough grade I. Then, he came back in the non-winners-of-a-sweepstake race and it poured rain, and he does not want a wet track," Fawkes said. "I was having a heart attack when they were running and it started to rain today. He had excuses every time. This was a perfect comeback race for him."



Purple Egg, ridden by Orlando Bocachica, closed to finish second,  3  1/4 lengths ahead of Rock Alex and jockey Edgar Prado.



Golden Jason set the early pace under pressure, getting the opening quarter mile in :22.54 before Bahamian Squall hit the front near the three-eighths pole while posting a :44.74 half mile.



Florida-bred Bahamian Squall, out of the Storm Bird mare Midway Squall, has earned $559,080 with five wins in 20 starts.

He finished a troubled sixth in last year's Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), beaten less than three lengths by victorious Secret Circle. Fawkes said it was unlikely that he would return to Santa Anita Park for this year's Sprint.



"At this point, I don't think so, but I'll have to talk to Mr. Dizney," Fawkes said. "He was pretty impressive today."