BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL—Soldi Stable LLC and Ohana Racing LLC’s Amstrong remained undefeated in four starts on synthetic with a rallying victory in Saturday’s $65,000 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park, collecting his third stakes success on the all-weather surface.
The Jose D’Angelo-trained son of Tapwrit raced in mid-pack in the mile-and-a-sixteenth stakes for 3-year-olds before sweeping into contention entering the stretch and driving to a narrow triumph by a neck under Miguel Vasquez.
Florida-bred Souper Blessing, who took over the lead on the far turn after stalking the early place, finished second, two lengths ahead of pacesetter Eyes On the King. Florida-breds Anamnetic and Smart Striker where fourth and fifth respectively followed by Mutaawid and McMoneuy. Ari Gold and Love Me Not were scratched.
Amstrong ran the distance in 1:43.07 and paid $3.80 to win.
Amstrong broke through with a maiden win at a mile-and-a-sixteenth in his third career start and first race on the all-weather course. He came right back to capture the $75,000 Not Surprising on June 10. After an off-the-board finish on turf in the Grade 3 Manila (G3) won by More Than Looks at Belmont and a third-place allowance finish on dirt at Laurel, the Kentucky-bred colt returned to synthetic and winning form in the $75,000 Bear’s Den on Sept. 16.
Freedom Principle Wins Armed Forces
Expectations were high for Echo Papa Racing Corp.’s Freedom Principle in Saturday’s $65,000 Armed Forces at Gulfstream Park, and the 4-5 favorite came through with a thoroughly professional triumph in the mile-and-70-yard stakes for 3-year-olds on synthetic.
Rated outside pacesetter Prevent from the first turn into the stretch under Leonel Reyes, Freedom Principle kicked in through the stretch to score by a length-and-a-quarter. Prevent held second under Luca Panici, a length-and-three-quarters in front of Reminder and jockey Edgard Zayas.
Freedom Principle, a son of Flameaway who ran the distance in 1:42.04, earned his favorite’s role when graduating last time out by seven-and-a-half lengths at Saturday’s distance on synthetic in his prior start.
