BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Lea Farms’ Nuclear Empire came with a steady run down the center of the track to surge past dueling leaders Tricky Tiger and Bernardo’s Legacy and get up by a half-length in Thursday’s opener at Gulfstream Park to give apprentice jockey Luis Fuenmayor his first career win.

Fuenmayor, a 22-year-old native of Venezuela that rides with a 10-pound weight allowance, had three seconds and three thirds from 12 prior mounts in the U.S. before breaking through on the 3-year-old Florida-bred gelding for trainer Jorge Delgado.

“To get my first win here at Gulfstream, it feels very good,” Fuenmayor said. “I’m very happy.”

Nuclear Empire broke with his six rivals from the far outside in the five-furlong claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and up before settling in the clear three wide in fifth as 2-5 favorite Tricky Tiger battled with 9-1 longshot Bernardo’s Legacy through a quarter-mile in 24.03 seconds.

The two leaders entered the stretch on even terms as Nuclear Empire, who began to roll midway around the far turn, was set down for a drive that saw him reel in the front-runners and edge clear to win in :57.97 over the all-weather course.

Fuenmayor, who also finished fourth with Valid Sense in Thursday’s fourth race, was third in his North American debut April 20 at Gulfstream aboard Marcial Cornejo-trained 3-year-old War of Will gelding Fighting Words. He came within a nose of registering his first victory May 3 with 34-1 longshot Nipsey, beaten in a head bob at the wire by favored Areacodefiveoone.

Fuenmayor has no scheduled mounts Friday and is named in three races Saturday and one race Sunday at Gulfstream.

Return to the May 15 issue of Wire to Wire