BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Robert Cotran’s Rezasrolex earned his seventh consecutive trip to the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle Friday with a dominating three-and-a-half-length victory in Race 7, a $20,000 optional claiming for Florida-breds.
Rezasrolex, the 2-5 favorite, closely attended pacesetter and fellow Florida-bred Gabaldon for a half-mile in :44.98 before moving away through the stretch under confident handling by jockey Edgard Zayas. The 4-year-old gelded son of Bucchero completed the five-and-a-half-furlong distance in 1:03.33 to score for the ninth time in his last 10 starts, all on the all-weather surface. Gabaldon was second with Sticky McShnickens third.
Rezasrolex paid $2.80 to win.
“He is a very cool horse. My only worry was that all the speed was on the outside, so I just didn’t want to get pinched on the inside. He’s a horse that kind of likes to be free running. There was plenty of speed there,” Zayas said. “I didn’t want to go head-to-head with Gabaldon, so it worked out perfect. He opened up a little bit, so I was able to take back and just sit second on the outside. It was just cruise control from there.”
Zayas has been aboard Rezasrolex for all but one of his last seven starts.
“It’s great. He’s a very smart horse and he knows where the wire is,” Zayas said. “He’s awesome to ride, to be honest.”
Rezasrolex was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Joe Orseno for Cotran out of a victory in a $16,000 starter, optional claimer at Gulfstream Dec. 7, 2023.
Out of the Indian Charlie mare Sister Charlie, Rezasrolex was bred in Florida by Scott Herbertson, who raced the chestnut gelding during his first three races. Rezasrolex is a half-brother to 2021 Golden Gate Debutante-winner Mimajoon, by Fed Biz, and improved his record to 11 wins in 15 career starts with two seconds. He has booked $247,688 in lifetime earnings.
Gabaldon, who won the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream last year before finishing second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, was making his first start over an all-weather surface while facing older horses Friday.
Return to the November 14 issue of Wire to Wire
