BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Linda Martinez’s Happyisashappydoes led from start to finish to win Sunday’s featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park—a first level, $20,000 optional claiming for Florida-breds, 3-years-old and older. Ridden by Antonio Gallardo, the 3-year-old gelded son of Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude outlasted a rally from runner-up Cable Boss to win a by a neck in 1:40.46 for the mile-and-70-yards on the synthetic course as the even money favorite.
Backchat was third followed by C My Meister, Honesto and Bold Magic.
Happyisashappydoes paid $4.20 to win.
It was the second career win for Teresa Connelly-trained Happyisashappydoes, who broke his maiden by five-and-a-quarter lengths in his second start going six furlongs on the synthetic main track at Presque Isle Downs on Sept. 11.
Bred by Eddy R. Martinez and Linda Martinez, Happyisashappydoes is out of Nightfury, by Kitalpha and now has two wins and two seconds in five career starts. With the $32,400 winner’s share of the $53,000 purse, he increased his lifetime bankroll to $66,720.
Other Florida-bred winners at Gulfstream Park Sunday included Golden Rock Thoroughbreds For Some Reason in the fourth race and Vicente Stella Stables LLC’s Sabian in the seventh race.
For Some Reason was ridden by Miguel Vasquez for trainer Jorge Delgado and won as the 4-5 favorite by nearly four lengths against a field of eight, $12,500 maiden claiming 2-year-olds going six furlongs. He as bred by Carlos Rafael.
Edgar Perez rode Sabian to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in a $35,000 starter allowance, optional claiming for 2-year-olds going five furlongs on the all-weather surface.
Bred by Baoma Corp, Sabian won as the 3-1 second choice for trainer Eniel Cordero.
