Florida-bred Gelding Earns $25,000 FSRI Bonus

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Heracles took an opening on the rail to get the lead in the second turn then drew off in the stretch to win at first asking in a $70,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on the turf at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Let go at odds of 12-1 in the field of seven going seven-and-a-half furlongs, Heracles and jockey Miguel Vasquez also earned a $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association with $20,000 going to owner David S. Romanik and $5,000 to Romanik and SCF Inc. and co-breeders.

Heracles started well post two then allowed Florida-bred Cillian and Automatic Press vie for the lead around the clubhouse turn. Heracles sat third, three-and-a-half lengths off Cillian through leisurely splits of :24.09 and :48.55 before maneuvering to the front with Automatic Press a quarter mile out. Heracles used his ground-saving trip to get the edge on Automatic Press turning for home then kicked clear in the straight to win by a length-and-three-quarters. He finished in 1:30.60 on the firm turf with Automatic Press second and Palingo in third, another length-and-a-quarter farther back. Florida-bred Juanjuanjuan was fourth followed by Cowboy Skins, Cillian and Florida-bred Timeless Empire.

Heracles paid $27.20 to win and earned $39,000.

 

Trained by Ronald Spatz, Heracles is by Seeking the Soul out of the stakes-winning Florida-bred mare Raki, by Two Step Salsa. He is the second of four foals produced by Raki whose two starters are both winners. She has a yearling filly, Justa, by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Verifying and a weanling colt by Leinster.

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