BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Rouki came from midpack to circle the field in the turn and then rallied on the far outside in the stretch to put a neck in front of Souper Quest under the wire to win the $60,000 Chasing Artie overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Under 122 pounds including jockey Samy Camacho, Rouki won his second of nine starts this year in defeating 10 other 3-year-olds and older going five furlongs on the turf.

Florida-bred Esperon was a length-and-a-half in front heading into the far turn with Florida-bred Itza Boss in second, a length faster than Florida-bred Full Disclosure in third as Camacho had Rouki settled in fifth about four lengths off the pace.

Esperon clipped off a quarter mile in a fast :20.88 and was still a length in front of Itza Boss in second coming out of the turn. Rouki and Souper Quest, who was co-high weighted at 123 pounds, came out of the pack together on the far outside. Rouki and Souper Quest went head and head down the lane before Rouki got the late advantage under the wire to finish in :54.80. Souper Quest was second, a length ahead of Mattingly, who also toted 123 pounds, in third. Esperon, with under 122 pounds, was fourth to complete the Florida-bred superfecta. Extendo, Full Disclosure, Itza Boss, Guns Loaded, Three Zero, Axthelm and Ajaayb completed the order of finish.

Trained by Gerald Bennett for Winning Stables, J.P.G. 2 and Mr Pug, Rouki paid $14.40 to win.

A winner of a $35,000 starter allowance with a $50,000 optional claiming price going five furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream on July 25, Rouki was second to Extendo in the $70,000 Warrior’s Pride overnight handicap at the same distance at Gulfstream on August 9. Most recently he was fourth, two lengths behind winner Mattingly in the $92,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint moved to five furlongs on synthetic at Gulfstream on September 12.

Rouki improved his career record to seven wins with a second and a third in 22 starts with earnings of $292,783. He is by Solera Farm stallion Rogueish out of Kizuna, by Harlington and was bred in Florida by Bonnie J. Thompson of The Villages and Edward Seltzer of Williston.

Return to the October 10 issue of Wire to Wire