BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Arindel homebred Tank took the lead while passing the finish line for the first time then led throughout to win by three lengths and tally his third consecutive stakes victory in the $75,000 Not Surprising at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Ridden by Emisael Jaramillo for trainer Carlos David, Tank was the best of seven 3-year-olds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf.
Tank broke well from post three as Back in the Saddle and Bakers Street started best to his inside before Jaramillo hustled him to the front. They came out of the clubhouse turn with a length advantage on Lastabitlonger in second with Nemo third and continued to show the way through a half-mile in :46.67 and six furlongs in 1:10.20 on the firm turf. Tank was never seriously challenge as he increased his lead through the far turn and was three lengths clear at the top of the stretch. Tank cruised home to finish in 1:39.93 with Bakers Street second and Lastabitlonger a length farther back in third. Back in the Saddle, Florida-bred Classic of Course, Nemo and Bluff finished in that order. Blue Casanova and Win With Faith were scratched.
Tank paid $5.40 to win as the 8-5 favorite.
Tank started the year finishing second to Dream On in a first level, $75,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream on Jan. 11 then was fourth at the same distance in an allowance won by Scarecrow on the synthetic course at Gulfstream on Feb. 6. David next sent him to Tampa Bay Downs where he defeated Florida-bred company in the $110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf at a mile-and-a-sixteenth before returning to Gulfstream to win the $80,000 English Channel going a mile on the grass on May 3.
Tank has now won four of 10 career starts with two seconds and a third while earning $240,120. He is by Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie and is the only foal out of the unraced mare Vegas, by Arindel’s Brethren.
Tank is the second Florida-bred winner of the Not Surprising, joining 2019 winner Stirling Drive. He is the 37th Florida-bred winner of an open black-type stakes in 2025.
Return to the June 7 issue of Wire to Wire
