Reload charged up the rail and snatched victory from pacesetter Mr. Online in the $150,000 Canadian Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
Stepping up to win his first stakes, Phipps Stable's homebred son of Hard Spun prevailed by a neck after battling the leader to take a narrow lead inside the final furlong.
Reload underscored his affinity for the grass at the Hallandale Beach track, coming in off a three-length win in his turf debut there Jan 17. He rovided jockey Javier Castellano a sixth win on the card as the 4-1 second choice.
Castellano settled his mount into an easy gallop in third then fourth in the 11-horse field as Mr. Online sprinted to the front and opened a one-length lead from 3-1 favorite Rydilluc.
Cruising through fractions of :23.71, :46.42, and 1:09.19 through six furlongs, Mr. Online still led by the same margin into the stretch. Castellano was winding up Reload, who advanced to second and hooked his opponent, matching strides before edging ahead.
"The race unfolded perfectly, it was beautiful," Castellano said. "He settled behind the two horses. I really like the way he did it, he cut the corner and saved all the ground. He was very brave and went through a tiny hole on the rail. He gave me a great performance today."
Time for the one mile was a snappy 1:32.34 on firm turf.
Salto finished 1 3/4 lengths back in third, followed by Unbridled Ocean, Rydilluc, Joha, Abtaal, Hampstead Heath, Bad Debt, Guys Reward, and North Star Boy. Fredericksburg was scratched.
Reload paid $11.60, $6.60 and $4.60 while Mr. Online returned $6.80 and $4.80. Salto was worth $4.60.
Kentucky-bred Reload has a 5-4-1 record from 17 career starts for trainer Shug McGaughey with earnings of $327,004. The 5-year-old horse out of multiple graded stakes-placed Hidden Reserve is a full sister to grade I winner Educated Risk and a half sister to champion Inside Information. The Mr. Prospector mare also produced half brothers Philanthropist, a grade III winner and a leading sire in Canada; and grade III winner and sire Defer.
Former Central Kentucky sire Hard Spun, a 10-year-old son of Danzig, is currently standing his first season for Darley's Japanese operation.
