Notonthesamepage grabbed the lead soon after the start and never looked back, romping by more than eight lengths in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds, the first stakes race of the Gulfstream Park winter season on opening day at the Hallandale Beach track Jan. 3.
Sent from the start in the six-furlong test from his rail post by jockey Elvis Trujillo, Notonthesamepage surged past Under Contract before posting a swift opening quarter-mile fraction of :21.98. Notonthesamepage was in firm control by two lengths after a half-mile in :44.73. You Luckie Mann moved into position to challenge on the turn but as they straightened for the stretch run, Notonthesamepage would have none of it, dusting You Luckie Mann by 8 1/4 lengths while ridden out in 1:08.48.
Off since a last-place finish in the Keeneland's Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) on Polytrack Oct. 4, Notonthesamepage had been working brilliantly for trainer Wesley Ward in Florida, including back-to-back bullet moves at Gulfstream Dec. 22 and 28.
"I wasn't surprised with the way he ran at all," Trujillo said. "This horse worked real well leading up to the race. I knew even before we got going that if we got ahead we would go (on). I never felt challenged and you pretty much saw the results."
Second choice You Luckie Man, who was coming off an 11-length stakes win at Calder Race Course, settled for second with Jermaine Bridgmohan aboard. In a strung out finish, Bee Cee Cee, ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, ran third, 12 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Silent Valor, the 13-10 choice in the field of eight, endured a wide trip under John Velazquez and lacked much punch in the lane, finishing another three-quarters of a lengths back in fourth.
Owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, the winning homebred son of Catienus--Blue Holiday (Cure the Blues) was sent off at odds of 9-2. The chestnut colt ran without blinkers in the Spectacular Bid, earning his second win in six starts impressively. Notonthesamepage broke his maiden going 4 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs April 30, which was his second start, but was overmatched in a pair of grade I stakes later in the year.
Notonthesamepage finished fifth in Saratoga's Hopeful (gr. I) Sept. 1, beaten five lengths by Vineyard Haven. In his only route attempt, Keeneland's 1 1/16-mile Breeders Futurity one month later, Notonthesamepage set the pace before giving way and finished 11th, nearly 20 lengths behind Square Eddie .
“He had issues with his throat and bleeding last summer, which explains his last couple of races, but it looks like that’s past him now," Ward said. "He trained great up to this race. The way he ran today it looks like he could have gone on longer. Mr. Ramsey has said he would like to try and stretch him out again at some point."
Ward said he would like to give his charge at least a month off before his next start.
Notonthesamepage boosted his earnings to $109,078 with the victory, which carried a winning purse of $60,000. The winner paid $11.40, $5.40 and $5.20 while topping a $2 exacta worth $33.60.
You Luckie Mann romped in the Birdonthewire at Calder for trainer Marty Wolfson and has not been out of the money in five lifetime starts. This was the Exchange Rate colt's first race away from Calder. The gray returned $3.60 and $3.40.
Bee Cee Cee, who has finished behind the runner-up in his last four tries, was $8.40 to show.
Silent Valor, a son of Lion Heart trained by Todd Pletcher, has now lost three races in a row since winning Monmouth's Sapling (gr. III) Aug. 31. Silent Valor ran eighth after a bad break in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in his most recent start.
Under Contract, Jazzandthemagician, Put It Back Twenty and Vinnies Wild Tale trailed.
The Spectacular Bid kicked off the 3-year-old stakes season at Gulfstream Park. The series resumes in earnest with the Hutcheson (gr. II) at seven furlongs Jan. 30. Other leading Triple Crown prep stakes at the South Florida track include the Holy Bull (gr. III) at one mile Jan. 31, the one-mile Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 28 and the Florida Derby (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles on March 28.
