Shade Tree Thoroughbreds' Three Rules and Curtis Mikkelsen's Cajun Delta Dawn won their respective divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds Aug. 6 at Gulfstream Park on a day that produced a 24% spike in pari-mutuel handle from the same card a year ago.
Three Rules, a Gone Astray colt, won the $200,000 Dr. Fager division by seven lengths under Cornelio Velasquez to remain undefeated in three starts for trainer Jose Pinchin. Blessed Halo was second and Front Loaded third.
Video: Florida Sire Dr. Fager S. (BT)
Three Rules covered six furlongs in a quick 1:09.49 on a track rated fast.
In the $200,000 Desert Vixen division for fillies, Cajun Delta Dawn, trained by David Fawkes, covered six furlongs in 1:11.94 under Juan Leyva. The Kantharos filly defeated Lu Lu Laura by a neck, with U S Diva third.
Video: Florida Sire Desert Vixen S. (BT)
In other stakes action, Averill Racing's R Kinsley Doll (Big Drama), trained by Ralph Ziadie and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, won the $150,000 Three Ring division for 3-year-old fillies
Video: Florida Sire Three Ring S. (BT)
Video: Florida Sire Unbridled S. (BT)
The first round of the $2.9 million Florida Sire Stakes program at Gulfstream helped total pari-mutuel handle for the 12-race card reach $7.76 million, up from $6.24 million in 2014.
"It was a great racing program and we had a packed house," said Gulfstream general manager P.J. Campo. "We want to thank the breeders, owners, and horsemen for supporting the program, all the fans, and our equine athletes. We're looking forward to the next leg on Sept. 3."
