Published:
Monday, September 30, 2019
Bahamian Squall added two more long shot winners to his ledger at Gulfstream Park yesterday, giving him three in three days and a total of five in his freshman crop. Both Sun Squall, who won the fourth race, and Rosalda, who won the eighth, broke their maidens in their second career starts.
With talented youngster Cristian Torres in the saddle, Sun Squall was off well from the No. 8 post, settled in fourth down the backstretch, went after the leaders on the turn and proved best in the stretch, leading the 7/10 favorite home by 1 1/4 lengths. The gelding bred by Sunshine Thoroughbred Corp. made up five lengths in the final eighth, getting the six furlongs in 1:11.92 and paying $19.80. He earned a check of $16,361.
Rosalda broke last with Luca Panici, who then rushed her up to track the leaders in fourth down the backstretch. At the top of the stretch she was still six lengths behind, but a powerful late run resulted in victory by three-quarters of a length. The filly bred by Robert C. Roffey Jr. paid $31, and collected a check for $19,000.
Bahamian Squall's five winners have come from just nine starters. He's third on the Florida freshman sire list with progeny earnings of $202,471, and he's the only sire among the top 30 on the Blood-Horse's first-crop list whose percentage of winners to starters is higher than 50 percent.