Maryland's Lacey Gaudet a Winner in $1.1 Million Claiming Crown
Maryland's Lacey Gaudet a Winner in $1.1 Million Claiming Crown
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - Maryland trainer Lacey Gaudet, who is based at Laurel Park, made the most of her trip to South Florida by saddling Farfellow Farm's Marabea to victory Saturday in the $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara at Gulfstream Park.
Claimed in September for $25,000, Marabea, ridden by Jose Lezcano, was a neck winner over Lobelia, who finished a neck in front of the third-place finisher, Seeking Treasure, in the field of 14 fillies and mares.
Gaudet said she experienced some anxious moments when it appeared Marabea, who raced well off of a dawdling pace that produced a half-mile time of :51.65, wasn’t going to be able to overcome the crowded quarters she found herself in on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
“I was nervous. She broke fine but then they kind of came over on her,” Gaudet commented. “I thought she was going to be in trouble, but you’ve got to be confident with a rider like Lezcano. He put her in the spot where he knew she need to be and he figured out the right moment and got there in time. He did a great job.”
Gaudet, who was winning her first race ever at Gulfstream Park, said there is more to be discovered about Marabea, who was bred in Great Britain and began her career in Italy.
“I’m not sure what kind of filly she is,” she remarked. “She’s a very, very nice filly. She clearly ran a race back to what she did last time. She could be any kind of filly.”
Gaudet brought three horses to Gulfstream after winning three 'Win & You're In' races to the Claiming Crown at Laurel Park Nov. 6. Gaudet also saddled Mister Diz Stakes winner John Jones to a third-place finish in the $200,000 Claiming Crown and Music Critik to a eight-place finish in the $125,000 Emerald.
Marabea was one of several Maryland horses to compete at Gulfstream in Saturday's Claiming Crown. Winning Move Stable's Spectacular Me, who also won on 'Win & You're In,' day at Laurel, won the $110,000 Claiming Crown Distaff Dash. Proper Feud, another 'Win & You're In' winner, finished second in the Express. Super Spender, who finished fifth in an optional allowance Oct. 14 before shipping to South Florida to win at Gulfstream West, won the $110,000 Canterbury.
Racing resumes Sunday at Laurel with a $1,904.16 carryover in the first race Super Hi 5 and a Rainbow 6 carryover of $3,052.20. First race post time is 12:30 p.m.
