Gulf Coast started 2021 in style for WinStar Stablemates Racing LLC on New Year’s Day at Gulfstream Park with a victory in the $75,000 Cash Run S.
After a pair of six-furlong starts rewarded her owners with a maiden debut win and a second in last month’s Sandpiper S. at Tampa Bay Downs, the newly-turned 3-year-old filly stretched out to a mile for Thursday’s race.
Gulf Coast was unhurried out of the gate and was in sixth as the field left the chute for the main track. She steadily cut into her deficit down the backstretch and into the turn to move into second with a quarter-mile to run. She forged past pacesetter Adios Trippi in upper stretch then dug in late to hold off Honorifique by a half-length in 1:37.16 for the mile on the fast track.
“We ran her back in 26 days, 27 days and that’s not usually what we do, but we were looking for some black-type,” trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. “She showed class and quality to us, but now we’ve got the win in a stakes out of the way. I think two turns, yes, but I think six weeks, too.”
With more stakes events on the horizon, Gulf Coast is now 2-1-0 in three starts and has earned $73,705.
