Gulfstream: Winging It Going for It in Saturday’s $75,000 Proud Man

By David Joseph —-

Winging It Going for It in Saturday’s $75,000 Proud Man

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Jena Antonucci and owners Bella Inizio Farm and Fred Rosen couldn’t possibly have asked more from Winging It in his recent debut at Gulfstream Park, even though the 2-year-old colt came up just short of winning at first asking.

Surely, that’s why they feel confident enough in the son of Into Mischief to enter the Florida-bred colt in Saturday’s $75,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream, a mile stakes for juveniles on turf.

First race post Saturday is 12:20 p.m. The 11-race program, which includes six races on the turf, drew 136 entries (including also eligible).

The weekend of racing begins Friday with a 10-race program with 111 entered (including also eligible) and five on the turf. First race post is 2 p.m. There is a $300,000 guaranteed pool in the Rainbow 6 and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $7,666.20.

Winging It was extremely impressive in defeat July 17 in an off-the-turf maiden special weight race, in which he broke from the often-tricky rail post position and set a pressured pace before falling a neck short of holding off odds-on favorite Kitodan following a tenacious stretch battle to the wire.

“The only disappointment was that he didn’t hit the wire first, but there was obviously so much good out of the race,” Antonucci said. “You can’t teach fight in a horse. To watch him want it and battle for it, I don’t feel like we lost it on quality – just fitness and experience. His perseverance to battle from the inside the whole way through was very telling of his character and his desire to be an athlete.”

Winging It, who was purchased for $240,000 at the OBS 2-Year-Olds and Racing Age Sale in June, is out of Campionessa, a daughter of A. P. Indy who graduated at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Gulfstream.

“We had the opportunity to breeze him on grass when he was still in Ocala. He went through the OBS sale and handled the synthetic,” Antonucci said. “I think it’s just a matter of dialing in on what makes him the optimal racehorse. We’re going to allow him to tell us that one race at a time.”

Samy Camacho has the return call aboard Winging It, who is eligible for the $25,000 Win-Only Bonus offered by the FTBOA to qualified Florida-breds.

Gentry Farms’ Eldon’s Prince brings turf experience into the Proud Man, coming off a second-place finish behind loose-on-the-lead favorite On Thin Ice in a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 1. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained colt made a steady run from seventh to finish 5 ½ lengths behind the winner.

“It was a very workmanlike first race. At the quarter-pole, he lost a little momentum and then he stayed on,” Joseph said. “That’s why we’re taking a chance in the stake. We think the added distance will also play to his liking also.”

The son of Cairo prince was purchased for $280,000 at the OBS April sale.

“A lot of Cairo Princes like the turf and there are a couple in his family that seem to like turf,” Joseph said. “He’s distance. It’s tough to find two turns [on dirt] this time of year, so that was more in the process of trying him on turf.”

Edgard Zayas has the return mount.

Flying Finish Farm Inc.’s Fulton Street really took to the turf to graduate in his second career start June 20. The Rory Miller trainee closely attended the pace before registering a gritty victory by three-quarters of a length. The homebred son of First Dude’s maiden score, which followed a troubled debut on the main track, was subsequently flattered when third-place finisher Into Touring came right back to break his maiden Aug. 1 at Del Mar for trainer Mark Casse.

Jesus Rios will once again ride Fulton Street Saturday.

C My Meister also stepped up on turf last time out following a pair of even efforts over the main track at Gulfstream. The Kelsey Danner-trained son of Bodemeister, who is owned by Wendell Yates, Troy Johnson, Carroll Boys Racing and Maritza Weston, stalked the early pace before drawing away to win by 2 ½ lengths despite racing greenly through the stretch.

Miguel Vasquez has been awarded the return mount.

Constance Wicks and Brian Hanley’s Up Her Sleeve is also coming off a second-out maiden score on turf, bouncing back from a distance finish in slop to score a 1 ¼-length victory at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf July 17. The Kent Sweezey-trained daughter of Mastery is the only filly entered in the Proud Man.

Edwin Gonzalez, who has been on the sidelines since July 3 due to injury, will return to action Saturday to ride Up Her Sleeve.

John Minchello’s Fast N Steady, G. R. Austin’s Onward Austin and Vicente Stella Stables LLC’s Vladislav round out the main body of the field.

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Big and Classy and Arindel’s Gilligan are main-track-only entrants.

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