Photo: MEC
Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s
Carried Interest was sent
off the 1-to-2 favorite in a field of six 3-year-olds in Sunday’s third
race allowance feature at Gulfstream Park as he made his first start
since finishing second in The Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park in late
September.
Carried Interest broke sharply and was in a duel for the lead from
the start on the inside under jockey Joel Rosario while posting fast
fractions in the six-furlong dash, but gave way grudgingly as Cloud Nine
Lumoni’s City of Weston edged by for a half-length decision under
jockey Luis Saez.
“He ran huge,” said trainer Rick Violette, Jr. of Carried Interest’s
game effort in defeat. “It was worst case scenario for him from the
start after the layoff, being hooked from the start in fast fractions
(22 2/5 and 44 3/5), but I was very pleased with his race. He tried to
come back after the other horse got by him. I just wish we could have
switched trips.
“I don’t have anything specifically picked out for his next race,
whether it will be another allowance or a stakes, but he’ll be ready.” A
chestnut son of Henny Hughes, Carried Interest was a $190,000 OBS March
2-year-old sales purchase and won his career debut in early July at
Belmont in his only start before finishing second to Overanalyze in The
Futurity. Sore shins sent him to the sidelines after just the two starts
last year.
City of Weston is a roan/gray son of Holy Bull trained by Antonio
Sano and was making his 14th career start and fourth of the meet. He ran
well to finish second at 50-to-1 behind Merit Man in the Spectacular
Bid Stakes on New Year’s Day and finished third and second in his last
two races run under similar conditions.
City of Weston paid $20 for $2 to win and was timed the six furlongs
in 1:09 1/5 over the ‘fast’ track. Rick Shanley’s Pro Prospect finished
third, 4 ½ lengths behind Carried Interest after dueling with the
favorite to the top of the stretch.