It must have
been the weekend for dead heat finishes because just a day after Bahnah and
Brazen Persuasion hit the wire together in the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes,
Backseat Memories and Grand Tito had to settle for a draw in the first running
of the Showing Up Stakes at 8.5
furlongs over Gulfstream Park’s turf course.
Despite
never before having tried the grass, Sr. Quisqueyano was sent to post as the favorite. Given that he was the obvious
class of the field, the bettors’ confidence in him really came as no surprise.
Under jockey Carlos Olivero, Sr. Quisqueyano looked well on his way to paying
dividends to his backers until the field turned for home. Despite being allowed
to get away with glacial fractions, the bay Elusive Quality colt was unable to
continue to show the way on the new surface.
As Sr.
Quisqueyano backpedaled, Grand Tito
took over the lead and kicked on for home. Behind him, Backseat Memories ducked
to the inside to find racing room and charged in hot pursuit after the leader.
The green-blinkered Backseat Memories
managed to head Grand Tito in deep stretch, but the Candy Ride colt was not
giving up so easily. Showing enormous heart, Grand Tito battled back, and two
noses, one in green blinkers and the other in blue blinkers, hit the wire simultaneously.
The drama
did not end with the photo, however, as Backseat Memories then had to survive
an inquiry in order for his share of the win to stand. Manoel Cruz, the jockey
aboard third place finisher Starship Zorro, lodged a protest against Fernando Jara, Backseat Memories’ jockey
for interference. When Backseat Memories shifted to the inside to make his
move, Starship Zorro appeared to be pinched back as Backseat Memories drifted
in and Dr. Chase drifted out. After reviewing the film, the stewards disallowed
the protest. El Jefe Grande, Dr. Chase, Saturday Special, and Boy of Summer ran
fourth through seventh. Sr. Quisqueyano, who set the pace, faded to finish
eighth and last.
Today’s
Showing Up victory was Backseat Memories’ second career stakes win and Grand
Tito’s first. Back in May, Backseat Memories won the Mambo Meister Stakes at
8.5 furlongs over Calder’s turf course. Grand Tito, who had a late start to his
career, just broke his maiden at third asking last out. The nicely bred Grand
Tito finished 7th in his career debut on the dirt before losing his turf debut
by a neck. Trainer Antonio Sano was quite pleased with his colt’s performance
and stated that he could run in another stake in Florida or ship north to
Saratoga.
