Sunday, February 23, 2014 |
Divine Oath took the lead late in the stretch to win by a neck over rallying Big Bazinga (7) in yesterday's allowance race, going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park.Coming off an impressive debut win last month, Divine Oath was sent off as the 8/5 favorite breaking from post position 11 with jockey Javier Catsellano in the irons.
Breaking in slightly at the start, Divine Oath quickly straightened as Castellano was content to let other dictate the pace going into the first turn. Front runners Charlie the Boss (10) and Chart Topper (6) hooked up early to open up eight lengths on the field after an opening quarter mile in :23.11.Divine Oath looked comfortable as Castellano kept him in the clear three wide down the backstretch.
Unchanged through a half mile in :45.56, Castellano then encouraged Divine Oath who responded well taking aim at the two leaders some six lengths ahead of the field. Coming out of the far turn, Castellano set Divine Oath down with several others making their bid for the lead.
Running well in the stretch, Divine Oath took the lead with less than a sixteenth of a mile to go, passing a stuburn foe in Chart Topper (6) and holding off a fast closing Big Bazinga (7) to win by a neck in a final time of 1:28.27.
Divine Oath looked great throughout and will likely point towards a stake race for his next start.
To watch a Race Replay CLICK HERE