Annex Nails Fulmini To Win Cutler Bay

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – LNJ Foxwoods and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ even-money favorite Annex nailed the 29/1 longshot Fulmini on the wire to win Saturday’s $100,000 Cutler Bay Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Annex broke from post 6 under Junior Alvarado and settled into a mid-pack position while King of Dreams dueled narrowly inside of It Can Be Done through opening fractions of :24.06, :47.78, and 1:11.45.

It Can Be Done kicked clear from King of Dreams but came under fire from Fulmini, who was sandwiched with a rallying Annex to his outside.

The trio looked set for a dead heat in the shadow of the wire before the Bill Mott-trained Annex pulled ahead to win by a neck, completing the firm turf mile route in 1:34.33.

Fulmini was a nose ahead of It Can Be Done, who fought valiantly along the rail and was 3/4 of a length ahead of Lucky Law, who necked out Hyperfocus for fifth.

King of Dreams, Fighting Force, and Step Dancer completed the order of finish.

Whatmakessammyrun scratched.

Annex’s win followed similar late-running triumphs here on January 16 (his debut) and in the 1 1/16-mile Palm Beach Stakes last time out to remain unbeaten through 3 starts. The Constitution colt, an RNA for $65,000 as a yearling, has now earned $144,280.

“It’s always special to race for Mr. Mott,” Alvarado said. “He lets you do what you think is right in a race. Today, there wasn’t much pace on paper. He broke good. He put himself in a good spot and I wasn’t going to take anything away from him. After that, I just kept picking it up, little by little. He’s still very green, which makes my job a little challenging, but he got it done.”

Annex returned $4.20 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show. Fulmini brought back $15.20 to place and $7 to show. It Can Be Done paid $5.20 to show.