Texas Wedge Edges Carotari in World of Trouble Turf Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – A hard-fought stretch battle saw Texas Wedge get up just in time to edge Carotari at the wire to win Saturday’s $150,000 World of Trouble Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking from post 2 under Flavien Prat at 9/2 odds, Texas Wedge was well into stride but soon relaxed as Pay Any Price quarter-horsed his way to the early lead. Saving ground through the far turn, Texas Wedge remained patiently handled through an opening 1/4-mile in :21.68.

Off the far turn, Prat tipped Texas Wedge out to run three-wide to the front. Carotari took the lead off the turn and began inching away from Pay Any Price, but Texas Wedge was glued to his right hip and moved in unison.

Grinding his way alongside Carotari in deep stretch, Texas Wedge inched away in the shadow of the wire before crossing a neck ahead. The Peter Miller trainee completed the 5-furlong sprint over the firm turf course in :55.84.

“We had a good trip,” Prat said. “We were behind the horse to beat. I was able to move around at the 1/4 pole, and then he was game to catch the leader.”

Carotari ran seemingly too well to lose but had to settle for second by 3/4 of a length over a late-running Fielder. The 1/2 favorite Shekky Shebaz had to check in the final jumps after almost running up on Carotari and was a head back in fourth, a likely disappointment for punters who bet 56% of the total show pool on him.

There was a gap of 3 lengths back to Elusive Mischief in fifth, with Pay Any Price, Vision Perfect, and Fixed Point completing the order of finish in the eight-horse field.

Texas Wedge’s win was his second straight, having taken the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on January 1 for co-owners Altamira Racing Stable, Rafter JR Ranch, STD Racing Stable, and A. Miler. The 5-year-old gelded son of Colonel John, purchased for $30,000 as an unraced juvenile, has now earned $403,740 to go with a record of 14-6-3-2.

“Great ride, great trip; Flavien’s a great jockey,” Miller said. “This horse, giving six pounds to the runner-up and he’s not a big horse, it did its job and evened the race out. I’m just really proud of the horse. He ran a big race.”

Texas Wedge returned $11.80 to win, $6.40 to place, and $5 to show. Carotari brought back $5.60 to place and $4.80 to show, while Fielder paid $11.60 to show.