HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Three Diamonds Farm’s Tide of the Sea led from gate to wire in Saturday’s $150,000 W. L. McKnight Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Tide of the Sea broke strongly from post 7 under Tyler Gaffalione and went straight to the front, where he settled comfortably while posting fractions of :24 flat, :48.68, 1:12.57, and 1:36.81 through the opening mile.
His fellow Mike Maker stablemate Temple presented a major challenge as they rounded the far turn for the second time and appeared to take a brief lead in the stretch, but Tide of the Sea fought back gamely along the rail.
Repelling Temple near the 1/16 pole, Tide of the Sea surged ahead in the shadow of the wire before crossing 3/4 of a length clear, completing the 1 1/2-mile firm turf route in 2:24.57.
“His best races were in front when he gets loose comfortably,” Gaffalione said. “He traveled great throughout and I just let him do his own thing. He finished up really well when (Temple) came up and challenged him. All credit goes to Mike and his team.”
Temple was a 1/2-length clear of the 8/5 favorite Doswell, who rated in third throughout but couldn’t close when needed.
Sadler’s Joy, Channel Cat, Sir Anthony, Succeedandsurpass, Clear Vision, Mirinaque, Sir Sahib, and Tintoretto completed the order of finish.
Tide of the Sea’s win was his first at the stakes level and third in his past four starts, with his lone defeat coming as a sixth-place finish last time out in the local Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2). The 5-year-old intact son of Channel Maker’s record now stands at 10-4-3-1 with $297,285 earned.
Tide of the Sea returned $10 to win, $6 to place, and $3.60 to show. Temple brought back $8 to place and $4 to show, while Doswell paid $2.60 to show.
