Vision Perfect Ends Year Strong in $100,000 Janus

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Mr. Amore Stable’s Vision Perfect put a tidy bow on a strong 2018 season on Saturday, winning his fourth stakes event of the year in the $100,000 Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking sharply from post 3 as the 6/5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Vision Perfect outhustled the two foes to his inside and took up position along the rail before dueling with Pay Any Price through an opening 1/4-mile in :21.31. Midway through the far turn, Pay Any Price was struggling all-out to keep up, but Vision Perfect seemed to be floating over the turf. Straightening for home with a growing advantage, Vision Perfect was put to task inside the final furlong, easily securing his position. The Jason Servis trainee crossed the wire with a 2 1/2-length advantage in a final time of :54.71 for the 5-furlong sprint over the firm turf course.

“I had a hold,” said Ortiz, Jr. “I wasn’t rushing him. I just rode him with confidence. He broke fast out of there and kept on going. He’s a nice horse, a nice sprinter.”

Extravagant Kid hopped at the start but rallied strongly to overtake Pay Any Price in midstretch for second by 2 1/2 lengths. Axtell completed the superfecta over Hogy and Oak Bluffs by a 1/2-length each, while Little Chesney, Field Trip, and Mo Dont No never threatened and completed the order of finish. Quijote was scratched as a Main Track Only entry.

Vision Perfect’s win was his second straight following a strong performance in the $100,000 Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on December 1. The 6-year-old son of Pollard’s Vision now carries a record of 33-8-4-5 with $777,304 in earnings.

Vision Perfect returned $4.60 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.40 to show. Extravagant Kid brought back $3.40 to place and $2.80 to show, while Pay Any Price paid $3.20 to show.