Willy Boi Cuts Back, Draws Away to Win Hutcheson

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Lea Farms LLC’s Willy Boi stepped off the Triple Crown trail and into the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle Saturday, capturing the $75,000 Hutcheson Stakes with a gritty performance.

The Hutcheson, a 6-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, highlighted a 12-race program, along with the $75,000 Any Limit and the $75,000 Sanibel Island.

After tiring to finish far back in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) last time out, Willy Boi ran his undefeated record in sprints to 3-for-3 while cutting back in distance in the Hutcheson. The gelded son of Uncaptured pressed a rapid pace while racing between Warrior’s Pride on the inside and favored Roderick to his outside during a first quarter of a mile in 21.97 and a half-mile in 44.99 seconds. The Jeff Engler-trained Florida-bred asserted himself turning into the stretch and kicked away to victory over a sealed sloppy track.

“I was pretty confident. Jeff had him ready. He tried him long the last time – he had to. The horse didn’t want to go that long. He showed today he’s a sprinter,” jockey Corey Lanerie said. “I was really confident, especially coming out of the route race and him having a little bit more air. The horse put me in a great position and I just had to be a great passenger.”

Willy Boi, who won both of his races at six furlongs before running in the Holy Bull, ran six furlongs in 1:10.93 to score by 1 ¾ lengths over a late closing Ultimate Badger.

“He’s just a nice horse. He was two-for-two and we wanted to give him a shot in the Holy Bull. We felt pretty confident coming back into today, and he ran great so we’re happy,” Engler said. “We’re so happy for the owners. This is one of the first horses they bought, and he’s just turned out to be a good one. We’re just real excited for him.” Willy Boi was purchased for $40,000 at the October 2020 OBS 2-year-olds-in-training sale. Ultimate Badger, who was a distant third in the Swale (G3) last time out, trailed the field early before closing on the far outside to finish second under Paco Lopez, a length ahead of Lauda Speed. Roderick, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz, faded to last in a field of six.

Farsighted Looks Good Winning Saturday’s Any Limit

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Farsighted made a most promising 2021 debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park while registering a 4 ¼ -length victory in the $75,000 Any Limit.

The Any Limit, a 6-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, highlighted Saturday’s program, along with the $75,000 Hutcheson and the $75,000 Captiva Island.

Unraced since the Nov. 28 Golden Rod, in which she set the pace before tiring at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs, Farsighted was a force from start to finish in the Any Limit.  The Rusty Arnold-trained daughter of Bernardini stalked pacesetter and 6-5 favorite Boston Post Road, who set fractions of 22.68 and 46.08 seconds for the first half-mile. Farsighted made a strong move to the lead entering the stretch under Jose Ortiz and was never threatened thereafter to win her first stakes.

“Everything went great. I left it up to [jockey Jose Ortiz]. I didn’t know if she’d be that close, but she just outbroke the gate and he said he was there and went on,” Arnold said. “Her first three sprints were great. I tried her long, and it didn’t work. We gave her a little time and she came back very good.”

Before unsuccessfully stretching out in the Golden Rod, Farsighted finished a troubled fourth in her career debut at Churchill Sept. 4 before breaking her maiden at six furlongs and finishing second in the 6 ½-furlong Songbird at Keeneland.

Farsighted ($12.20) ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.95.

“She broke really sharp. [Boston Post Road] wanted the lead, so I sat off it. I felt like I had a lot of horse the whole way,” Ortiz said after his third victory on Saturday’s card. “When she got to the quarter-pole, I asked her to go, and she responded.”

Shop Girl rallied to finish second, three quarters of a length ahead of Feeling Mischief. Boston Post Road faded to fourth a half-length farther back.

A Bit of Both Splashes to Captiva Island Victory

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Darsan Inc., Bethlehem Stables and David Simon’s A Bit of Both came with a steady run down the center of the stretch to reel in 4-5 favorite Miss Auramet and post a half-length victory in and off-the-turf edition of the $75,000 Captiva Island for fillies and mares 4 and older.

Ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Mike Maker, who earlier in the day teamed up to win a 1 1/16-mile turf claimer with 6-year-old Dream Friend, A Bit of Both ($8.80) ran five furlongs in 58.93 seconds over a sloppy and sealed main track to earn her fourth career stakes win.

Queen of Shades was sent to the lead from her rail post and ran the opening quarter of a mile in 22.48 seconds, pressed on her right by Miss Auramet, with Tracy Ann’s Legacy on the far outside, until Miss Auramet forged a short lead on the turn after a half in 45.90. A Bit of Both raced in fifth before being tipped wide by Ortiz approaching the stretch and maintaining a steady drive through the lane for her 10th lifetime win from 18 starts.

Miss Auramet was second, followed by Tracy Ann’s Legacy, Choose Joy, Nightlife, Compensate and Queen of Shades.