5 Abr. USA. Pan American H. G3. Gulfstream Park. 12f. Turf. 150.000 $
1.- PRESIOUS PASSION (A.Smith)
2.- DRILLING FOR OIL (M.Cruz)
3.- INTERPATATION (T.Turner)


Patricia Generazio’s Presious Passion went right to the front in the $150,000 Pan American Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park, opening a 12-length lead in the 1 1/2-mile turf contest and holding off the late runners to post a game 1 1/2-length victory.

Presious Passion quickly sprinted clear of his seven opponents, increasing his margin steadily down the backstretch and past the stands the first time with the rest of the field grouped together a dozen lengths behind.

Presious Passion was able to hold his commanding lead after one mile in 1:37.82 but when the field began closing the gap approaching the final turn it appeared that Presious Passion’s front-running effort was all for naught, but the Royal Anthem gelding gamely held off the challengers, crossing the finish line in 2:26.15 over the firm turf course.

Jockey Ariel Smith, aboard for the first time, tried to get Presious Passion to relax after he grabbed hold of the bit.

“He started to do that, and I just tried to rate him as best I could,” Smith said. “I took a peek back on the backstretch and I didn’t see anyone or hear anyone, so I took a bigger peek back and I saw why I couldn’t hear anyone or see anyone. When we got to the half-mile pole I just tried to let him go and he responded to me.”

Drilling for Oil, who led the second flight for much of the race, held second, 1 3/4 lengths to the good of Interpatation. Even money favorite Fracas (Ire) finished seventh.

“We didn’t plan to go to the front,” trainer Mary Hartmann said. “I was surprised, but he’s a big strong horse and when he sees daylight he runs to it.”

The Pan American was Presious Passion’s fourth career stakes victory, three of them graded, and the five-year-old has now earned $471,028 with seven wins from 27 starts.

He is the first winner out of the unraced Marquetry mare Princesa’s Passion.