GAZEBO STAKES

Brewing gets lead, wires Gazebo field

HOT SPRINGS - From a maiden race to a stakes winner.

Brewing was a three length gate-to-wire winner over Big Sugar Soda in the $100,000 Gazebo Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Third-place finisher Condo Closing stumbled shortly after crossing the wire and unseated jockey Alex Canchari.

Canchari was transported to Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs for observation but had movement in all extremities, Oaklawn media relations director Jennifer Hoyt said.

Condo Closing, 2¼ lengths behind Big Sugar Soda, appeared to escape serious injury.

Condo Closing finished a half-length ahead of Guns Loaded, who was followed, in order, by Speightsong, Kendall’s Boy, Dunkin Bend and Mister Pollard.

Dunkin Bend is owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro.

Bagg O’Day and 2-1 program favorite Boji Moon (foot bruise) were scratched.

Brewing, who was ridden by Jon Court, paid $8.80, $4.80 and $3.60. Big Sugar Soda paid $8.20 and $5. Condo Closing paid $5.

Brewing increased his career earnings to $94,931 following his second victory in six starts.

He races for owner/ breeder Zayat Stables LLC (Ahmed Zayat) and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Brewing entered the Gazebo off a front-running Feb. 22 maiden victory.

The son of Maimonides employed the same strategy in the Gazebo, which was run over a wet-fast surface that had been sealed after rain began falling about two hours earlier. Sealing, or packing the track down with maintenance equipment, is designed to keep water from penetrating the surface.

Following a sharp break from post 8, Brewing made it look easy, Court said.

“He went to the lead, just took command from there, and finished up well in front of them,” Court said. “Impressive.”

Brewing ran 6 furlongs in a stakes-record 1:10.45. The Gazebo has been run for three years after Oaklawn eliminated the Mountain Valley, another 6-furlong race for 3-year-olds, which was run for the first time in 1938 before its final running in 2011.

Brewing recorded splits of :21.95 for the opening quarter and was three lengths clear after a :45.66 half-mile.

Lukas praised Court for hustling Brewing to the front.

“He’s a very gusty little horse,” Lukas said. “I thought if he got away good, we had a good chance.”

Before his Feb. 22 victory, Brewing was a weakening fourth (he was disqualified and placed sixth for interference in the stretch) in a highly productive Jan. 11 maiden sprint.

That race also produced next-out winners Street Strategy and Discipline.

Brewing is from the first crop of Maimonides, purchased for $4.6 million by Zayat at the 2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Maimonides won his career debut by 11 ½ lengths, then ran third in his only other start, the $250,000 Grade I Hopeful Stakes. He was retired because of a leg injury.

Maimonides is a half-brother to Grade I winners Roman Ruler and El Corredor.

Lukas said Brewing will be pointed toward the $100,000 Bachelor Stakes on April 11.

Sports, Pages 34 on 03/23/2014

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