By Paulick Report
David Jacobson and Southern Equine Stable’s Salutos Amigos sat off the early speed before storming home to a 3 ¼ length victory in the $75,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
Uptown Boy sprang right from the gate to the early lead before Salutos Amigos made a vigorous move on his outside to take the lead and pull away in the final furlong.
“He sat off the quick early pace and I waited to wait a little longer than usual to ask him to go,” said winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez. “Once I did at the quarter pole, there was no hesitation. He got the lead with ease and finished strong.”
The 5-year-old gelding by California stallion Salute the Sarge out of the Luhuk mare Sarasota finished the six furlongs in 1:08 2/5 and paid $3.40, $2.80 and $2.10. Uptown Boy completed the $34.80 exacta and paid $10.20 and $4.80. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Happy My Way, who paid $2.40 for show.
“Hopefully this will be the lead into a long and successful summer,” said trainer David Jacobson. “I wanted to get a race into him and this one came up. We may go to Florida next weekend (Grade 2, $250,000 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream July 5). We’ll see how he cools out and eats up and let him tell us, but he has a reservation on a plane Tuesday, so it’s certainly an option.”
Salutos Amigos now sports a 10-2-4 from 29 career starts, good for earnings just short of $1 million.