OCTANE Wins third FSS with Marion County triumph

Wins Third Florida Sire Stakes With Marion County Triumph

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

OLDSMAR, FL—Arindel homebred Octane won his first added-money test since taking the $400,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes In Reality at Gulfstream Park in September of 2021 as he took the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 10. A field of seven Florida-bred colts and geldings, 3-years-old and older and eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes went seven furlongs.

The half-length victory gave jockey Antonio Gallardo a Florida Sire Stakes double on the day after he also won the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala with R Adios Jersey three races earlier. (See story on page 26).

Trained by Carlos David, Octane broke a step slow on the rail in the Marion County but immediately went after 1-2 favorite Willy Boi, who was first from the gate in post six. Octane took over leaving the seven furlong chute and kept a neck lead on Willy Boi while setting quarter-mile fractions of :22.98 and :46.16 as Gatsby chased in third from two lengths back.

Willy Boi went a bit wide coming out of the turn and Octane took advantage to increase his margin to a half-length when they turned for home. Willy Boi continued to fight the length of the stretch but could not close the gap on Octane, who won by a half-length in 1:23 flat on the fast track. Willy Boi was second with Gatsby another head back in third. They were followed, in order, by Noble Drama, Shivaree, Morgan Point and Justice Warrior.

“The track was playing pretty fast and Carlos [David] told me ‘you don’t have a choice and had to go,’’ Gallardo said “I knew my horse had the speed. He was laying third [after the start]. [Willy Boi] broke in front and the jockey [Chantal Sutherland] tried to put him in position. But I knew if I asked [Octane] a little bit, he would make the lead. Sometimes when you’re down inside and there’s not a lot of speed, you have to play your game. When [Willy Boi] came to me on the outside and he couldn’t get by, I knew I was in the game. Carlos did a really good job. I’ve been friends with him a long time and I’m happy to win a stakes-race for him.”

David said he wanted Octane in front early in the race and he thought he had a strategic advantage because Sutherland formerly rode Gatsby, who is also trained by David and is a full brother to Octane, in his last two starts.

“I knew Willy Boi was going to press for the lead,” David said. “[Octane] broke a tad slow but he got up there and got the lead. I know Chantal [Sutherland] and she knows Gatsby. She knew Gatsby was back there waiting and stalking. So I thought she would try to hold back a little bit [on Willy Boi]. So, I thought Octane would get the lead with Willy Boi pressing and Gatsby in third and it worked out that way. I knew speed was holding. I obviously wanted to run one-two, but [Gatsby] tried. I’m just glad we got the win.

Following his victories in the Florida Sire Stakes In Reality and Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed as a 2-year-old, Octane was given a break before coming back in July to finish a dull seventh in the $75,000 Carry Back won by Steal Sunshine at Gulfstream going seven furlongs. He was then third in a first level, $75,000 optional claiming won by Dean Delivers at seven furlongs in August before winning a first level, $25,000 optional claiming going six furlongs in September. He was second to O’Connor (Chi) in a second-level, $62,500 optional claiming at a mile-and-a-sixteenth in his last start before the Marion County.

“We gave him a little bit of a break after he won the Florida Sire Stakes as a 2-year-old. We did the right thing not sending him to the Breeders’ Cup and we just gave him some time off to recover. He’s a great 3-year-old and he’s got a bright future in front of him.”

By Brethren out of Star Recruit, by Aldebaran, Octane has now won five of nine starts with two seconds and a third while banking $518,480.

He paid $12.60 to win.

The now 4-year-old Gatsby, who won the Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park in January and is multiple stakes-placed, was the first foal for Star Recruit, who has also produced a 2-yearold full-brother to Octane and Gatsby in winner Jellybean. Arindel sold Star Recruit for $4,500 to Fly By in the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Sale. Star Recruit was bred to Journeyman Stud stallion Uncle Chuck in 2022. TFH