Trainer Pat Reynolds has yet to earn a victory at the Gulfstream Park meet, but he’s way ahead of the game after winning $43,000 in two slots promotions in the track’s casino.

            The 56-year-old New York native is best known as the trainer of stakes stars Peeping Tom, Watchmon and last year’s third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Backseat Rhythm.

            Reynolds is also a fan of the slot machines and as a member of the Player’s Club – Gulfstream’s frequent-customer rewards program – he snagged the grand prize in a Case & Cash promotion last weekend by picking out a suitcase filled with $25,000. His good luck continued the next day.

“The next day I went into the high-roller slots – I usually don’t play them – and I hit on this machine,” said Reynolds Saturday afternoon. “I thought it said $1,800, but then I noticed there was another zero. So it’s been a good run.”

Reynolds says it’s helped cover some of his bills. While his best runners have missed in their attempts to visit the winner’s circle, Reynolds says the stable is happy and healthy and bigger things lie ahead.

“The horses are doing good,” he said. “We had a couple maidens that didn’t pan out, so we’re just looking more for some straight claiming races later in the meet. When your big horse gets beat it kind of deflates everything, but we’re looking forward to later this meet. We’re not kicking sand on our coffins yet.”

The “big horse” Reynolds mentions is Backseat Rhythm, who races for owner Paul Pompa Jr. She will try to bounce back from a third-place finish in an allowance-race comeback on the turf here Feb. 22.

The daughter of El Corredor is being pointed toward the $150,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on Sat., Mar. 29, Florida Derby Day.

“She’s going to be dangerous in there because she’s a true router,” said Reynolds. “She never got to run her race last time … she got covered up … and the turf doesn’t look like her thing. She was kind of miffed after that race. She was circling around in her stall and all pent up. A mile-and-an-eighth will give her a lot of room to roam.

“If she does well, we’ll start thinking about the (Kentucky) Oaks (G1). She’s got class stamped all over her.”