Centaur Farms’ 5-year-old homebred Gottcha Gold bounced back from an unfortunate foray to California in late January, when ninth in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita, to post a commanding 3½-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Skip Away Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park with regular rider Chuck Lopez aboard.

Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ 6-year-old gelding Mr. Umphrey took command early in the 1 1/8-mile test for older horses, setting a fast pace through a half-mile in 45 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:09 2/5 with Gottcha Gold rating comfortably in second. Mr. Umphrey held on for second at 40-1, one length before Stuart Janney III’s Hunting third in the field of eight after a slow start.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Gottcha Gold is a son of Coronado’s Quest that was a major player last year winning two graded stakes at Monmouth Park and finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile there in October. He paid $8.20 and was timed in 1:51:31 over the fast track. IEAH Stable and partners’s Frost Giant was the 6-5 favorite and finished fourth.   

Winning Jockey Quotes

Chuck Lopez:

“He’s been my big horse since last year.  I’m glad for the connections (trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr.; owner, Centaur Farms, Inc.) for letting me stay with him.  He’s really matured since I first rode him last year.  I’ve been able to figure out his quirks and what makes him tick.  He really meets me halfway.  He can be very headstrong, but I’ve learned to keep him even-keeled.  Eddie’s (Plesa Jr.) instructions to me were to ignore Mr. Umphrey, which was fine for me, but it was a little harder for him (Gotcha Gold).  He broke OK.  I wanted to let Mr. Umphrey get in front of me and so I eased in behind him into the first turn.  I didn’t want to take too much out of him and I didn’t want him to come off of the bridle either; I let him run just enough.  We didn’t go as fast as I thought we would.  By the half-mile pole I had him calm and I was just biding my time.  He passed Mr. Umphrey easy (on the far turn).  He really didn’t care for the track at Santa Anita; it was like concrete.  He didn’t apply himself that day like he did today.”

Winning Trainer Quote

Eddie Plesa Jr.:

“I told Chuckie (Lopez) before the race to pay absolutely no attention to that horse (Mr. Umphrey) if he goes out on the lead. I said ‘Act like he isn’t even in the race. Let our horse run his race,’ and that’s the way it worked. This win is especially important. First, it puts away the idea that he is ‘Monmouth only’ and he accomplished it going a mile-and-an-eighth. It also helps you forget about the trip to California where nothing went right. We’ll take him back to Monmouth this summer, knock on wood, if all goes. It’s a great place to be and leaves you lots of options to ship to important stakes anywhere in the northeast.”

Fractions:   

23:01, 45:61, 1:09:41, 1:36:39 & 1:51:31