Padua Stable’s  English-bred 3-year-old Duke of Homberg was away quickly from the rail under jockey Alan Garcia in Saturday’s $125,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, put away challenger Tamborim into the far turn, and held a safe margin of 1¼ lengths at the finish over Dogwood Stable’s Lime Rickey.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Duke of Homberg finished a troubled fifth last out in the Dania Beach Stakes over the Gulfstream course on Jan. 17, but had clear sailing Saturday as he paid $8 to win and was timed in 1:41:30 over the firm turf. IEAH Stable’s Into My Soul, the favorite, finished third, 1½ lengths behind the runner-up in the field of seven 3-year-olds. 

Winning Jockey Quotes

Alan Garcia:

“The horse broke really well this time and was great all the way through. Last time I couldn’t get him to do anything. We were in there the whole way. I knew (Edgar) Prado (on Tamborim) would make a push so I was trying to stay with him. The trainer had told me earlier that if we got out front to just let him run his race. We were in there the whole time. Thank God, we had a little more at the end.” 

Winning Trainer Quote

Tom Albertrani:

“We didn’t plan for him to be in front, but, just wherever he was, relaxed and comfortable. He’s got natural speed and had Post 1. The fractions were moderate, so it worked out. He had trouble in his last race. He trains like a turf horse, but that’s not to say that somewhere down the line we might not try him in a race that comes off turf. He might get a little time now. It’s a long season ahead.”

(Note: Padua Stable owner Satish Sanan said Duke of Homberg was purchased privately after his first two starts in France.)

Fractions:   

24:48, 48:32, 1:11:78. 1:35:18 & 1:41:30