Asher’s Edge Much the Best in $75,000 Umphrey Sprint

Leo Toro Extends Win Streak to Three in $75,000 Ginger Punch

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Neither the outside post nor a change of surface made a difference to J J Brevan Stable’s Asher’s Edge, who stalked pacesetting favorite Cruzin Man before surging past at the top of the stretch and going on to win Saturday’s $75,000 Bob Umphrey Sprint by 2 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream Park.

The five-furlong Umphrey for 3-year-olds and up was third of five stakes worth $495,000 in purses on an 11-race program headlined by the $200,000 Princess Rooney (G3), a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) won gate to wire by Haulin Ice.

Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez for trainer David Fawkes, Asher’s Edge ($8) covered the distance in 56.08 seconds over the all-weather Tapeta course. Originally carded for the grass, it was moved to the synthetic for a fourth straight year by a mid-afternoon rainstorm.

It was the second straight Umphrey victory for Fawkes, who captured last year’s edition with recently Grade 3-placed Reef Runner. Asher’s Edge improved his record to three wins, two seconds and two thirds in eight career tries on Tapeta.

“I think he’s much better on the Tapeta, much better,” Fawkes said. “You watch him work on the Tapeta compared to the dirt, it’s a world of difference.”

Cruzin Man, sent off the 5-2 top choice off his front-running score at the course and distance Aug. 23, went the opening quarter-mile in a sharp 21.62 seconds with Gonzalez and Asher’s Edge pressing at his right hip. Abrir Caminos followed in third tracked by stablemates Winfromwithin and Biz Biz Buzz.

Asher’s Edge, who broke outside each of his five rivals, wrested the lead from Cruzin Man leaving the far turn after a half-mile in 44.46. He continued to gain separation through the lane, going on to secure his fourth win from 14 starts and first since a five-furlong optional claimer on the Gulfstream turf Jan. 26.

“We talked about the outside post and I told Edwin, ‘You’ll be fine. There’s plenty of speed and you’ll be able to watch the race develop.’ He was stepping forward when the doors opened. He got a flyer, Edwin did a great job of letting the other horse go and he just sat there,” Fawkes said. “ I was real happy when I looked up at the clock and I saw 21 and 4 for the opening quarter. You know, if they go too fast early it kills you. Edwin rode a great race.”

Abrir Caminos got up for second, a length ahead of Biz Biz Buzz followed by Winfromwithin, Cruzin Man and Eamonn. Multiple stakes-winning 9-year-old Xy Speed, the 5-2 program favorite, Louie the Sun King and El Apagon were scratched.

“From the gate he broke really sharp. I didn’t want to use him to put him there,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t want to be in front, so I let the speed go. He told me when he wanted to go and he kept going.”

The Umphrey is named after Bob Umphrey, the popular racing secretary at Gulfstream, Calder Race Course and Golden Gate Fields who passed away in 2006. Umphrey was key in changing horsemen’s perceptions about racing in South Florida in the spring, summer and fall. Along with Calder’s director of marketing Mike Cronin, Umphrey helped developed summer stakes programs like the “Summit of Speed,” and “June Jam” while convincing West Coast trainers like Ron McAnally and Gary Jones to ship from California to Calder during the summer months.

Leo Toro Extends Win Streak to Three in $75,000 Ginger Punch

Miller Racing’s Leo Toro, facing stakes company for the first time, extended her own win streak while ending that of Starship Impulsive with a determined half-length victory over the favored multiple stakes winner in Saturday’s $75,000 Ginger Punch Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The Ginger Punch for fillies and mares 3 and up anchored an 11-race program featuring five stakes worth $495,000 in purses headlined by the $200,000 Princess Rooney (G3), a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) won gate to wire by Haulin Ice.

It was the second stakes win of the day for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. following Haulin Ice and second career stakes win for jockey Micah Husbands, following Mrs. Gambolini in the Golden Beach overnight handicap April 27 at Gulfstream.

Breaking outside all but Starship Impulsive in the field of nine, Leo Toro ($8.60) was coming off back-to-back front-running victories, the most recent a 9 ¾-length romp going one mile on the Colonial Downs turf July 16, also with Husbands up.

Leo Toro found herself on the lead after the opening quarter-mile in 24.46 seconds, and was still there following a half in 48.02 racing in the two path with Lets Go Koko providing pressure along the rail and Starship Impulsive sitting patiently in the clear three wide. Six furlongs went in 1:11.64 with the top trio unchanged until Starship Impulsive turned up the pressure at the top of the stretch, but Leo Toro held firm and won in 1:39.62 for one-mile and 70 yards on the all-weather Tapeta course.

Though her win streak was stopped at four races, Starship Impulsive held second by two lengths over Show Off. Lets Go Koko, Oshala, Crafty Collector, Charlie’s Wish, Burnaway and Starship Agenda completed the order of finish. Lady Cha Cha was scratched when the race was moved off the turf following mid-afternoon rain.

“We got a good break and I didn’t want to take it away from her and take her back if she wanted to be up there,” Husbands said. “I felt like there was some pressure from the inside, but the way she was on the bridle I didn’t want to touch her head too much because I didn’t want her to run off.

“I just kept my hands down and she relaxed and when I asked her I just felt her fighting the whole way,” he added. “On the inside and outside I got sandwiched at the top of the lane, but I just kept my head down and kept riding and she fought hard for me.”

Florida-bred Ginger Punch won 12 of 22 starts and more than $3 million in purses from 2006-08, and was named champion older mare of 2007. A Stronach Stables homebred trained by late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, she won five Grade 1 stakes including three during her title year led by the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.