Shaq Diesel Goes Away a Winner in Saturday’s Benny the Bull

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Recently purchased by Middle East businessman Omar Ghrghar during the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale, Shaq Diesel visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle with trainer David Fawkes one last time Saturday after scoring a dominating victory in the $75,000 Benny the Bull Handicap.

“He’s leaving,” Fawkes said. “He’s been great to me. I love the horse. I hate to see him go, but it is what it is.”

Shaq Diesel ($5.80), a multiple-stakes winner with $380,000 in earnings in 25 prior starts for Fawkes and his former owners, was purchased for $160,000.

The 5-year-old Florida-bred son of Khozan looked like a bargain buy while winning the Benny the Bull, a seven-furlong handicap for 3-year-olds and up. The 124-pound highweight, who conceded between three and six pounds to his six rivals, was in full control throughout under regular jockey Miguel Vasquez. After breaking alertly from his outside post position, the 9-5 favorite closely stalked pacesetter General Ledger along the backstretch and around the far turn before effortlessly moving to the lead entering the stretch. Shaq Diesel pulled away through the stretch to win by 4 ½ lengths while completing the distance in 1:22.42 over a sealed sloppy track.

“The horse, he was perfect. He broke good and I tried to put him in a good position,” Vasquez said. “At the three-eighths [pole] I used him a little bit and he won easy.”

The Golden Gorilla rallied from off the pace under Jose Morelos to finish second, another 4 ½ lengths ahead of Fawkes-trained Pure Class, who was ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.

Shaq Diesel, an eight-race winner from 26 starts, collected his sixth victory from 13 races at the seven-furlong distance.