Watson Fights Back to Capture $100,000 Proud Man

2YO Colt Gives Trainer Nick Tomlinson First Stakes Win

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Even being in the winner’s circle countless times over the past decade with stakes horses for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse didn’t prepare Nick Tomlinson for how it would feel standing next to one of his own.

Arindel homebred Watson took the lead leaving the far turn, lost it to even-money favorite Gaelic Legacy in mid-stretch, then fought back in the final yards to win Sunday’s $100,000 Proud Man by a neck at Gulfstream Park.

The Proud Man for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 ½ furlongs and $70,000 Pay Any Price overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up on the grass shared top billing on a 10-race program to close the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Ridden by jockey Samy Camacho for his third winner of the day, Watson ($4.80) covered a fast main track in 1:07.15 to capture his second start and give the 31-year-old Tomlinson, a former Casse assistant, his first stakes winner since going out on his own last fall.

“[There’s] just a lot of emotion. When it’s your own name on the paper, it’s different. I’m very grateful,” Tomlinson said. “It’s not easy to sweat those kinds of races out, but I’m glad he got the job done.”

The field broke evenly from the starting gate but it was Candy Cole, the lone filly in the group, that emerged with the early lead after going a quarter-mile in 23.08 seconds with Watson pressing off her right hip as Etruscan Warrior raced in the clear in third with Gaelic Legacy saving ground on the rail in fourth.

Watson took over the top spot rounding the far turn following a half in 47.64 with Candy Cole making her bid on the outside and Gaelic Legacy waiting inside for room, which came once they straightened for home. Watson clung to the lead in the center of the track, was passed inside the eighth pole but rallied under Camacho in the final 25 yards for a dramatic finish.

“Honestly when I saw [Gaelic Legacy] come up the rail I wasn’t overly confident, but he dug back in and ran a game race,” Tomlinson said. “I’m just grateful to the win and thankful to Arindel for the opportunity. They send them in ready. We just have to keep them happy.”

Gaelic Legacy, a half-brother to multiple graded-stakes winner Mad House, was followed by Etruscan Warrior in third and Candy Cole in fourth. Regent’s Park, fifth in Saturday’s Sanford (G3) at Saratoga, Spicy Taco, It’s Smoking and Bourbon On Tap were scratched.

Watson crossed the finish line a length in front in his June 13 unveiling at Gulfstream but was disqualified to second for interference after drifting out late. He is by Arindel’s foundation sire Brethren out of the Into Mischief mare Weekend Mischief.

“I thought his first start we were probably just going to get some experience and he actually ended up running really well. We breezed him back for this race and he breezed really well coming into this,” Tomlinson said. “He’s just kind of laid back and just kind of does what he has to; there’s probably some more to him, we’ve just got to figure out how to get it out of him.”

Bred in Florida by Max Hugel, Proud Man won 10 of 43 starts and more than $1 million in purse earnings from 2000-06. He won Grade 3 stakes at all three South Florida tracks in 2001 – Gulfstream’s Palm Beach, Calder’s Tropical Park Derby (G3) and Hialeah’s Everglades – and later that year won the Hill Prince (G3) at Belmont Park. In 2004 won the Frank’s Farm Turf for late trainer Christophe Clement at Gulfstream.