Wayne’s Law Turns Back Top Two in $75,000 Aventura

Florida-Bred Registers Second Straight Win in 2YO Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Baalbek Corp.’s Wayne’s Law, unhurried in the early going under jockey Marcos Meneses, swept past speedy favorites Road Forever and Strategic Reserve once straightened for home and drew clear to a 7 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Aventura at Gulfstream Park.

The Aventura, going a one-turn mile on the main track, was the first of four supporting stakes 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).

Trained by Amador Sanchez, Wayne’s Law ($7) covered a fast main track in 1:40.84 to register his second straight victory. After two tries against Florida-breds, it was the first time against open company for the son of multimillionaire Tiz the Law.

“We looked at the race and there were only two horses that had speed, so the plan worked out perfect,” Sanchez said. “Marcos made his move on the turn and they kept coming in the stretch.”

Road Forever, a $175,000 auction purchase in March that graduated by 15 lengths at first asking Aug. 16, and Strategic Reserve, who fetched $435,000 as a yearling last fall and was a six-length debut winner Aug. 23, went off as the 6-5 co-favorites over Wayne’s Law (5-2) and Metodo (20-1) following early scratches of After Party and Rammaas.

The opening quarter-mile went in 24.18 seconds with Road Forever on the rail, a half-length ahead of Strategic Reserve, who cut the lead to a head after a half in 46.85. The top two moved up to even terms midway around the far turn when Meneses gave Wayne’s Law his cue, and they began quickly gaining ground. Wayne’s Law sailed past Road Forever at the top of the stretch and soon after corralled Strategic Reserve, who wound up a clear second.

“At the three-eighths, I saw the two horses in front of me try to go, but I caught them so easily. From the three-eighths I knew we’d do it,” Meneses said. “We’ve been working a lot with this horse. He’s a baby. He had little problems in his first two races. He’s growing up. He did better today.”

Bred in Florida by Margaret McFarland, Wayne’s Law is out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Mollie Merisa. His sire won four Grade 1 stakes including the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream, Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1) as a 3-year-old in 2020 and banked more than $2.7 million. Baalbek’s Christian Abumohor paid $25,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training.

“We felt really good about this horse,” Sanchez said. “We bought him at the sales at OBS and he didn’t cost much. We saw the pedigree and I like Tiz the Law. The mile for me today was better than six furlongs last time, and he ran really good.”

Wayne’s Law was third in debut July 20 behind undefeated subsequent stakes winner Diciassette before graduating by 6 ¾ lengths Aug. 30. The runner-up in that race, Micanopy, came back to break his maiden as the favorite Sept. 13.

“For the moment we don’t have a next race. We’ll check the horse after the race and if everything is good we’ll make a plan,” Sanchez said. “We ran the horse in a short time and now we’ll take some time. We’re very proud of him.”