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Gottcha Gold lasts in Salvator Centaur Farms' homebred GOTTCHA GOLD (Coronado's Quest) sped to the front early, opened up what appeared to be an insurmountable lead turning for home, and found just enough to hold off a furiously charging Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr) in the latter stages to annex the $150,000 Salvator Mile H. (G3) at Monmouth Park on Saturday. Breaking alertly under C.C. Lopez, the four-year-old bay was in a race of his own as he set demanding splits of :22 4/5, :45 2/5 and 1:09 1/5 for the opening six furlongs while four lengths clear. In early stretch, the Eddie Plesa trainee looked like a sure winner, but the 1-9 favorite Lawyer Ron was just finding his best stride and closing the gap with each jump. The final margin of victory was a diminishing neck, with the final time a stakes-record 1:34 1/5 for one mile over the fast main strip. Sent off at 10-1, Gottcha Gold paid $22.20, $3.20 and $2.10 while keying the $30.60 exacta and $69.80 trifecta. Lawyer Ron relaxed well early while in fourth, moved outside entering the final turn and closed with excellent energy to finish in the place spot, good for $2.10 and $2.10. It was another 8 1/2 lengths back to Indy Wind (A.P. Indy), who was worth $2.10 at 8-1. Chucker (Running Stag) and Take the Bluff (Pine Bluff) completed the order of finish. Gottcha Gold earned his third career stakes win, all of which have come over this oval, in upping his mark to 21-6-3-1, $307,420. The Florida-bred colt owns wins in the Choice S. and Coronado's Quest S., with placings in the Majestic Prince S. and Frisk Me Now S. The winner is the first registered foal out of multiple stakes heroine Gottcha Last (Pleasant Tap), and has an unnamed yearling half-brother by Trippi.
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