River Seven sails to track record in Harlan's Holiday

Tucci Stables' River Seven has established himself as an exciting turf

performer during 2013, but trainer Nick Gonzalez had an inkling that the

three-year-old gelding might be much more than just a standout runner on grass.

"I was wanting to get him back on the dirt from the time he

ran in the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie," admitted Gonzalez, referring to his

charge's lone dirt start, a second-place finish in the second leg of Canada's

Triple Crown.

"That option was over in Canada because all we had was Polytrack

and turf at Woodbine. We got him on turf and he was a rock star on turf so we

couldn't take him off that."

Gonzalez got the opportunity to get River Seven back on

dirt in Sunday's $100,000

Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park, and the

son of Johannesburg, indeed, showed himself to be much more than a turf

performer with a commanding triumph over a strong field of rivals.

The Ontario-bred bay, sent to post at 12-1 odds, drew

off to score by four lengths and set a track record for 1 1/16 miles in the

process. Ridden by Joe Rocco Jr., River Seven was clocked in 1:41.76, eclipsing

the old standard of 1:41.81 set by Itsmyluckyday when winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull

last January.

"It's quite a thrill. This is my first stakes win at

Gulfstream. It was an impressive performance -- a track record," Gonzalez said.

"He was going so good that when I asked him to step on it

he really accelerated," Rocco said. "The only horse I was worried about after

that was Bourbon Courage because I thought he might come late."

Bourbon Courage, the 7-5 favorite, raced evenly to finish third, three lengths behind Csaba. Neck

'n Neck finished fourth and was followed under the wire by Purple Egg, Reveron,

Joshua's Comprise and Sr. Quisqueyano.

River Seven was nominated to next Saturday's $100,000

El Prado over Gulfstream's turf course, but the Harlan's Holiday fit

better in Gonzalez's plan for him.

"I didn't want to cut him back to a mile in

the El Prado next week because it might screw up our schedule because we're

obviously looking down the road, especially after this performance," Gonzalez

said, referring to the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap on Gulfstream's main

track February 8.