Spring Up Wins Mecke on Gulfstream Turf

Spring Up Wins Mecke on Gulfstream Turf HorseRacingFLA Staff Report Spring Up called upon his back class to capture Sunday’s $50,000 Mecke Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Spring Up beat Galleon Mast by three-quarters of a length under a perfectly judged ride by Miguel Vasquez. Note – photo on home  page is from Gulfstream Park. Two Step Time finished third, one length behind Galleon Mast, in the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.  Spring Up won in the fast time of 1:46.48 on the course listed as firm. Spring Up, a Grade 1-placed 7-year-old gelding, was rated in second along the backstretch.  After three-quarters of a mile, he was 12 1/2 lengths behind the leader Diamond Bachelor who covered that distance in a fast 1:09.67.  Galleon Mast was fifth at that point. Vasquez picked up the mount on Spring Up on Sunday morning when Cornelio Velasquez took off his rides for the day. Vasquez asked Spring Up for his run entering the far turn and he responded, taking over the lead about 200 yards from the wire and holding off a late bid by Galleon Mast. C.J. McMahon rode Gallen Mast for trainer David Fawkes. “That horse (Diamond Bachelor) has so much speed and our horse was so far back, but Miguel rode a great race,” said Nick Tomlinson, assistant to trainer Mark Casse.  “We’re so happy to get a win,” Tomlinson said.  This horse is a barn favorite.” JR’s  Holiday. At 21-1, finished fourth in the eight-horse field. Diamond Bachelor, at 7-1, faded and finished fifth after his jockey  Mirko Sanna attempted to wire the field. Odds were 7-2 on Spring Up, 4-1 on Galleon Mast and 6-5 on favorite Two Step Time. The $2 exacta paid $41.60 and the $2 trifecta paid $114.20. Spring Up is a Florida-bred son of Spring at Last, the winner of the 2008 Donn Handicap (Grade 1) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Gulfstream. The win in the Mecke was the tenth in 23 career starts for Spring Up, who is owned by Gary Barber.  Spring Up spent most of his career racing in California for trainer John Sadler.  In 2014, he finished third in the Eddie Read (Grade 1) at 1 /8 miles on turf at Del Mar. Since his transfer last year to Casse, Spring Up has raced five times and has four wins.    All of those races were on turf at Gulfstream.  The Mecke was Spring Up’s first stakes race at Gulfstream. Racing Schedule Gulfstream will resume racing on Thursday with ten races sand first post of 1:15 p.m. The carryover on the Rainbow 6 is $142,731.  It is on races five to ten. The Gulfstream condition book shows two stakes  races scheduled through July 23. Next Saturday, July 15, the Treasure Coast is one mile on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Entries for the Saturday card will be out on Wednesday afternoon. For Sunday July 23, the condition book shows the $50.000 Coast is Clear Stakes for 3-year-olds and up. Treasure  Coast Coast  is  ClearSpring Up Wins Mecke on Gulfstream Turf HorseRacingFLA Staff Report Spring Up called upon his back class to capture Sunday’s $50,000 Mecke Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Spring Up beat Galleon Mast by three-quarters of a length under a perfectly judged ride by Miguel Vasquez. Note – photo on home  page is from Gulfstream Park. Two Step Time finished third, one length behind Galleon Mast, in the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.  Spring Up won in the fast time of 1:46.48 on the course listed as firm. Spring Up, a Grade 1-placed 7-year-old gelding, was rated in second along the backstretch.  After three-quarters of a mile, he was 12 1/2 lengths behind the leader Diamond Bachelor who covered that distance in a fast 1:09.67.  Galleon Mast was fifth at that point. Vasquez picked up the mount on Spring Up on Sunday morning when Cornelio Velasquez took off his rides for the day. Vasquez asked Spring Up for his run entering the far turn and he responded, taking over the lead about 200 yards from the wire and holding off a late bid by Galleon Mast. C.J. McMahon rode Gallen Mast for trainer David Fawkes. “That horse (Diamond Bachelor) has so much speed and our horse was so far back, but Miguel rode a great race,” said Nick Tomlinson, assistant to trainer Mark Casse.  “We’re so happy to get a win,” Tomlinson said.  This horse is a barn favorite.” JR’s  Holiday. At 21-1, finished fourth in the eight-horse field. Diamond Bachelor, at 7-1, faded and finished fifth after his jockey  Mirko Sanna attempted to wire the field. Odds were 7-2 on Spring Up, 4-1 on Galleon Mast and 6-5 on favorite Two Step Time. The $2 exacta paid $41.60 and the $2 trifecta paid $114.20. Spring Up is a Florida-bred son of Spring at Last, the winner of the 2008 Donn Handicap (Grade 1) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Gulfstream. The win in the Mecke was the tenth in 23 career starts for Spring Up, who is owned by Gary Barber.  Spring Up spent most of his career racing in California for trainer John Sadler.  In 2014, he finished third in the Eddie Read (Grade 1) at 1 /8 miles on turf at Del Mar. Since his transfer last year to Casse, Spring Up has raced five times and has four wins.    All of those races were on turf at Gulfstream.  The Mecke was Spring Up’s first stakes race at Gulfstream. Racing Schedule Gulfstream will resume racing on Thursday with ten races sand first post of 1:15 p.m. The carryover on the Rainbow 6 is $142,731.  It is on races five to ten. The Gulfstream condition book shows two stakes  races scheduled through July 23. Next Saturday, July 15, the Treasure Coast is one mile on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Entries for the Saturday card will be out on Wednesday afternoon. For Sunday July 23, the condition book shows the $50.000 Coast is Clear Stakes for 3-year-olds and up. Treasure  Coast Coast  is  Clear