By Jim Freer
Mo Cash and Denver were the winners in the past weekend’s feature races at Gulfstream Park.
Mo Cash (photo on home page) on Saturday won the $100,000 Benny the Bull Stakes, at seven furlongs on dirt for Florida-breds 3-years-old and up.
With Miguel Angel Vasquez riding, Mo Cash won in 1:22.07 in the rain on a track that was listed as Sloppy and was sealed. Thar time, fast under any conditions, was exceptional considering the weather.
Mo Cash, a 4-year-old gelding, earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 112. That was the best for any of Saturday’s 23 non-graded North American stakes for which Equibase awarded speed figures.
It also was higher than the Equibase figures for six of the nine North American graded stakes on Saturday.
For example,on the fast track at Saratoga Race Course, Catholic Boy earned a 109 Equibase figure for winning the 1 ¼ mile Travers (Grade 1) in 2:01.94. And Promises Fulfilled earned a 108 Equibase figure in winning the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens (Grade 1) in 1:21.44.
The win was the fourth in a stakes, all at Gulfstream, for Mo Cash who is trained by Ricko Maragh.
Marco Thoroughbreds and Stuart Zook’s Mo Cash beat Mr. Jordan by 4 ½ lengths in the Benny The Bull. Hy Riverside came in third, another three-quarters of a length behind in the seven-horse field.
Vasquez rated Mo Cash in fourth along the backstretch as Front Loaded and Splash Rules showed the way through fractions of 22.84 (seconds) and 45.38 for the first half mile.
Heading into the far turn, Mo Cash advanced on the leaders on the outside as Splash Rules took over for a tired Front Loaded on the turn into the homestretch.
Mo Cash, the 6-5 favorite, kicked into high gear after straightening into the stretch and quickly stormed to the lead and drew off to a comfortable win.
*Denver won Sunday’s eighth race, a $42,000 allowance at six furlongs on dirt. It was restricted to Florida-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up that had never won a race other than maiden, claiming or starter or had never won.
Denver, at 4-1, rallied from eighth and last place and beat Heavens Pulpit by a neck.
Speed Star finished third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Heavens Pulpit—the leader at every call prior to the finish. First Distinction, the 2-1 favorite, finished sixth.
Denver, a daughter of Awesome Again, won in 1:11.52 on the track listed as fast.
Stan Gold trains Denver forowner and breeder Arindel.
The win was the second for Denver in five career starts.
