Jay Em Ess Stable’s ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) took command in upper stretch of
Saturday’s $119,250
Skip
Away S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park and drew off to a 3 3/4-length win under
jockey Paco Lopez. The Richard Dutrow Jr. charge flew home to post a final time
of 1:55 3/5 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast Gulfstream Park dirt.
Arson Squad was favored at 9-5 in the Skip Away and rewarded his faithful
backers with payouts of $5.60, $3.60 and $2.40. Wingedlie (Winged Foot Willie)
dueled with Eldaafer (A.P. Indy) through splits of :23 3/5, :48 2/5 and 1:12
3/5, got the better of that rival, but was no match for the winner. The 32-1
longshot returned $15.60 and $7.40 when ending the $100 exacta. Helsinki (Distorted Humor)
gave back $3.80 as the near 7-2 third pick and concluded the $447 trifecta. Gabriel’s Hill (A.P. Indy)
just missed third by a nose and finished out the 7-3-6-8 superfecta that totaled
$1,695.60.
Cristiano (Per) (Islam), Secret Getaway (Skip Away) and Eldaafer followed the
top four under the line after Timber Reserve (Forest Camp) was withdrawn.
Arson Squad finally returned to the winner’s circle here after an 18-month
drought. His last win came in the Meadowlands Cup S. (G2) in October of 2008,
where he was making his first start for Dutrow after spending his earlier career
with Bruce Headley. The bay also owns victories from the 2006 editions of the
Swaps S. (G2) and San Pedro S. as well as the 2007 Strub S. (G2), and has placed
in three black-type tests, including the Challenger S. at Tampa Bay Downs prior
to this one. The winner’s share from this one pushed the seven-year-old
gelding’s earnings past the millionaire mark, as he’s now accumulated $1,007,188
to go along with a 26-7-1-4 mark.
Bred by E & D Enterprises in Pennsylvania, Arson Squad was purchased for
$100,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale and is out of the winning Green
Dancer mare Majestic Fire, who is also the dam of the stakes-placed gelding
Southern Rebel (Southern Halo). Others of note in this female family include
Grade/Group 1 winners Sakhee’s Secret (Sakhee), Ermine (Exchange Rate), Royal
and Regal (*Vaguely Noble) as well as 1966 Kentucky Oaks heroine Native Street
(Native Dancer).