River City

G P Fleet impresses in River City win

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein's G P FLEET (Northern

Afleet) won a close race at Churchill Downs Sunday as the

four-year-old gelding chalked up a half-length victory in the

$174,300 River City H.

(G3).

Quest Star (Broad Brush) left the gate in good form on a

yielding turf to lead the first two opening fraction of the 1

1/8-mile event in :24 and :48 1/5, before Warleigh (Lord at

War [Arg]) took over the top position as he hit the next

checkpoint in 1:13. All the while, G P Fleet sat chilly in

fourth-place under jockey Jose Martinez Jr. As the group reached

the stretch, the Steve Flint charge went to the lead, passing the

next marker in 1:38 4/5 as he battled with Cloudy's Knight (Lord

Avie) for the top spot. As the two passed under the wire, it was

G P Fleet who would receive the winning blanket,

finishing up in 1:51 1/5.

The chestnut paid $26.60, $12.80 and $8 at 12-1, leading the $424.20 exacta. Cloudy's Knight returned $16.60 and

$9.60 for his effort at 16-1. Ay Caramba (Brz) (Roi Normand) left

the gate at 4-1 and brought up the bottom of the $2,745.20

trifecta, giving $4.60 for the show spot. Deputy Strike (Smart

Strike) rounded out the 2-12-5-13 superfecta, which paid

$9,601.60 ($1).

Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]), Tam's Terms (Private Terms),

Warleigh, False Promises (Jules), Dumaani Star (Dumaani), Quest

Star, French Lieutenant (French Deputy) and Dr.

Kashnikow (El Gran Senor) brought up the remainder of the field.

Prince Prado (El Prado [Ire]) was scratched from the race.

This win improves G P Fleet's record to 21-6-7-2 with earnings

of $334,704. He previously captured the Tri-State H. earlier this

year at Ellis Park.

Bred in Florida by George Parrish, G P Fleet is out of the unraced Come

on Bid (Spectacular Bid). He counts himself as a half-brother to

L Tremor, a yearling filly by Richter Scale.