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.