River Seven sails to track record in Harlan’s Holiday

River Seven was an easy winner of the Harlan’s Holiday in just his second try on dirt (Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Tucci Stables’ River Seven has established himself as an exciting turf
performer during 2013, but trainer Nick Gonzalez had an inkling that the
three-year-old gelding might be much more than just a standout runner on grass.

“I was wanting to get him back on the dirt from the time he
ran in the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie,” admitted Gonzalez, referring to his
charge’s lone dirt start, a second-place finish in the second leg of Canada’s
Triple Crown.

“That option was over in Canada because all we had was Polytrack
and turf at Woodbine. We got him on turf and he was a rock star on turf so we
couldn’t take him off that.”

Gonzalez got the opportunity to get River Seven back on
dirt in Sunday’s $100,000
Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park, and the
son of Johannesburg, indeed, showed himself to be much more than a turf
performer with a commanding triumph over a strong field of rivals.

The Ontario-bred bay, sent to post at 12-1 odds, drew
off to score by four lengths and set a track record for 1 1/16 miles in the
process. Ridden by Joe Rocco Jr., River Seven was clocked in 1:41.76, eclipsing
the old standard of 1:41.81 set by Itsmyluckyday when winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull
last January.

“It’s quite a thrill. This is my first stakes win at
Gulfstream. It was an impressive performance — a track record,” Gonzalez said.

River Seven has run himself into Donn contention (Kenny Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography)

“He was going so good that when I asked him to step on it
he really accelerated,” Rocco said. “The only horse I was worried about after
that was Bourbon Courage because I thought he might come late.”

Bourbon Courage, the 7-5 favorite, raced evenly to finish third, three lengths behind Csaba. Neck
‘n Neck finished fourth and was followed under the wire by Purple Egg, Reveron,
Joshua’s Comprise and Sr. Quisqueyano.

River Seven was nominated to next Saturday’s $100,000
El Prado over Gulfstream’s turf course, but the Harlan’s Holiday fit
better in Gonzalez’s plan for him.

“I didn’t want to cut him back to a mile in
the El Prado next week because it might screw up our schedule because we’re
obviously looking down the road, especially after this performance,” Gonzalez
said, referring to the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap on Gulfstream’s main
track February 8.