Gamay Noir pulls shocker in Rampart

Gamay Noir captured her first stakes at 49-1 odds in the Rampart  (Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Chasing Tail Stables’ Gamay Noir went from last to first as she pulled off
the upset by three-parts of a length in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000
Rampart
Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Marty Wolfson pupil was sent off as the 49-1
longest shot on the board and returned $100.20 for her first stakes score.

“I claimed her for running a route on dirt,” Wolfson said. “When I ran her in
Tampa she got in all kinds of trouble. She should have won. (Jockey) Paco
(Lopez) rode her just like I wanted, where she makes one run, three-eighths of
mile on the outside.

“Not off her last race at Tampa,” Wolfson added when asked if he was
surprised she won. “She ran huge. You had to see it visually. She got in all
kinds of trouble and should have won that race. I never would have run her back
this quick, except for the way she ran. He is the perfect rider for her, because
he listens.” 

Gamay Noir was unhurried early and settled in the back of the field. The 2-5
favorite and 123 pound highweight Devil’s Cave sped out to the early lead to post fractions of :24, :47
3/5 and 1:10 3/5 as last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Unlimited Budget was
latched onto the outside of her.

“It was too much weight on (Devil’s Cave), and I didn’t think (Unlimited
Budget) was going to push her like that,” Wolfson said.

Gamay Noir bided her time before mounting her rally three wide around the far
turn. The four-year-old filly bumped with Private Ensign in the stretch before
pulling away from that rival and running down the leaders in the final yards.

“(At the top of the stretch) I had a lot of horse, and the other horse
(Private Ensign) came over and forced me to come out,” Lopez said. “I put my
horse outside and she came over just a little bit and I took a hold, and my
filly didn’t have a problem. I went right by the other horse.”       

Unlimited Budget got up by a neck over third-place finisher Devil’s Cave.
Private Ensign, Triple Arch and Oasis at Midnight completed the order under the
wire. Call Pat and Molly Morgan were scratched.