HORSE RACING

• Long wait over for Grasshopper

  
  

  By Don Agriss, Horse Racing Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Wednesday's third race at Gulfstream Park should have been given a name to indicate the high level of competition it contained. Some of the better older thoroughbreds in the country were in the mile allowance race at the South Florida facility.

  Veteran runner Grasshopper returned to the races from a long vacation to win the $56,000 race. Sent off at odds of 3-1, the six-year-old posted a neck victory over Gentleman James who was 7-1 in the betting.

  Grasshopper, ridden by Alan Garcia, was making his first start since last April's Ben Ali Handicap at Keeneland. Now trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Grasshopper notched his first win since February, 2008 in the Mineshaft Handicap at the Fair Grounds.

  "It was great to get him back and run a big race after the layoff," McLaughlin said. "He drew well (post seven). The pace was slow, but he was right up there all the way. Alan (Garcia) said he got a little tired at the end, which is what you want to see off the layoff.

  "I was surprised the race came up so tough. It looked more like a Grade 2 (stakes race). We'll look ahead to the mile race here on March 13 ($300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap) which would fit well on his schedule. A big objective for him this year will be to try and win a Grade 1 as a prospective stud horse. We'll also look at the Carter at Aqueduct and the Met Mile at Belmont as options for him." Garcia had Grasshopper four wide through the early going of the mile. Gentleman James set the pace with Buddy's Humor and Delosvientos pressing the leader. Those two eventually tired as 2-1 morning-line favorite Arson Squad made a rally.

  Diamond Stripes, the 2007 Meadowlands Cup winner, was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the seven horse field. Buddy's Humor was the second choice with Arson Squad the fourth pick.

  Grasshopper prevailed over Gentleman James followed by Arson Squad, Diamond Stripes, Buddy's Humor, Colonial Causeway and Delosvientos.

  "He was impressive," Garcia noted following the win. "I was on the horse the last two times he breezed and he was very honest. Today he showed just how nice of a horse he is. He was in hand all the time. I was galloping along, he was confident. And when I asked him to go, he took off. Then I decided I just wanted to hand-ride him, so I could save something for his next race." The victory was the fifth lifetime win for Grasshopper in 18 starts. The $43,000 check puts his career winnings at $863,352. His three starts in 2009 brought in no money and he was transferred from trainer Neil Howard to McLaughlin.

  Along with 2007 Meadowlands Cup winner Diamond Stripes other high level horses in the race were 2008 Brooklyn Handicap champ Delosvientos, 2008 Meadowlands Cup winner Arson Squad and 2009 Pan American Stakes champ Buddy's Humor.

  02/03 17:02:48 ET