HORSE RACING ROUNDUP : Sea Cadet Scores a Gulfstream First

Sea Cadet scored a seven-length victory Saturday in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap at Hallandale, Fla.

Southland-based Sea Cadet, a 4-year-old son of Bolger owned by Verne E. Winchell, is the first horse to ship in and win two Grade I stakes at Gulfstream. On Feb. 1, he traveled from California to win the $500,000 Donn Handicap, then shipped back to Santa Anita.

Strike The Gold came from far behind to finish second. It was the 11th consecutive loss for Strike The Gold since he won last year’s Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Alex Solis, Sea Cadet ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 3/5 and paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.10.

Solis said the race went as planned.

“I wanted the other horse on the lead,” he said. “I tried to stay close without pressing him so the pace wouldn’t be too fast.

“I didn’t want to use my horse too much going a mile and a quarter. I hadn’t planned to move on the far turn, but he wanted to go, so I let him.”

Big Sur held off heavily favored Pine Bluff to win the $100,000 Southwest by 2 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park.

Big Sur, owned by the Overbrook Farm and trainer Wayne Lukas, was ridden by David Guillory and ran one mile in 1:36 3/5. The Alydar offspring returned $36.80, $10.40 and $3.80 in the race for 3-year-olds.

Dixie Brass took the lead before entering the stretch and increased it thereafter, carrying Art Madrid Jr. to a 3 1/4-length victory in Aqueduct’s $89,400 Swift Stakes for 3-year-olds in New York.

The victory was the fourth in five career starts for Dixie Brass, who ran the six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 on a muddy track. He paid $7.40, $4.20 and $3.20.