Opening Day At Gulfstream Park Nets A Win For Quality Road

Winning means so much more to Quality Road considering the disappointments of 2009.

The horse won the $100,000 Hals Hope Stakes on Gulfstream Parks opening day by 2 3/4 lengths over You and I Forever. The victory was sweet considering Quality Road sat out last years biggest races in which he may have been a favorite, the Kentucky Derby in May and the Breeders Cup Classic in November.

Quality Road showed how much he loves that track after he won two events last winter, the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here last winter to set up hopes for the bigger race titles. It was his first race since being scratched in Santa Anita on November 7.

The three-year old held the lead through much of the race after getting off to a solid start, but battled with You and I Forever around the inside turn, but Quality Road put on the burners to win the race with relative ease, finishing in 1:36.33.

Next up for the horse is the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on February 6 barring another setback as it has been the horses connections goal for some time.

Quality Roads run lifted the spirits of the fans in attendance and track officials after the third-race was called a no-contest and over $730,000 in refunds had to be issued due to a malfunctioning starting gate.

Still track officials deemed the day a success as they eight races, minus the no-contest race, brought in $6.5 million and attracted a strong crowd of around 9000 spectators during a holiday weekend.

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