NEWS
Gator Prowl breaks 44-year-old Laurel Park track record
Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2009 5:40 PM
First-time starter Gator Prowl broke a 44-year-old track record at Laurel Park by winning a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race in :52.11 on Thursday.
The time eclipsed the previous track record of :52 2/5 set by Weighmaster on April 13, 1964.
Two-year-old Gator Prowl was rushed to the early lead by jockey Jonathan Joyce and led by 2 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter-mile in :22.93. The Roar of the Tiger filly increased her lead to seven lengths in early stretch and easily prevailed by 11 1/2 lengths under a hand ride.
John Salzman Jr. trains Gator Prowl, and co-owns the filly with Danny Divver. Salzman’s, brother, Tim, previously trained multiple Grade 2 winner Bsharpsonata.
John Salzman Sr., Tim and John Jr.’s father, trained Xtra Heat, the 2001 champion three-year-old filly.
“[Gator Prowl is] the best thing we’ve had in the barn since her,” John Salzman Jr. said. “This filly is made like her—she’s little and runs downhill and does everything perfect.
“She is all business when you take her back to the barn.
“Now in the morning she is a little wildfire. I think she has dropped Jonathan more times than not. I think the score is 5-4 in her favor and that includes today. So I was a little nervous and wanted to get her to the gate and get her out of there safely.”
