HALLANDALE, BEACH, Fla. (AP) -Paddy O'Prado picked the perfect time to earn his first career win Saturday in the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The 3-year-old colt changed his running style to take advantage of a firm turf course that was favoring speed to win the top grass race for sophomores in South Florida.
Ridden by Jesus Castanon and trained by Dale Romans, Paddy O'Prado pulled clear from Dean's Kitten by 2 1/2 lengths to return $17.20 in 1:45.40. Favorite Bim Bam failed to match his winning effort in the Hallandale Beach Stakes Feb. 7 and faded to fifth.
Earlier on the card, Khancord Kid went wire-to-wire under jockey Rajiv Maragh to win the filly half of the featured 3-year-old turf stakes - the $150,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes.