It took Eightninego three seasons to get to the races, and just two preps with Emisael Jaramillo in the saddle to reach the winner’s circle. 

    In his first start at Gulfstream Park on May 4, the 4-year-old gelding by Bahamian Squall finished second over the Tapeta course and received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 79. In his second Tapeta start, he finished third, but his ‘E’ number jumped to 82.

    Trainer Rohan Crichton kept Eightninego on the all-weather surface for his third try yesterday in a $40,000 maiden optional claimer and after Jaramillo put him on the lead, the gelding never looked back. Carrying co-highweight of 124 pounds, he rocketed past the poles in :21.76 and :44.94 and completed the five furlongs nearly three lengths in front in :56.90, less than two seconds off the track record, posting an ‘E’ best 85. 

  Eightninego is Bahamian Squall’s 14th winner of 2023; he paid $4 and collected a check of $24,400 for owner/breeder Troy S. Lange, raising his bank account to $37,480.