Jane Brei, owner of Jacks or Better Farm in Ocala, might have set a record in the past few days for number of checks received while having just two winners. Brei owns Down in the Bayou, a Bahamian Squall filly who won at Gulfstream Park, good for a winner’s check and a 12.5 % breeder’s award, and Awesome Wind, a Bahamian Squall gelding who did likewise at Gulfstream to grab the same two checks. Plus, Awesome Wind was claimed for $8,000, making five checks in all.

    DOWN IN THE BAYOU – After finishing third in her previous two starts, the 3-year-old filly had Edwin Gonzalez aboard for a race at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta course. She raced on the inside down the backstretch, went three wide to battle for the stretch run, then went after leader Miguel Vasquez aboard Hub City in the final sixteenth. Just when it appeared as though Down in the Bayou was going to stick her neck in front, Hub City drifted out and bumped Down in the Bayou just enough to upset her run to the wire. She recovered, went after Hub City again and lost a head bob by a nose. Soon after, the stewards disqualified the winner and Down in the Bayou had her first victory in five tries. She paid $9.20 and picked up $21,100 instead of the runner-up prize of $5,600, raising her earnings to $37,380.

    AWESOME  WIND – For this one, Vasquez was in the saddle for the Jacks or Better entry, and he guided the gelding from off the pace to a 1 3/4-length victory, clocked in 1:04.07 for the 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta. He has two victories and a second in his last three tries, and received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 78, best of his seven races. He paid $7.40 and the $13,800 check boosted his total to $35,260. 

Bahamian Squall passed the $4 million mark in career progeny earnings during the week.