Cheers erupted around Gulfstream Park as Baalbek Corp.’s Wayne’s Law soared past early leaders in the stretch, delivering a performance that left his trainer beaming and his jockey smiling ear to ear. With a powerful surge in the final furlongs, the Florida-bred two-year-old outfinished speedy favorites Road Forever and Strategic Reserve to win Saturday’s $75,000 Aventura Stakes by an impressive 7 ¼ lengths.
Under the calm guidance of jockey Marcos Meneses, Wayne’s Law remained unhurried in the early stages, patiently tracking the pacesetters before unleashing a decisive move that left the crowd on its feet. The Aventura, a one-turn mile on Gulfstream’s fast main track, served as the first of four supporting stakes on an 11-race card highlighted by the $200,000 Princess Rooney (G3), a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
Trained by Amador Sanchez, Wayne’s Law ($7) covered the distance in 1:40.84, notching his second consecutive victory. While he had previously competed only against Florida-breds, this marked his first foray against open company, a challenge the son of Tiz the Law met with remarkable composure.
“We looked at the race and there were only two horses that had speed, so the plan worked out perfectly,” said Sanchez. “Marcos made his move on the turn, and they kept coming in the stretch. It couldn’t have gone better.”
The Aventura drew a competitive field following the scratches of After Party and Rammaas. Road Forever, a $175,000 March purchase who had won his debut by 15 lengths on August 16, and Strategic Reserve, a $435,000 yearling who broke his maiden by six lengths on August 23, went off as co-favorites at 6-5. Wayne’s Law, meanwhile, was installed at 5-2, with longshot Metodo at 20-1 rounding out the early picture.
From the start, Road Forever set the pace, posting a sharp opening quarter in 24.18 seconds with Strategic Reserve close behind. By the half-mile mark in 46.85, the two favorites were neck and neck, but midway around the far turn, Meneses nudged Wayne’s Law into gear. With a fluid, confident motion, the colt closed steadily, quickly overtaking Road Forever and then Strategic Reserve to seize a commanding lead down the stretch.
“At the three-eighths pole, I saw the two horses in front of me trying to go, but I caught them so easily,” Meneses explained after the race. “From that point, I knew we’d do it. He’s still a baby and has had some small issues in his first two races, but today he really grew up. He ran great.”
Bred in Florida by Margaret McFarland, Wayne’s Law is out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Mollie Merisa. His sire, Tiz the Law, earned more than $2.7 million in a stellar career that included four Grade 1 victories, among them the Florida Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) in 2020. Baalbek Corp.’s Christian Abumohor acquired Wayne’s Law for $25,000 at the OBS March sale of two-year-olds in training, a modest price considering the colt’s pedigree and potential.
“We felt really good about this horse,” Sanchez noted. “We saw the pedigree and liked Tiz the Law. Today’s mile was a better test than six furlongs last time, and he handled it beautifully. We’re very proud of him.”
Wayne’s Law had finished third on debut on July 20 behind undefeated stakes winner Diciassette, before breaking his maiden by 6 ¾ lengths on August 30. The runner-up from that race, Micanopy, returned to win his maiden on September 13, underscoring the quality of the form.
Looking ahead, Sanchez suggested a measured approach: “For the moment, we don’t have a next race. We’ll check him carefully after today and make a plan. He’s raced twice in a short span, so we’ll give him time. But today, he was sensational.”
Read the full race report and highlights at RaceBuzz.
