Viking continued his impressive rise at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, proving his versatility with a commanding performance in the $70,000 Black Diamond Cat Handicap. The Alex and JoAnn Lieblong-owned runner, who entered the race after a dominant success in the Smile Sprint last month, handled the step up in distance with ease to record a convincing victory.
The four-year-old son of Get Stormy was sent off as the favourite for the one-mile contest for three-year-olds and upwards and produced a professional display under jockey Leonel Reyes. Trained by David Fawkes, Viking covered the sealed main track in 1:36.33, securing his fourth career win and his second success at stakes level.
Viking wins Black Diamond Cat Handicap at Gulfstream Park with a powerful front-running performance that confirmed his continued improvement this season.
The Black Diamond Cat Handicap headlined a nine-race programme marking the start of the final month of Gulfstream Park’s Royal Palm Meet, which continues with weekend and Monday fixtures through August 31.
Breaking sharply, Viking secured a prominent position while racing in the three path, with Rolando applying pressure from the inside. The pair set demanding fractions of 23.59 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.13 seconds for the half-mile, creating a strong pace from the early stages.
Turning for home, Viking had to deal with a challenge from Grade 2 winner Steal Sunshine, who launched a move from the outside. However, the leader showed plenty of determination, putting away Rolando at the top of the stretch before keeping enough in reserve to repel the late challenge and win by 3Âľ lengths.
Steal Sunshine finished second, staying 5½ lengths ahead of longshot Fiveeyesonskystars, who secured third place. Rolando crossed the line fourth, followed by Divin Propos in fifth.
The victory marked another step forward for Viking since joining the care of Fawkes in South Florida. Earlier this year, the gelding had finished runner-up in a one-mile allowance event at Oaklawn Park before struggling over longer distances. A move to Gulfstream Park brought immediate improvement, with Viking making all the running in the six-furlong Smile Sprint on July 4 before following up over a mile.
The Black Diamond Cat Handicap victory was Viking’s first success beyond six furlongs and showed his ability to handle a wider range of racing conditions. Although his connections believe shorter distances may still suit him best, his latest performance has opened further opportunities for the remainder of the season.
Rolando, a multiple stakes winner at Gulfstream Park, was unable to match the winner in the closing stages, while Viking’s continued progress has established him as one of the notable performers during the current meeting.
The race also honoured Florida-bred Black Diamond Cat, who competed 66 times across seven seasons between 2009 and 2015, recording nine victories, including five stakes wins, and earning $500,579 during his career.
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