David Egan’s return to Florida was brief in build-up but emphatic in execution, the Irishman striking at the first opportunity on Thursday with a commanding performance aboard Never Count Me Out at Gulfstream Park.
Fresh from a two-week stint in Britain, where he had been putting young horses through their paces ahead of the European spring, Egan slipped seamlessly back into the rhythm of the Championship Meet. His mount in Race 4, Lea Farms LLC’s Never Count Me Out, was only making his second career start, yet he carried himself like a colt with far greater experience.
The 5½-furlong maiden claiming contest began awkwardly. The son of Tacitus stumbled leaving the gate, dipping sharply and forcing Egan to reorganise sooner than planned. Momentum lost, balance briefly compromised, it was the sort of early mishap that can undo an inexperienced runner.
Instead, it revealed something about both horse and rider.
Egan allowed the colt time to regain his stride before asking him to improve down the backstretch. Sweeping four wide turning for home, Never Count Me Out lengthened impressively, surging past rivals and drawing five lengths clear with authority.
“This horse definitely wants longer,” Egan said afterwards. “The first jump was quick. The second step out of the gate he stumbled and went to his head, and I had to rush him down the backstretch, which was not ideal. But he was much the best. He’s a big strong horse.”
It was a performance that hinted at untapped potential, particularly when stretched over further ground.
Egan, a former British champion apprentice and multiple Group 1-winning rider, had spent the previous fortnight in the United Kingdom preparing a fresh crop of prospects.
“We have a lot of young horses coming through, so I was over there to breeze them at the farms,” he explained. “It’s an important time of year getting these horses ready.”
Now back in Florida, his book of rides suggests a busy stretch ahead as the meet gathers momentum.
Moran Ready for New Chapter
Another young Irish rider is set to begin a new chapter at Gulfstream this weekend. Pietro Moran, last season’s Outstanding Apprentice Eclipse Award winner, will take his first mounts at the track on Sunday.
Still only 20, Moran arrives after a standout campaign at Woodbine, where he recorded 140 victories and captured the $1 million King’s Plate aboard Mansetti. His early opportunities in Florida come aboard a pair of three-year-old maidens for Canadian trainer Rachel Halden.
“I’ll ride here until April and head back to Woodbine,” Moran said. “I’m here for the experience. It’s a good room with a lot of good riders I can learn from and a lot of good trainers and owners.”
No longer claiming an apprentice allowance, Moran steps forward on merit alone — a challenge he appears eager to embrace.
Elsewhere on Thursday’s card, Irad Ortiz Jr. showcased his customary efficiency with a swift double, partnering Ashima and Fast Jabip to successive victories.
As the Championship Meet moves deeper into its schedule, the blend of established names and emerging talent continues to shape the narrative. For Egan, Thursday was less about statement and more about timing — returning quietly, riding confidently, and letting the performance speak for itself.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz