DEMARCHELIER’s (GB) El Chato became the eighth winner for his sire when he won on debut at Gulfstream Park.
Starting off his career going 5 ½ furlongs on Gulfstream’s synthetic surface, he broke slowly and had to settle over three lengths off the leader as he raced a few paths wide. Taken even wider as they approached the quarter pole, he was right behind the leader by the time they turned into the stretch.
He collared that horse and raced away from the field to win by 4 ¾ lengths with most of the field over five lengths behind.
El Chato is trained by his owner Armando De La Cerda, who purchased him earlier this year. The colt was bred by Harper Ridge Thoroughbreds out of the winning More Than Ready mare Just Waiting.
El Chato is one of four winners from five to race out of Just Waiting, who is a half-sister to five stakes winners out of the Grade 3 winner Ioya Two.
It was another big weekend for DEMARCHELIER (GB), who also saw son Blue Creek finish third in the Listed Awad Stakes one start after finishing third in the Laurel Futurity. El Chato himself holds an entry in the Armed Forces Stakes.