Florida Won rides rail to victory in $200K Presque Isle Mile

Florida Won got an excellent ride by Patrick Husbands on Sunday to give the Live Oak Plantation colt his second stakes win of 2015 in the $200,000 Presque Isle Mile.

Florida Won, winner of the Seagram Cup S. (G3) on Aug. 2, was the 2-1 favorite at Presque Isle. With Husbands biding his time in seventh through five furlongs, Florida Won galloped along the rail about a half-dozen lengths off the lead.

The field began to bunch up on the turn, and when an opening appeared along the rail with a little more than a furlong to run, Husbands sent Florida Won through. The winner responded with zeal, shooting to the lead and winning by three parts of a length in 1:36.64 on the fast main track.

Florida Won upped his mark, which also includes a win in last year’s Ontario Derby (G3), to 4-2-2 in 11 starts. The $120,000 payday raised his lifetime earnings to $361,903.

Florida Won is out of Grand Portege, a sister to Preakness S. (G1) winner Shackleford and Alabama (G1) winner Lady Joanne.