Army Mule
$150.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward
7 Furlongs – Dirt
Gulfstream Park – March 28, 2026

At the end of seven furlongs, it was only a length that separated the first horse from the last horse under the wire. As cliche as it sounds this was anyone’s race. It was virtually the entire seven horse field across the track battling it out with half a furlong to go. In the end it was the sharp five-year-old Good Man who got his picture taken in the winner’s circle.

Winner: Good Man (Ajm Stables/A.R. Rodriguez) Wanted Man/Estatic Girls (War Command) In my preview we noted that he was in good form and a strong contender but also noted that he was being asked to carry two pounds more than all others by virtue of a stakes win in December. He was challenged with that burden and met the challenge coming through an opening at the stretch and prevailing in what amounted to a full field stampede to the wire. Has now won three of his last four starts including two stakes. 

Second: Gaffigan (Mo Mentum Farm/R.M. Hernandez) Valiant Tune/Parthenope (Commanding Know How) Had virtually the same trip as the winner. The two ran as a pair down the backstretch but while Good Man found a seam closer to the rail Gaffigan swung widest of all and just missed by a nose in the final strides. Good battle and brave effort. 

Third: Crazy Eyes (The Sidley Stud/P. Lopez) Crazy Horse/Fifty Farley (Charley Farley) Was content to run last down the backstretch trailing the leader Tu Raw by five lengths. Moved on the turn and joined the field but was still last with a sixteenth of a mile to go. Continued his charge to gain third in what amounted to almost a five-horse photo for that placing. 

Fourth: Cherokee Revolution (Royalty Stables/F. Geroux) Cherokee Reaper/Sky Ruler (Caleb) Joined Tu Raw early in setting the early pace. Those two locked horns when set down at the top of the stretch and battled to the wire with Cherokee Revolution hanging on for the final check. 

This was the inaugural running of the Army Mule and Good Man completed the seven furlongs in 1:21.55 in gaining his second career stakes win and raising his career earnings to $363.100. Since being claimed by Ajm Stables for $10.500 last April Good Man has raced nine times. He has won four of those nine races and finished a close second in four others. He has won both of his races in 2026. Sharp horse. Sharp claim.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded