Although it seemed a struggle at times, odds-on UNO MAS MODELO was a winner for the third time at the 2018-09 Gulfstream championship meet when driving to a one-length score over DONJI in the Rough and Ready, the 3rd of 11 straight $60,000 starter-allowance races on this Presidents Day card.

Owner Ron Paolucci said afterward he is "90 percent sure" to run Uno Mas Modelo next in the G1 Churchill Downs, a 7-furlong race on the May 4 Kentucky Derby undercard. Uno Mas Modelo has won his last 2 starts, including the Bet On Sunshine during Breeders' Cup week, at the Louisville track, which Paolucci believes the 6yo gelding prefers.

"I really think he has a hard time getting over this surface here at Gulfstream," said Paolucci. "But still he wins. That tells you how big his heart is. I really think he has the biggest heart of any horse I've ever owned."

Paolucci said "there's an outside shot" he might send Uno Mas Modelo to the rich Charles Town Classic in April instead of the Churchill Downs, but the latter is more likely. "I do want to stretch him back out around 2 turns at some point."

Uno Mas Modelo is probably the biggest "name" horse to compete on this card today. He got a perfect stalking trip under Javier Castellano in finishing a mile in 1:34.76.

A stewards' inquiry was conducted into the start of the Rough and Ready because SALSA'S RETURN, the 7-2 second choice in a field of 6, lost all chance with a very poor start. The stewards subsequently ruled there was no hindrance by the assistant starter at the break, and the horse was declared a starter.

It's unseasonably muggy here today at Gulfstream, with temps reaching in the mid-80s and high humidity. So if you see horses getting inordinately hot in the paddock or post parade, there's good reason.

Later highlights of the day include a two-day carryover of $73,894 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 7-12). The only non-starter event of the card is the R12 finale for mdn. Fla-bred turf milers.