Endorsement ‘stakes ready’ after GP alw win

Distorted Humor’s Endorsement continued his comeback with a track record-setting performance Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old horse, owned by Bill Casner, won the 1 1/16 mile contest by a comfortable 2 1/4-lengths in 1:42.35 to earn a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, his best number since registering a 101 in the 2010 Sunland Derby (G3).

“That was the race that we were looking for, the race we thought he was capable of. We’ve always felt that this is a very high-level horse. We’ll start looking at graded races now,” Casner said following Endorsement’s victory.

Originally campaigned by WinStar Farm, Endorsement was on the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) trail before being pulled from consideration the week before the race. WinStar ultimately won the Derby with Super Saver.

Endorsement returned to action with a second-place effort against optional claimers going six furlongs at Gulfstream Dec. 10 and was second again in a one-mile optional claimer over the same track Jan. 1. His record now stands at three wins and three seconds in seven lifetime starts with earnings of $475,833.