Faster Gator returned from a 257-day layoff in fine style, rallying from off the pace to win Friday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a $49,000 first-level allowance with a $62,500-$50,000 claiming option for 3-year-olds at 5 ½ furlongs.

Trained by Anthony Farrior, Faster Gator made a powerful impression in his only start last year. Bet down to favoritism in a nine-horse maiden special weight at Laurel, Faster Gator made all the running to score by 2 ¾ lengths, leaving four next-out winners in his wake.

“He showed a lot of talent [before his debut],” Farrior said. “He worked with a horse called Chunk of Gold [recently second in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds for trainer Ethan West], and he used to beat him pretty handily in the mornings.”

Faster Gator was scheduled to make his second start at Mahoning Valley but scratched from that race on Sept. 24.

“He had a little flake in the ankle,” Farrior continued. “Instead of pushing on and ruining him, we gave him a little time. He’s a big horse. We let him grow up.”

Faster Gator has a mind of his own. He reared up several times on the walk to the paddock and had to be saddled away from the other horses.

“He’s very playful,” Farrior said. “I was hoping he didn’t get loose.”

Faster Gator wasn’t away the best this afternoon but soon advanced under jockey Arnaldo Bocachica to track the pace from the outside as favored Slam Notion and Little Bit Risky grappled through an opening quarter of 22.78 with the aid of a stiff tailwind.

Bocachica soon had Faster Gator in prime position as the speed duel intensified around the turn, and they angled three wide for a clear run in the stretch. Faster Gator drifted inward slightly in midstretch to bump Slam Notion, then drove home 1 ¼-lengths better than that foe in 1:04.68 over the fast track.

Change My World placed 3 ¾ lengths behind the runner-up. Little Bit Risky, Chesapeake Dream, Blanches Mule, and Shootersgottashoot completed the order of finish. Lou’s Birthday was scratched.

Faster Gator withstood a jockey’s objection from Slam Notion’s rider, J G Torrealba, for the bumping incident and returned $6.40 to win as the second betting choice. Faster Gator wore blinkers for the first time today.

“He broke slow, and that may have helped him,” stated Farrior. “[Bocachica] said he was sitting in the gate a little bit when they broke. When he won first time, ‘Boca said he was waiting on horses, so we breezed him with blinkers since he came back. The blinkers keep him focused.”

Bred in Kentucky by Romar Farm and BRS, Faster Gator was purchased for $50,000 by Farrior on behalf of owner Richard Burnsworth. He is a Vekoma half-brother to Killer Collect, a stakes-winner at Dubai at 1 3/16 miles. His dam, the Nobiz Like Shobiz mare, Comforter, was stakes-placed around two turns on dirt.

“I think he’s going to want to go long,” Farrior added. “His family is all long.”