Logo

Description automatically generated
 

April 16, 2026

                Well-Connected Boots Dominates First 2YO Race of Year

     Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $250,000          

               Roger That Dana Popular ‘Single’ in Florida-Bred Feature 

 

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Arindel homebred Boots, a gray granddaughter of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper and champion mare Wait a While, launched her career in grand style with a 3 ½-length victory Thursday in the first race of the season for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.

 

            Ridden by Samy Camacho for trainer Jorge Delgado, Boots ($7) ran 4 ½ furlongs over a fast main track in 52.09 seconds to follow in the footsteps of her stablemate Mythical, who successfully kicked off Gulfstream’s 2025 juvenile season for Arindel before going on to win five stakes in her next seven starts.

 

            Breaking outside each of her four rivals, including another Arindel homebred  Dorothy trained by Carlos David, Boots pressed 6-5 favorite Celtic Dispute through a quarter-mile in 21.93 seconds while racing in the two path. The half went in 45.55 with the two still engaged until leaving the far turn, when Camacho gave Boots her cue and she opened up once straightened for home.

 

            “She just put me in a good position out of the break,” Camacho said. “After that, [Celtic Dispute] shakes loose a little bit, so I just tried to stay away from her, because they’re first-time horses. Before the three-eighths pole, I know we’re going to the first wire, so I asked my filly and she responded right away. She had enough kick to the end.”

 

            Celtic Dispute, by Leinster, the sire of multiple stakes winner and Royal Ascot Group 2-placed Lennilu, was a decisive second by 5 ¾ lengths over 20-1 longshot Jost a Chance Yadi. It was another length back to Dorothy in fourth with Satira fifth. Dama Du Sucre was a late scratch.

 

            Boots is by Arindel’s foundation sire Brethren out of the Ghostzapper mare Medusa whose only sibling, the 3-year-old colt Bowie, has one second in six starts. Ghostzapper won four Grade 1 races and nearly $3.5 million in purses and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Wait a While was a three-time Grade 1 winner of close to $2.2 million who was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2006.

 

            “She won very easy,” Camacho said. “She’s not 100 percent there. She’s still learning and she’s going to be an even better horse. Thank God and the owners for putting me on this winner.” comments powered by Disqus