HALLANDALE BEACH - Today’s 12-race program, featuring an impressive performance by the 3-year-old colt Greatest Honour, produced a record Holy Bull Day handle at Gulfstream Park.

    Total handle on the afternoon was $21.870 million, eclipsing the previous record of $19.775 set in 2017 and surpassing last year’s total handle by 20 percent.

    The afternoon of races included five graded stakes worth $600,000 in purse money. The afternoon was highlighted by Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour’s 5 ¾-length victory in the $200,000, Gr. III Holy Bull (G3), a major prep for the Gr. II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27 and the Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby on March 27.

“It was a wonderful day of racing, and we want to thank the fans and the horsemen for supporting our program,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST Racing. “Congratulations to Greatest Honour and all of those who participated in making this a memorable afternoon. We look forward to more great racing in the weeks to come during our Championship Meet.” 

Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $700,000

    The multi-race wager went unsolved during today’s program for the fourth straight day following last Sunday’s mandatory payout. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $11,465. There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $4,431.13.

    Sunday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11, kicked off by a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-olds on turf. Todd Pletcher-trained Aviano, second and third in two career starts, is rated as the 8-5 favorite and figures to be a popular ‘single.’ Well-balanced fields of $6,250 claimers in Race 7, a mile race for older horses, and $20,000 claimers in Race 8, a mile turf race for older horses, may well prove more challenging for Rainbow 6 bettors. 

    Back-to-back optional claiming allowance races for older horses follow in Races 9 and 10. Ajaaweed, who finished a close second in the 2019 Remsen, is scheduled to make his first start for Pletcher in Race 9, a mile race for older horses. Pletcher is also scheduled to saddle last-out winner War Stopper, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, for Race 10, a 1 1/16-mile race for older horses. A full field of 3-year-old fillies will contest Race 11, a mile turf race for $50,00 maiden claimers.

    WHO’S HOT: Tyler Gaffalione followed up his winning ride on Chess’s Dream ($18.60) in the Gr. III Kitten’s Joy in Race 4 with a late-running score aboard Tune In ($11.40) in Race 8. Paco Lopez doubled with back-to-back wins on Life in Shambles ($5.20) in Race 2 and Dr. Duke ($15.40) in Race 3.

    Emisael Jaramillo guided a pair of longshots to victory, scoring aboard Weekend Dreamer ($20.20) in Race 1 and King of Dreams ($34) in Race 7.

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