Turf Races Highlight Gulfstream West's Opening Program

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Bernies Blog

MIAMI GARDENS - With the conclusion of the Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park Sunday, racing in South Florida will move to Gulfstream Park West on Wednesday for the Fall Turf Festival Meet. Live racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesday to Sunday, through Nov. 24. Racing will also be conducted on Monday, Oct. 14. Post time is scheduled for 1 p.m. daily.

“The Fall Turf Festival at Gulfstream Park West serves as the perfect bridge between our summer season and our Championship Meet,” said Gulfstream’s Vice President of Racing, Bill Badgett. “Over the last several weeks we’ve seen more stables ship to South Florida in preparation for the winter racing season and, over the next several weeks, we will begin to see more horsemen from throughout North America shipping in and running at Gulfstream West. We’re looking forward to a strong meet.”

The stakes schedule will kick off on Nov. 2 with the $75,000 Showing Up, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, and the $75,000 Cellars Shiraz, a one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

The Sunshine Millions Preview card is slated for Nov. 9, when nine $75,000 stakes will be run, several serving as early preps for the Sunshine Millions program at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 18.

Half of the eight-race program will be contested on the turf course. The sixth race, a starter optional claiming event, will feature Cash Call Kitten seeking his fourth consecutive victory and sixth win in eight career starts. The seventh race, a $45,000 allowance optional claiming event, attracted a field of seven fillies and mares including the stakes-placed Worth Avenue and 8-5 favorite Bella Tormenta.

Edgard Zayas, who was atop the Summer Meet jockey standings at Gulfstream, will defend his title at Gulfstream Park West, where he won 47 races last year. Saffie Joseph Jr., who saddled Chance It for a dominating victory in the $400,000 FSS In Reality Saturday, captured the trainer’s title at Gulfstream Park West with 15 winners.

Live racing will return to Gulfstream Park on Nov. 29 for the 2019-2020 Championship Meet.