Thursday, July 2, 2026
HALLANDALE BEACH - Turf racing is scheduled to return to Gulfstream Park Friday when the Royal Palm Meet resumes to kick off an Independence Day holiday weekend filled with stakes, special events and giveaways.
Four races are scheduled for the grass Friday, bookending the nine-race program with a one-mile claiming event for maidens 3 and up in the opener and another for 3-year-olds and up who have never won two races going 1 1/16 miles in the finale, both drawing 10-horse fields. First race post time is 12:20 p.m.
Race 4 is a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight on the turf for 2-year-old fillies where the 2-1 program favorite is Crystal River, a first-time starter by Golden Pal who fetched $150,000 as a yearling last fall,trained and co-owned by Patrick Biancone and showing three sharp works at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, for her debut.
Trainer Nicholas Palmer will send out the duo of Iolana, returning from making her debut against the boys in the Royal Palm Juvenile sprinting five furlongs on the Gulfstream turf May 9, and Grant Me Peace, who adds blinkers after closing to be fourth in a five-furlong maiden special weight over the all-weather Tapeta course. The other horses all exit dirt starts including the pair of Mumbet and Straight to Jail for trainer Heather Smullen, a winner with eight of her last 25 starters (32 percent).
From the rail is Love Like Lucy, who was determined when crossing the wire first in the six-furlong Game Face over Gulfstream’s main track May 23 but disqualified to second for interference. The sophomore Win Win Win filly placed in both the Desert Vixen and Susan’s Girl divisions of the Florida Sire Series last fall and is scheduled to try turf for the first time.
Co-headlining Friday’s program are the $100,000 Sharp Susan for 2-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs in Race 6 and the $70,000 Wildcat Red overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile in Race 8, both on the main track.
The Sharp Susan is led by Elegante Miz, who drew Post 4 in a field of eight and adds blinkers following a rallying neck triumph in a five-furlong maiden special weight on the Tapeta June 6. Boots, entered but scratched from the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies May 9 on the Gulfstream turf, makes her first start since a decisive 3 ½-length debut victory going 4 ½ furlongs in Gulfstream’s first juvenile race of 2026.
Gr. II winner Steal Sunshine and Gr. III-placed stablemate Back Em Up, with 13 wins and more than $1.1 million in purse earnings behind them, are major contenders among 10 horses in the Wildcat Red. Among the main rivals is Gr. II-placed Lightning Tones, back-to-back winner of the Sunshine Classic for Florida-breds in 2025 and 2026.
The 20-cent Rainbow 6, which yielded multiple $5,172 mandatory jackpot payouts on the last live race day June 28, spans Races 4-9.
Gulfstream’s Carousel Club will host World Cup watch parties Friday for games between defending champion Argentina and Cape Verde from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens at 6 p.m. and Columbia vs. Ghana in Kansas City at 9:30 p.m. featuring multiple LED screens, food and drink specials, partner activations and giveaways.
July 4th Saturday is Fan Day at Gulfstream with prize promotions, food and drink specials and a bucket hat giveaway to 1/ST Rewards members that wager $50 on track. Stars and Stirrups Market, featuring local shopping and unique finds, will take place in the Carousel Club from 1-6 p.m.
Eleven races are on tap Saturday including the $100,000 Smile Sprint for 3-year-olds going six furlongs and the $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer Handicap for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
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