HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $1.8 million today at Gulfstream Park.

    The multi-race wager went unsolved for the 13th consecutive racing day Saturday, when multiple ticket with all six winners were each worth $140,821. The huge payoff came after Sunsation ($112.20) won the 10th race and Atakan ($105.60) won the 11th and final leg of the sequence.

    The 11th race payoff also resulted in a Super Hi 5 carryover of $24,651.

    The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 7-11, including the featured six-furlong optional claiming allowance carded as Race 8. Multiple stakes-winners Royal Squeeze and First Deal are prominent contenders in the field of six older horses.

Spring Meet Stakes Action Gears Up Next Weekend                     

    The Spring Meet stakes action at Gulfstream Park gears up next weekend with four stakes scheduled. The $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Ginger Punch, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Florida-bred fillies and mares; and the $75,000 Game Face, a 6 ½-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies, will be run next Saturday. The $60,000 Treasure Coast, a 1 1/8-mile overnight stakes on turf for fillies and mares, will be featured next Sunday.

    Since 'Notes From North and South' hasn't been part of this space for a long time, how about a one-time return.

    Note No. 1: One of the puzzling oddities of the sport is that every facet of the game is dissected, bisected and trisected from every angle by writers, bettors, management, various organizations and the vast horde of on-line tweeters and others who make comments - pro and con - at the end of the many racing columns they agree or disagree with. But nobody comments, at least publicly, on the errors that are apparent in a myriad of Equibase's race charts. 

    Serious bettors use the Equibase charts as if they are a bible, spotlighting final times, fractions, lengths behind at every call in the race, type of trip and a bevy of other stats. So, if there are errors in a chart, it can make a huge difference in how the big bettors attack the race. 

    Remember many years ago when Steven Crist led a crusade to report the fractions in hundredths instead of tenths so handicappers could get a better picture of the race? He got it done. 

    Latest case in point. In yesterday's fifth race at Tampa Bay Downs, David Flores achieved a rare accomplishment in a game that doesn't boast of that many rare accomplishments. Most of what runners or jockeys accomplish has been achieved many times before. But David, who has been living in Ocala since his retirement in 2017, won the race with a superior ride aboard Calypso Key. The accomplishment? David is also the trainer of the 5-year-old mare owned and bred by Firefly Racing. 

    I've seen jockey-trainer combos in the past, but not often. Clyde Martin comes to mind, and I think Robbie Davis did it for a while, too, but I'm not positive about him. Flores shot Calypso Key out of the gate and they raced in third place all the way down the backstretch before he slipped her through on the inside to win it. My problem? The Equibase chart has the mare in fifth place at the half, and it just wasn't so - she was third. So Calypso Key's position is incorrect at that juncture, as is the number of lengths she was behind the leader. For the once-in-a-while bettor, it won't make a difference. For the serious guys, only they know.

    Another place where the Equibase chart-callers are extremely delinquent is in 'lengths behind,' usually down the backstretch. I have watched MANY horses who have been 16 to 20 lengths out of it after negotiating the first turn, or coming out of the chute, and the chart later has it as 12 or 13 or 14 lengths. I've seen many more where a horse was 10 lengths behind and the chart later showed it as 7 or 8 lengths. And these are races that I've re-checked one or more times to make sure I wasn't mistaken - and I wasn't.

    Back in the early 90s, when I was the Florida breeding columnist for Racing Times, there were charts in my paper and in Daily Racing Form, constructed by each company's different chart-callers. I used to check both every day and found a great many differences between the calls in the two papers.    

    Note No. 2 - Flores retired in 2017 with 3,608 winners and purses earned of more than $150 million. He has been training for Firefly at Classic Mile in Ocala, and after Calypso Key ran poorly for two other jockeys, he came out of retirement and has been aboard the mare in her last four trips. Before yesterday he previously posted a second with her back on April 1. Last year, David was the trainer of Higgins, a back-to-back winner at Tampa on March 15 and April 14. His Mexican friend Jesus Castanon was the rider.

   Note No. 3 - After 13 or 14 years riding in this country, super French jockey Julien Leparoux still can't get announcers and analysts to pronounce his name correctly. It's not Leppa-roo, as so many say, or Lay-paroo, which the rest spout. It's Le-paroo. The only two who have ever had it right are announcer Larry Collmus and analyst and handicapper Bob Neumeier.  (I miss Larry Collmus). 

Note No. 4 - Churchill Downs' latest announcer, Travis Stone, does an excellent job. His voice sounds a lot like Dave Johnson. 

Note No. 5 - In Friday's eighth race at Tampa, a $5,000 claimer, Ronnie Allen guided Sum Overture from behind and into second place. Sum Overture went off at 126-1 and paid $80.80 to place and $27.60 to show. 

Enough notes for now.  

    Here's a little-known fact concerning Mark Casse, who has been inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga and certainly is more than deserving.

    When Mark was about 16, I had a racing newspaper in Ocala called The Florida Scene. I also was the Marion County distributor for Daily Racing Form. I used to get the papers by bus from Tampa and leave them in three places around town for subscribers to pick up. One was at Bonnie Heath's Ramada Inn on highway 27, now a Motel 6, a second was at Frank Smith's convenience store at the Golden Hills Plaza, and the third was on the terrace of Norman Casse's home at Cardinal Hill Farm (now the Ocala Stud annex). 

    When I left the Forms with Joyce Reynolds on Norman's terrace, Mark would come home from school and grab the one marked 'Cardinal Hill.'

    One day, Norman said to me: "You know, you ought to do a story on Mark." I asked him what the reason would be - Mark wasn't an owner, or breeder, and didn't get his trainer's license until the next year. Said the proud papa, "Yes, but he's a great handicapper." 

    Shortly thereafter, Mark Casse was the subject of the lead story in The Florida Scene, and the rest, as they say, is history.

    Mark has saddled 2,865 winners, his horses have earned $174,628,624 (ninth all-time), he has amassed 11 Sovereign Awards in Canada, trained four Eclipse Award winners, and last year won the Preakness with War of Will and the Belmont Stakes with Sir Winston. And, he's one of only four trainers to have been elected to both the U. S. and Canadian Halls of Fame, along with Lucien Laurin, Roger Attfield and Horatio Luro. 

    I honestly don't know how Mark could have risen to his present heights without having been introduced to the world of racing in The Florida Scene. I take full credit for it. 

    The abbreviated racing schedules around the country are wreaking havoc on handle, purses, local economies, employment, paychecks and much more. On a less important scale, it is already changing the look of the leading sire lists. 

    There is no question that the end-of-the-year lists won't look anything like those of the past. Last season, Ocala Stud Farm's Adios Charlie was Florida's leading sire with earnings of $3,767,013. The 2020 season is exactly one-third completed, and the son of Indian Charlie is sitting fourth with earnings of $609,296. Barring a really big horse somewhere down the line, Charlie has little chance of coming anywhere near his 2019 total. Last year he had 64 winners and 41 repeat winners - this year thus far he has 18 and 5. 

    With Adios Charlie dropping to fourth, it would seem as though last year's runner-up, First Dude, would inherit the top spot, but that is not the case. Journeyman Stud's Khozan, who more than lived up to Brent and Crystal Fernung's expectations as a freshman last year, is the early leader this season and it will be interesting to see if he can continue on top since he has less runners in training than the others in the top five. The son of Distorted Humor led the frosh division in 2019 with earnings of $1,258,517 and he's a cinch to pass that as a sophomore in the near future - he already has reached $765,209.

    It's not easy for a freshman sire to lead the general sire list in his second season. Kantharos got off to a quick start for Ocala Stud as a freshman in 2014 and was the leader with earnings of $868,968. In his second season, he jumped up to $1,780,874, but still finished eighth. He has continued on in Kentucky as a sire with a great impact on racing.

    First Dude has been solid for Double Diamond Farm every season since his freshman year of 2015. He was second last year at $3,446.428, and is second behind Khozan with $733,430 this season. The two will have a tough battle the rest of the way, and Dude appears to have the edge strictly by numbers. He's leading the division with 26 winners, five better than runner-up Big Drama, and has six repeat winners, which is also leading. 

    Another to keep an eye on is Arindel Farm's Brethren, who was third last year and again this season thus far. His current runners are all products of when he stood at Pleasant Acres for Joe and Helen Barbazon, and the best of them are all in the barn of Arindel's owners, the Cohens. Another son of Distorted Humor, Brethren has earnings of $622,698 and can't be discounted from here to Dec. 31 - he has 70 runners, and 19 winners thus far.

    Under normal circumstances - and we are experiencing anything but these days - the first 2-year-old races of the year are run in New Mexico. However, with about 90 percent of the tracks in North America shuttered, the honor of hosting the first two races for juveniles goes to Gulfstream Park.

    The leadoff will be the second race on Thursday, a $65,000 maiden special for fillies at 4 1/2 furlongs. It has drawn a field of eight, and it will be the first race to be run under the new conditions for juveniles; they cannot compete until they have reached their actual second birthday, instead of all turning two on Jan 1. 

    As has been the norm for many years, the lowest morning line price belongs to a filly trained by Wesley Ward, who has made a habit of getting his youngsters ready earlier than his rivals and banking a ton of cash before the others know what has hit them. Ward's Lime is a Florida-bred by Iqbaal, who stands at Ward Farm, and who Wesley doesn't bother to advertise. Just about every foal by Iqbaal has been a Ward homebred. Lime is listed at 7/5 with red-hot Tyler Gaffalione aboard and will go from the No. 2 post.

    An interesting foe will be Sophisticurl, who will be the first runner for Pleasant Acres Stallions freshman sire Ride On Curlin. As of now, there are only two freshman sires in Florida, until we might find one or more not listed in the Stallion Register. The other is Ocala Stud Farm's Jess's Dream. Sophisticurl, bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon, is listed at 10-1 and has drawn post 4 for owner/trainer Lester Barbazon III with talented rider Fanny Olsson, the Swedish gal who is a long shot player's dream.

    Aside from Ride On Curlin, there are three others in the race who are by current or former sires from Pleasant Acres. They are: No. 3, Kitten's Dream, by Csaba; No. 5, Yafa, by Handsome Mike, and No. 7, Pretzel, by Brethren, who moved to Arindel Farm after his first few years at Pleasant Acres and has been a bright light for owners Alan and Karen Cohen. The Cohens also have the No. 8 horse, Quinoa Tifah, with Emisael Jaramillo. She's by Gemologist, and is listed at 9/2.

    Yafa comes from the barn of Troy Levy's Tropical Racing LLC, which buys young horses and mares and syndicates them at his Circle 8 Ranch. She's 8-1 for trainer Michelle Nihei and has Luca Panici, one of the most under-rated riders in Florida and one of the best finishers in the Gulfstream jockey colony. 

    The No. 6 horse, Sister Aurora, is a New York-bred by Majestic City, the Empire State's leading freshman sire of 2019.  

    The Friday race, also for $65,000 at 4 1/2 furlongs, has drawn a field of nine colts and geldings and Wesley Ward has No. 7, Golden Pal, an Uncle Mo colt with Tyler Gaffalione. There are three former Pleasant Acres stallions involved - No. 3, Arindel's Gatsby, by Brethren; No. 6, Poseidon's Warrior, by Poseidon and bred by the Barbazons, and No. 9, Bailey, another of Arindel's Brethrens. 

    The nos. 4 and 5, Peppi and Just Right Mike, are both by Stonehedge Farm's rising star, Cajun Breeze. Both are owned, bred and trained by Beau Yates and his Shadybrook Farm, which fared so well with sons and daughters from the first crop of Cajun Breeze in 2018.

    Long shots winners are a way of life at every racetrack in the country, but the sixth race at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday was a favorite-haters dream. 

    The race was a $10,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the grass offering $6,380 to the winner, who turned out to be Automatic, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Carpe Diem. Angel Suarez rode Automatic, who went of at odds of 38-1 and paid $79.00, $29.80 and $15.20 after defeating Brown Essence by one-half length.

    Brown Essence was 71-1 under Tomas Mejia, and paid $49.80 and $19.80, finishing a nose ahead of Neat Street.

    Neat Street, with Samy Camacho, was a mere 13-1 and paid $8.80 to show. He finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Ready to Mingle, who was 12-1 with Olaf Hernandez. 

    After the race, the tote board bore a resemblance to the scene in The Natural when Roy Hobbs hit one off the scoreboard and started an explosion of lights. The $2 double with Don H, the $12 winner of the previous race, paid $458, and the $2 exacta paid $2,669.80.  

    The 50-cent trifecta came back $4,202.95, and the 10-cent superfecta paid $7,919.14. The 50-cent Pick 3 including Magdalena ($17.20) in the fourth race paid $1,152.50. 

    Sinatra Devil, the 6/5 favorite with Wilmer Garcia, finished fifth.  

    For some reason, Equibase is no longer closing out Gulfstream's charts with the handle statistics of the day. In these harrowing times, those numbers are important - they reveal how the country is responding, via the various wagering accounts, to the main track still in operation. 

    Based on a quick evaluation of Saturday's 14-race card at Gulfstream, the racing community is self-quarantining itself in front of their computers, or on the couch with their phones of all kinds.

    I didn't have the patience to add up the individual handles of each of Gulfstream's 14 races, but I did a few to try to get some idea of how the track is being supported. Here's what I found:

 Race No. 1 - This one went off at 11:36 so it's fair to assume the West and Mid-West hadn't gotten involved yet. Total handle for all pools: $1,017,296. 

Race No. 2 - More people getting involved - Total handle - $1,412,895.

Skip races 3 through 12 and go to No. 13, the Appleton - Total handle - $3,427,974.

Then the piece de resistance: The Florida Derby - Total handle - $9,896,403. 

    That adds up to $15,754,568 for just four races. If we estimate that the other 10 races averaged $2 million each, the total for the day would be about $35 million. (However, after a quick check of the other races, it appears that I underestimated the other 10 - several appear to have handled more than $3 million and the day's total could be $40 million or more). 

    Of course, Gulfstream receives a much larger percentage of the pools from on-track wagering than from the betting accounts, but at least Florida racing isn't going completely in the tank during this horrendous time for other businesses. 

    On Saturday, Tampa's ITW handle was $6,555, and the ISW handle $4,888,525. Oaklawn Park's number was $5,122,231. 

    Lost in the world of viruses, health experts, deaths, masks, testing, curfews, isolation, quarantine, poor leadership, Rand Paul's idiocy, and much more, Mike Mulligan's BetBestBreeze knocked it out of the park Saturday. And, like the tree falling in the forest, we have to wonder how many people were able to pay attention.

    With so many tracks shuttered, BBB was left with 19 selections from Fair Grounds, Gulfstream, Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita and the results were eye-opening: 8 winners, 7 seconds, 2 thirds and 2 fourths - 19 of 19 in the top 4. 

    Fair Grounds was particularly fruitful with winners Dreamalildreamofu ($4.20); Factor This ($21); Sydster ($5); Vacherie Girl ($12.20), and Wells Bayou ($8.40). There were also two seconds.

    At Gulfstream, there were three seconds, one third and three fourths, and Oaklawn had winners Long Weekend ($4.60) and Ruling ($5.80). Santa Anita added one winner, Outright ($8.40) and one fourth.   

    A great day for those sitting at home and utilizing computers, phones and any other form of wagering devices.  

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Cara Oliver’s Hear My Prayer sprinted to the lead and kept on going, shaking off Foolish Humor early and turning away Compensate by 1 1/2 lengths to earn her first career stakes victory in the $75,000 Melody of Colors, giving jockey Paco Lopez his fifth of a record-equaling seven victories on Saturday’s 12-race program at Gulfstream Park.

Lopez, a past Championship Meet riding champion who sits third in the current standings, previously won aboard Strike Magic ($21) in Race 1, Time to Two Step ($2.40) in Race 2, French Quarter ($3.60) in Race 5 and Quick Step Ed ($8.80) in Race 6, adding a sixth win aboard We Miss Susie ($6) in Race 10 and a seventh aboard National Honor ($11.80) in Race 12.

With his seventh win Lopez joined the company of Luis Saez (twice), Tyler Gaffalione and Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey. Saez achieved the feat on Jan. 24, 2018 and March 29, 2018. Gaffalione won seven on July 4, 2017, while Bailey was the first to accomplish it on March 11, 1996.

Trained by David Fisher, Hear My Prayer was a popular winner in the field of 11 3-year-old fillies, cutting back to five furlongs following her 2020 debut, in which she was sixth after setting the pace in the 7 ½-furlong Ginger Brew Jan. 4 at Gulfstream. She paid $4 after racing the distance in :55.89 seconds over a firm turf course.

Hear My Prayer was intent on the lead from post 4 and dueled through an opening quarter in :21.23 seconds with Foolish Humor at her right hip. Foolish Humor began to fade around the turn and Compensate picked up the chase down the center of the track after a half in :43.80, but was unable to reel in the winner. 

  Hear My Prayer improved to 3-0 when sprinting five furlongs on the grass, her other wins coming last fall at Gulfstream and Gulfstream West, each in front-running fashion. She was unable to sustain her lead in the Ginger Brew and wound up beaten 3 ¼ lengths.

Two races later, Smart Angle LLP’s Cajun Casanova rallied from far back to win the $75,000 Texas Glitter, a five-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds. Trained by Michael Pino, Cajun Casanova, who captured the five-furlong Hollywood Beach on turf last year at Gulfstream, was claimed for $50,000 out of an eight-length victory in a five-furlong off-the-turf optional claiming allowance Jan. 23. The son of Stonehedge Farm's Cajun Breeze set the pace before finishing second in a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf for his new connections on Feb. 17.

This time, Cajun Casanova ($9.40) and jockey Miguel Vasquez employed different tactics with success. He chased the pace in fourth as R Man Joe set solid fractions of :21.47 and :43.36 for the first half-mile, then swung wide entering the stretch and kicked in to win by a neck. R Man Joe held on for second under Emisael Jaramillo, 1 ½ lengths ahead of late-charging Guildsman and Saez. Cajun Casanova was clocked in :55.28 seconds.

    Hip No. 598, a son of Upstart consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent, went to Mike Ryan, Agent for $600,000 to top the second and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2020 March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat at Saturday’s session of the Under Tack Show, is out of Blue Beryl, by Bernstein, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winning OBS March graduate Brigand.

    Hip No. 424, a daughter of Bernardini consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Stonestreet Stables LLC for $575,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat at Friday’s Under Tack Session, is out of Song Collection, by Unbridled’s Song, a full sister to graded stakes-winner Old Fashioned.

    Hip No. 386, a son of Constitution consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, went to Dennis O’Neill for $550,000. The bay colt, who turned in a quarter in :20 4/5 on Friday, is out of Screwgie, by Smart Strike, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Roshani.

    Hip No. 550, a son of Tapizar consigned by Brick City Thoroughbreds, Agent, was purchased by Narvick International for $500,000. The bay colt, who worked an eighth on Saturday in :10 flat, is a half-brother to stakes-winner Miss Frost out of Allencat, by Storm Cat.

    West Bloodstock, Agent for Repole Stable, Inc. went to $420,000 for Hip No. 456, a son of Frosted consigned by Kings Equine, Agent. The gray or roan colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat at Saturday’s Under Tack Session, is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed Der Lu out of Taboo, by Forestry.

    Hip No. 640, a son of Daredevil whose quarter in :20 3/5 was the session’s fastest, went to Carolyn Wilson for $400,000. The bay colt out of Chapellerie (IRE), by Acclamation, from the family of graded stakes winner Secret Form (GB), was consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent.

    Hip No. 358, a son of Outwork consigned by Pike Racing, Agent, was purchased by Mike Ryan, Agent, for $380,000. The bay colt, who worked an eighth on Friday in :10 flat, is out of Riding Point, by Speightstown, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Onus.

    Hip No. 568, a son of Medaglia d’Oro consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, went to Narvick International for $350,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth on Saturday in :10 1/5, is out of graded stakes-placed Arch Support, by Arch, a daughter of stakes-winner Two Ninety Jones.

    Hip No. 443, a bay filly by Uncle Mo consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, was sold to Dennis O’Neill for $340,000. A half-sister to stakes-placed Romeo Lima out of Storybook (UAE), by Hailing, she breezed an eighth on Friday in :10 1/5.

    Team Casse, Agent, went to $335,000 for Hip No. 381, a daughter of War Front who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat on Friday. The dark bay or brown filly bred in Great Britain, consigned by Kings Equine, Agent, is a half-sister to stakes-placed Segra out of graded stakes-winner Sarah Lynx (IRE), by Montjeu.

    Hip No. 379, a son of Into Mischief also consigned by Kings Equine, Agent, who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 on Friday, was sold to Town & Country Racing LLC for $300,000. A half-brother to stakes-winning OBS graduate South Bend, he’s out of graded stakes-placed Sandra’s Rose, by Old Trieste.

    Hip No. 454, a daughter of Union Rags who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 on Friday, was sold for $300,000 to Jun Park, Agent. The bay filly, consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent, is out of graded stakes placed Sweet Success, by Candy Ride (ARG), a daughter of graded stakes-placed Aspiring.

    John C. Kimmel, Agent, paid $300,000 for Hip No. 559, Caller Two, a son of Malibu Moon consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth on Saturday in :10 flat, is out of Ameristralia (AUS), by Fastnet Rock, a full sister to graded stakes-winner Fiano Romano. 

    For the session, 146 horses sold for $14,893,000, averaging $102,007 with a $55,000 median figure. The buyback percentage was 39.4%.

    For the entire sale, 291 horses sold for $27,902,500 compared with 306 bringing $44,248,500 a year ago. The average price was $95,885, compared with $144,603 in 2019 while the median price was $50,000 compared with $80,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 39.6%; it was 23.9% in 2019.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - With the utmost regard for the safety and well-being of our customers and employees and in following the best available guidance from local and international health authorities, Gulfstream Park will temporarily close to the public for racing and simulcast at the conclusion of racing today.

    Gulfstream Park will continue live racing as scheduled with personnel licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering in attendance which will provide our fans at home with the opportunity to stay connected via our on-line wagering.

    The Florida Derby, scheduled to take place on March 28, will move forward with live racing but will also be closed to the public.

    The Casino at Gulfstream Park will remain open for slot machine play only. All areas of the Clubhouse including the walking ring and apron will be closed with perimeter fencing and security. The Village at Gulfstream Park will remain open however, we encourage our guests to check with specific retailers’ operating hours.

    We will continue to monitor the situation and will post any updates on our website at www.GulfstreamPark.com. We look to welcoming our fans and guests back again soon.

    OLDSMAR - Retired Major League Baseball star Victor Martinez played on five teams that reached the post-season, was an American League All-Star five times and slugged 246 home runs in his 16-year career, which ended in 2018.

But in the glow of a raucous winner’s-circle celebration late Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs, he said that nothing in his baseball career compared to the experience of his 3-year-old colt King Guillermo winning the Gr. II, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at odds of 49-1.

    “My dad died when I was six, and I always wanted to have a horse named for my dad,” an emotional Martinez said after King Guillermo posted a 4 ¾-length victory over 3-2 favorite Sole Volante in 1:42.63 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth. As a bonus, Martinez’s Venezuelan countryman, Samy Camacho, was in the saddle. The clocking was the third-fastest in the 40 editions of the Tampa Bay Derby.

“This is absolutely something else," Martinez said."  I thank God for this opportunity and putting a great horse in my hands. My mom (Margot, part of the festive scene) taught me how to dream. She taught me dreams are for free. We believed in this horse and he made our dream come true.”

Another Venezuelan, Juan C. Avila, is the trainer of King Guillermo, who improved to 2-for-4 with the victory, in his first start of 2020. He paid $100.40 to win, the second-biggest payoff in the history of the race, surpassed only by Bold Southerner’s $179.40 in 1984.

    The Tampa Bay Derby is a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race, and King Guillermo earned 50 points with his victory – virtually assuring him a spot in the May 2 Run for the Roses, as long as his connections pay the late Triple Crown nomination fee. He was one of only two horses in the 12-horse field not yet nominated. That bit of paperwork could wait Saturday.

“I hope he is going to the Kentucky Derby,” said Camacho, whose smile stretched almost to Caracas after the race. “I’m so happy, I say thank you to God and all the team – Mr. Juan Carlos Avila, the trainer, the owner, Victor Martinez, and everybody who made this dream possible. From the 3/8ths-mile pole I had a lot of horse and I was worried a little about Chance It and Sole Volante, but I had a lot of confidence in my horse because he was doing really well in the mornings and he felt strong,” Camacho said.

Sole Volante, the Gr. III Sam F. Davis Stakes winner here four weeks ago, picked up 20 points with his second-place finish, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Texas Swing – the other horse not nominated to the Triple Crown. Pace-setter Relentless Dancer held on for fourth, followed by disappointing second choice Chance It.

    King Guillermo is a Kentucky-bred son of Uncle Mo, out of Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band. He was bred by Carhue Investments, Grouseridge Ltd. And Marengo Investments and was purchased by Martinez for $150,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The winner’s share of $210,000 raised his career earnings to $240,350. King Guillermo’s previous victory came on Nov. 2 at Gulfstream Park West in a one-mile maiden special weight race on the turf, but his team decided his workouts on the dirt at Gulfstream since early January merited a shot today.

    Sole Volante also came out of the OBS April sale, going for a bargain $20,000 from the consignment of New Hope AB, which had purchased him for just $6,000 out of the 2018 Keeneland September yearling sale. 

    The Tampa Bay Derby was one of five stakes races, four graded, on a Festival Day card that drew 10,021 fans in sunny, breezy weather. Handle on the 12-race card was $13,155,349, third largest in the track's history, and on-track handle of $856,300 was up 4.5-percent over last year’s Festival Day card.

  In the Gr. II, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on the turf, Florida-bred mare Starship Jubilee, the favorite, withstood a strong stretch challenge from Chad Brown-trained Beautiful Lover to post a 1 ¼-length victory in 1:47.83 for the mile-and-an-eighth. Kelsey’s Cross finished third and Magic Star was fourth in the 11-horse field.

The 7-year-old Starship Jubilee, owned by Blue Heaven Farm and trained by Kevin Attard, improved to 17-for-35 lifetime. The $145,000 winner’s share of the purse raised her earnings to $1,498,667. Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano was aboard for the victory. “She’s such a classy horse,” Castellano said. “This is the type of horse you can do whatever you want – you can dictate the pace or you can come from behind. I enjoyed the ride and I’m very fortunate to be part of it. It looks like she is getting better and better and better.” Tino Attard claimed Starship Jubilee for $16,000 at Gulfstream in 2017.

    In the Gr. III, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf, the Eddie Kenneally-trained Outburst held off a frantic rally by Walk In Marrakesh to post a head victory in an excellent 1:42.03 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth. Outburst was also ridden by Castellano, who probably won the race when he managed to slow her down on the lead through a second quarter in :25.62 seconds after a :22.91 opening split. Secret Stash finished third and How Ironic was fourth in the 12-horse field.

    In the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf, Kentucky-bred colt Doc Boy rallied from well back to grab a 1 ¾-length victory from Mr. Kringle. Summer Assault finished third and pace-setter Alley Oop Johnny was fourth. Doc Boy, who is owned by Stallionaire Enterprises, improved to 3-for-6 with the victory, achieved in 1:34.67 for the one-mile distance, .15 seconds off the stakes record. The son of Into Mischief-Peggy May, by Lemon Drop Kid, is trained by Michael Stidham and was ridden by Joe Bravo.

AROUND THE OVAL - In the second race, the $40,000 Manatee Overnight Handicap for fillies and mares, 4-year-old Florida-bred stakes-winner J P’s Delight withstood a challenge from Gr. II stakes-winner Point of Honor at the top of the stretch and powered home to a four-length victory under jockey Paco Lopez. Her time for the 7 furlongs was 1:22.48.

  J P’s Delight, who is owned by Brent Fernung (Journeyman Stud) and Eugene Cahalan and trained by Kathleen O’Connell, improved to 4-for-5 with the victory. She had won the FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes on Dec. 14, also going 7 furlongs.

    OLDSMAR - A field of 12 3-year-olds headed by Sole Volante will compete for the winner’s share of a $400,000 purse in the 40th edition of the Gr. II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

    The Tampa Bay Derby is one of five stakes, four graded, on a Festival Day card offering $1 million in stakes purse money alone. It is also a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race, awarding qualifying points for the Run for the Roses on May 2 to the first four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 scale.

    Also on Saturday’s 12-race card, which begins at 12:15 p.m., are the Gr. II, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward at a mile-and-an-eighth on the turf; the Gr. III, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf; the Gr. III, $100,000 Challenger Stakes for horses 4-and-upward at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track; and the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds racing a mile on the turf.

    The five stakes will be run consecutively, comprising a Pick-5 wagering offering, with the Columbia as the seventh race, followed in order by the Challenger, the Hillsborough, the Florida Oaks and the Tampa Bay Derby.

    Sole Volante, the lone gelding in the field, drew the No.7 post position for the mile-and-a-sixteenth Tampa Bay Derby on the main dirt track and has been established as the 2-1 morning-line wagering choice, based on his impressive victory here on Feb. 8 in the Gr. III Sam F. Davis Stakes.

    Now 3-for-4 in his career, Sole Volante is owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables Corp. and trained by Patrick Biancone. Florent Geroux will be the jockey, replacing Sam F. Davis-winning rider Luca Panici, who suffered a fractured collarbone in a fall on Feb. 21.

    The second choice at 5-2 is Chance It, a Florida-bred colt owned by Shooting Star Thoroughbreds and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. He will break from the No. 4 post under Paco Lopez. Chance It is 4-for-6 with three stakes victories, including a triumph in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes on Jan. 4 at Gulfstream Park in which he defeated Sole Volante. Chance It was scratched from last Saturday’s Gr. II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream because of concerns about breaking from the No. 11 post position and the short run to the first turn.

    Todd Pletcher, who has trained five Tampa Bay Derby winners, including three in a row from 2015-2017, will send out three lightly-raced starters: maiden winners Market Analysis and Texas Swing along with Unrighteous, who is still a maiden.

    Market Analysis, owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club International, won his lone start going 7 furlongs on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream. Texas Swing, owned by Harrell Ventures, won his second career start, a mile-and-40-yard maiden special weight contest here on the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard. Unrighteous, a homebred colt racing for Calumet Farm, has a fourth and a second in two starts at Gulfstream.

    Pletcher’s five Tampa Bay Derby winners are Limehouse (2004), Verrazano (2013), Carpe Diem (2015), Destin (2016) and Tapwrit (2017). He has won the Kentucky Derby twice, both times with horses that raced at Tampa Bay Downs. In 2010, his Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby; in 2017, Pletcher sent eventual Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming here to break his maiden on Jan. 25.

    The only other horse to win the Kentucky Derby after competing at Tampa Bay Downs was Street Sense, who won both the Oldsmar showcase and the Kentucky Derby in 2007.

    Here is the full Tampa Bay Derby field in post position order, followed by each horse’s trainer and jockey:

1. Texas Swing, Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano; 2. Spa City, Kiaran McLaughlin, Daniel Centeno; 3. Relentless Dancer, Michael Maker, Antonio Gallardo; 4. Chance It, Saffie Joseph Jr., Paco Lopez; 5. Market Analysis, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez; 6. Mo Mosa, Michael Maker, Pablo Morales; 7. Sole Volante, Patrick Biancone, Florent Geroux; 8. Letmeno, Ian Wilkes, Chris Landeros; 9. Unrighteous, Todd Pletcher, Joe Bravo; 10. Bye Bye Melvin, H. Graham Motion, Julien Leparoux; 11. King Guillermo, Juan Carlos Avila, Samy Camacho; 12. Tons of Gold, Alexis Delgado, Angel Suarez.

    The Hillsborough Stakes, which has launched the Eclipse award-winning seasons of 2012 winner Zagora and 2016 winner Tepin, has attracted a field of 12 older fillies and mares, headed by Lael Stables’ 5-year-old Jehozacat, Blue Heaven Farm’s 7-year-old Starship Jubilee and 5-year-old Altea, one of three Chad Brown-trained entrants.

    Jehozacat, who is trained by Arnaud Delacour, captured the Gr. III Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes on the turf here on Feb. 8, her second stakes victory of the meeting. Starship Jubilee, who is a career millionaire, is 16-for-34 lifetime, including a victory in the Gr. I E. P. Taylor Stakes on the turf at Woodbine on Oct. 12. Altea is looking for her first stakes victory, but was a fast-closing second in the Endeavour.

Here is the full Hillsborough Stakes field in post position order, followed by each horse’s trainer and jockey:

1. Dynatail, Mike Dini, Jose Ferrer; 2. Get Explicit, Barbara Minshall, Samy Camacho; 3. Magic Star, Chad Brown, John Velazquez; 4. Juliana, Ignacio Correas IV, Joe Bravo; 5. Kelsey’s Cross, Patrick Biancone, Florent Geroux; 6. Wish Upon, John P. Terranova II, Pablo Morales; 7. Starship Jubilee, Kevin Attard, Javier Castellano; 8. Beautiful Lover, Chad Brown, Paco Lopez; 9. Hanalei Moon, Mark Casse, Antonio Gallardo; 10. Jehozacat, Arnaud Delacour, Daniel Centeno; 11. Lady Oxbow, Kent Sweezey, unnamed; 12. Altea, Chad Brown, Julien Leparoux.

    The Florida Oaks has produced two winners of the Kentucky Oaks, Luv Me Luv Me Not in 1992 and Secret Status in 2000. That was before the race was switched to the turf course in 2011, achieving Gr. III status in 2013. This year’s event has drawn a field of 12, led by undefeated (4-for-4) New York Groove, owned by Commonwealth New Era Racing and trained by Michael Trombetta. The daughter of Verrazano posted back-to-back stakes victories last fall in the Presque Isle Debutante Stakes and the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine. All of New York Groove’s races have been achieved on all-weather synthetic surfaces.

    Here is the full Florida Oaks field in post position order, followed by each horse’s trainer and jockey:

1. Ivyetsu, George “Rusty” Arnold II, Florent Geroux; 2. New York Groove, Michael Trombetta, Antonio Gallardo; 3. Secure Connection, Claude “Shug” McGaughey III, Julien Leparoux; 4. Mirabell Mei, John P. Terranova II, Pablo Morales; 5. Correctness, Arnaud Delacour, Daniel Centeno; 6. Walk In Marrakesh, Ignacio Correas IV, Joe Bravo; 7. Galileos Ballerina, Brett Brinkman, Jesus Castanon; 8. Outburst, Eddie Kenneally, Javier Castellano; 9. How Ironic, Victoria Oliver, Angel Suarez; 10. Secret Stash, Mark Casse, Samy Camacho; 11. Blame Debbie, H. Graham Motion, John Velazquez; 12. Micheline, Michael Stidham, Paco Lopez.

    The Challenger was upgraded to Gr. III status this year, following an eight-year run of winners that included subsequent Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Fort Larned in 2012, multiple graded stakes-winner Stanford in 2017, $3.2-million-plus earner War Story in 2018 and multiple Gr. III-winner Flameaway last year.

    Heading this year’s field is 5-year-old gelding Admiralty Pier, owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford and trained by Barbara Minshall. Admiralty Pier notched his first graded stakes triumph here on Feb. 8 in the Gr. III Tampa Bay Stakes. Other likely contenders are Prompt, from the barn of Bill Mott, and Noble Drama, who appears to be in excellent form, trained by David Fawkes.

Here is the full Challenger Stakes field in post position order, followed by each horse’s trainer and jockey:

1. Big Dollar Bill, Ian Wilkes, Chris Landeros; 2. Debbie’s Passion, Luis Carvajal Jr., Scott Spieth; 3. Trophy Chaser, Juan Carlos Avila; 4. Prompt, Bill Mott, Florent Geroux; 5. King for a Day, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez; 6. Sandino Ruler, Ignacio Correas IV, Joe Bravo; 7. Noble Drama, David Fawkes, Javier Castellano; 8. Admiralty Pier, Barbara Minshall, Samy Camacho

    The Columbia Stakes, known as the Chris Thomas Turf Classic from 2000-2009, has drawn a field of 10 3-year-old colts and geldings. Top contenders include Chapalu, who won the Gr. III Grey Stakes on the all-weather surface at Woodbine on Oct. 27 but failed to contend in the Sam F. Davis; stakes-winner Doc Boy, from the barn of trainer Michael Stidham, and Zaino Boyz, who won the Inaugural Stakes here on Dec. 7 on the main track.

Here is the full Columbia Stakes field in post position order, followed by each horse’s trainer and jockey:

1. Doc Boy, Michael Stidham, Joe Bravo; 2. Summer Assault, Michele Boyce, Angel Suarez; 3. Glorious Tribute, Barbara Minshall, Samy Camacho; 4. Alley Oop Johnny, John Rigattieri, unnamed; 5. King Theo, Carlo Vaccarezza, Florent Geroux; 6. Chapalu, Arnaud Delacour, Javier Castellano; 7. Me and Mr. C, Ned Allard, Carol Cedeno; 8. Mr. Kringle, John P. Terranova II, Pablo Morales; 9. Valiant Virtue, Juan Arriagada, Jesus Castanon; 10. Commence, Arnaud Delacour, Daniel Centeno.










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    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park was solved again today, when a lucky bettor cashed for a $468,945 jackpot payoff. The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved since Feb. 17, when a single unique ticket was worth a $1,208,573 payoff.

   The winning combination was 9-5-2-6-3-6. Itwill start anew Friday with a $100,000 guaranteed pool. 

    Friday’s sequence will span Races 5-10, including the featured 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old fillies in Race 9. Todd Pletcher-trained Eve of War, who debuted with an eye-catching 7 ½-length triumph at Gulfstream Feb. 2, will make her highly anticipated return to action. The daughter of Declaration of War will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez. The Rainbow 6 will be kicked off by a maiden special race for Florida-bred 3-year-olds in Race 5, featuring Freedom Force, a Rodolphe Brisset-trained son of American Pharoah who will be making his debut in the mile race that attracted a field of six, including Pletcher-trained Roman Empire, who finished a late-closing third on turf in his recent debut.

    Race 8, a mile turf race with a full field of $16,000 claimers, and Race 10, a 1 1/16-mile turf race with a full field of $16,000 claimers, will be included in Friday’s Stronach 5, which will offer a carryover of $167,951.

    The Stronach 5, which offers a 12-percent takeout, will be kicked off by Laurel Park’s Race 8, followed by Gulfstream’s Race 8, Golden Gate Fields’ Race 3, Santa Anita’s Race 3 and Gulfstream’s Race 10.

           

        

    HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $900,000 Friday at Gulfstream Park. First race post is 1 p.m.

    The multi-race wager went unsolved for the 11th consecutive racing day today, and multiple tickets will all six winners were each worth $34,235.

    There were three live tickets going into the last race after Shellphone ($69.80) kicked off the sequence and Lena Horn ($32.40) won the fifth leg, but the victory in the 10th and final race went to R Boy Bode, who went off at odds of 7-2.

    Gulfstream will also have two races in Friday’s Stronach 5, which has a guaranteed pool of $100,000 and a 12-percent takeout. Gulfstream’s featured races in the national wager will be the seventh and 10th.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $600,000 Saturday at Gulfstream Park.The multi-race wager went unsolved for the seventh racing day today, when multiple winning tickets were each worth $1,125.

    Saturday’s Rainbow 6 will span Races 7-12, including the $150,000, Gr. III Suwanee River in Race 11.

    Gr. 1 winner Starship Jubilee, a $16,000 claim at Gulfstream two seasons ago, has been installed at 7-5 in the morning line for the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares. Trained by Kevin Attard, the 7-year-old daughter of Indy Wind will be in search of her sixth graded stakes score while facing six rivals, including Magic Star, who captured the Gr. III Marshua’s River (G3) at Gulfstream last time out.

Who’s Hot: Luis Saez, who rode four winners on Thursday’s card, notched three more victories on today’s card, scoring aboard La Chauffeur ($2.80) in Race 2, Descente ($3.40) in Race 3 and Luxury Suite ($14) in Race 5. Marcos Meneses continued his breakthrough meeting with three winners, scoring aboard Harper Go Lucky ($22.40) in Race 1, Saint Larned ($13.20) in Race 6 and the amazing 9-year-old gelding French Quarter ($7) in Race 10.

    French Quarter's dam, Cent Nouvelle, was a rescue mare in 2010 with her ribs protruding, and was nursed back to health by breeder Kathleen Taylor, who then bred her to Shakespeare, resulting in the birth of French Quarter. The gelding has now won 12 times and earned more then $406,000, and was claimed for $8,000.  

    Irad Ortiz Jr. won two races with Arrivederla ($6) in Race 7 and Royal Flag ($3.60) in Race 8. 

            

Super Hi-5 Carryover: $3,021.13.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 32nd consecutive racing day of the 2019-2020 Championship Meet Sunday, producing a carryover jackpot of $2,371,994 for Wednesday’s program. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $2,223.

Million-Dollar Spice Is Nice Debuts Impressively

    Todd Pletcher unveiled an exciting 3-year-old filly prospect in Spice Is Nice on Sunday’s program. The daughter of Curlin scored a 12-length victory in Race 6, a mile maiden special weight race. Spice Is Nice, who was purchased for $1.05 million at the 2017 Keeneland September sale by Robert and Lawana Low, rated off the early pace before moving to the lead along the rail under John Velazquez on the turn into the stretch and drawing clear. Spice Is Nice ran a mile in 1:36.06 in her impressive debut.

    Earlier on the card, Motivated Seller, a 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief trained by Chad Brown, set a fast pressured pace before drawing away to a six-length score. Owned by Klaravich Stables Inc., Motivated Seller ran six furlongs in 1:10.99 under Javier Castellano in her career debut.

Who’s Hot:  Luis Saez tripled Sunday, scoring aboard Mr. Atila ($6) in Race 2, By the Sey Shore ($11.40) in Race 5, and Bold Painter ($14.40) in Race 7. Defending champ Irad Ortiz Jr. rode a pair of winners, scoring aboard Hard Count ($2.40) in Race 3 and New York’s Finest ($5) in Race 9.

    After the passing of Dave Erb on Nov. 22, the oldest living Kentucky Derby-winning jockey is now Bobby Ussery. Erb was the rider of Needles, the first Derby winner bred in Florida, in 1956. He was 95. Ussery won the Derby in 1967 aboard Proud Clarion; he'll be 85 in September.

    Ussery is three years older than Gulfstream steward Don Brumfield, winner of the 1966 Derby aboard Kauai King, and Gustavo Avila, winner in 1971 on Canonero II.

    Braulio Baeza, winner in 1962 with Chateaugay and now a jockey's agent, will be 80 in March; Ronnie Turcotte, two-time winner with Riva Ridge (1972) and Secretariat (1973), will be 79 in July; Angel Cordero, winner in 1974 with Cannonade and also a jockey's agent, will be 78 in November, and Ocala's Jacinto Vasquez, winner on Foolish Pleasure (1975) and Genuine Risk (1980), turned 76 on Jan. 4.  

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 23rd consecutive racing day of the 2019-2020 Championship Meet Wednesday, producing a carryover jackpot of $1,322,193 for today’s program.

    Multiple tickets with all six winners on the New Year’s Day card were each worth $67,649.

Omaha Beach Arrives - Omaha Beach, one of the favorites for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Jan. 25, arrived safely from California Tuesday evening. Omaha Beach, a son of War Front, was the early morning-line choice for the Kentucky Derby after victories in the Gr. II Rebel and Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. He was scratched three days before the race, however, after being diagnosed with an entrapped epiglottis.

    The colt owned by Fox Hill Farms returned five months later to win the Gr. I Santa Anita Sprint Championship before a game second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In his last start prior to arriving at Gulfstream, he handily beat four others in the Gr. I Malibu Dec. 28 at Santa Anita.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Leonard C. Green’s A Threat of Blue will be on a quest to maintain a perfect record over the Gulfstream Park turf course in Saturday’s $75,000 Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, one of six stakes on an 11-race program.

    The son of Hard Spun was undefeated in three starts during the 2018-2019 Championship Meet. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt won an optional claiming allowance by 2 ¾ lengths before capturing the Dania Beach by 3 ½ lengths and the Palm Beach by three-quarters of a length.

    The Tropical Park Derby could well prove to be a prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 25.

    “We were going to Del Mar for the [Nov. 30] Hollywood Derby, but with all the weather and flight issues, we changed up,” McLaughlin said. “We were looking at the Pegasus, then we decided to run here. We still could go to the Pegasus. We’ll see. It was either this race or others here and there. Doing this we might be able to do both, because it’s back in four weeks."

     The McLaughlin-trained Lucullan, a graded-stakes winner owned by Godolphin LLC, is also a prospect for the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf, in which all participants will run medication-free. “I think it’s a good thing,”McLaughlin said. “I commend them for doing the changes.”

     A Thread of Blue, who will be ridden by Luis Saez, has been installed at 7-2 in the  morning line, a price that likely would have been lower had he not drawn the No. 14 post position.

Harrell Ventures LLC’s Halladay, who is coming off a pair of third-place finishes in New York stakes, and Calumet Farm’s English Bee, who won the Gr. III Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs and the Parx Fall Derby in his last two starts, were rated second and third in the morning line at 9-2 and 6-1, respectively. Halladay (No. 12) and English Bee (No. 11) also drew outside post positions. John Velazquez has the call on Halladay, while Chris Landeros is scheduled to ride English Bee.

    Patricia Generazio’s Timmy M. drew the No. 1 post position for a quest to win his first stakes race. The homebred son of Morning Line has placed three times in stakes, including a runner-up finish in the Sept. 21 Bear’s Den, in which he recovered from a bumping incident entering the stretch. “He belongs and it’s the last 3-year-old race of the year,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “He’s pretty honest. He’s had some rough trips. That’s his biggest problem. He’s been beaten by bad luck.” Paco Lopez has the mount.

    Arindel’s Scraps, a homebred son of of Brethren who defeated Timmy M. in the Bear’s Den, enters the Tropical Park Derby off a fast-closing victory in an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream. Jairo Rendon has the return mount.

    Monarch Stables Inc.’s Art G Is Back is a multiple stakes-winner who will seek his first stakes victory on turf. The son of Exchange Rate, who finished fourth behind A Thread of Blue in the Palm Beach, has been second or third in four of his six turf starts, including a second-place finish in the English Channel, which he lost by a nose.
“I think he’s a little better on dirt, but he’s been close on turf,” trainer Ron Spatz said. “It’s the last race for 3-year-olds, so why not?” Rajiv Maragh is scheduled to ride Art G Is Back for the first time Saturday.

    Paradise Farms Corp. and Mad Dog Racing’s Temple and Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Kadar, who finished first and second, a nose apart, respectively, ahead of Halladay in the Nov. 29 Gio Ponti at Aqueduct, will return to action in the Tropical Park Derby. Both horses are trained by Michael Maker, who also entered Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Faraway Kitten. Temple, who was claimed for $25,000 at Gulfstream in July before winning the $600,000 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Kadir, a 3-year-old son of Scat Daddy who started his career in England before arriving n the U.S. this year, will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
Tyler Gaffalione has the mount aboard Faraway Kitten, who captured the Arlington Derby (G3) in July.

    Forever Mo, Stirling Drive, Notorious Nick, Jais’s Solitude and Armistice Day round out the field.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 continued to elude bettors today, and the  multi-race wager went unsolved for the 15th consecutive racing day at Gulfstream Park. A carryover jackpot of $649,106 awaits bettors for Friday’s program.

    Tickets with all six winners today were each worth $8,480.

    The carryover jackpot stood at $591,970 at the start of wagering today, and $238,079 was bet into the multi-race pool.

    Friday’s sequence will span Races 5-10. Races 8-10 will also be included in the Stronach 5 sequence that will be kicked off by Laurel Park’s Race 8.  Laurel’s Race 9 will be the third leg of the Stronach 5.

     Race 9 at Gulfstream is a one-mile optional claiming allowance for 2-year-olds, featuring Juddmonte Farms’ Toledo, a son of Into Mischief who broke his maiden at Aqueduct in his second career start.

    Among the other prominent entrants are Ian Wilkes-trained Churn N Burn, a gelded son of Liam’s Map who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in his second career start; Patrick Biancone-trained Ete Indien, a son of Summer Front who will make his dirt debut after breaking his maiden at first asking at Gulfstream and finishing off the board in the Gr. III Bourbon at Keeneland; Jorge Abreu-trained Liveyourbestlife, a debut winner who finished off  the board in the Gr. III Nashua at Aqueduct last time out; and Gilberto Zerpa-trained Masterday, who scored an impressive debut win at Gulfstream Park West.

WHO'S HOT:  Emisael Jaramillo scored a four-bagger today, winning aboard Clamor ($34) in Race 3, Micah’s Girl ($6.20) in Race 4, Fast Loaded ($20.20) in Race 9 and Abaca Dream ($5.60) in Race 10.

    It's a little too late for Ocala Stud Farm's The Big Beast to catch Journeyman Stud's Khozan for the Florida freshman sire money-earnings title, but the winners crown figures to go right down to the wire.

    Hauntedbythemusic saw to that Saturday with an eye-opening score in his six-furlong debut at Tampa Bay Downs. It was the 15th winner for the son of Yes It's True, tying Khozan for the lead with 23 days remaining on the racing calendar. 

    With Antonio Gallardo aboard, the colt bred by Sorrento Oaks Farm was in a three-way battle for the lead from the outset through fractions of :22.19, :45.34 and :57.48, but from the top of the stretch home it was no contest. Hauntedbythemusic left the other two behind and scampered off to win by 6 1/4 lengths, clocked in a sharp 1:09.69, just one second off the track record. He paid a generous $19.20, earned a check for $16,300, and promises to be a major factor in the upcoming 3-year-old races at Tampa.   

    To put Hauntedbythemusic's performance in perspective, two races earlier Zaino Boyz was an easy winner of the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes and was clocked in 1:09.95. He received a 92 'E' rating from Equibase compared to the 95 for Hauntedbythemusic an hour later.   

    The Ocala Breeders Sales Co. was scheduled to run eight quarter horse races followed by the two OBS sprints worth $125,000 each on Tuesday, with betting allowed on races 1-8. It turned out that only four quarter horses races filled, so racing secretary Jay Friedman was able to substitute four thoroughbred races, with betting, instead. 

    Here's a breakdown of how the betting went, for the edification of those who would like to bring pari-mutuel wagering to Ocala. 

Race 1 - Win, place, show: $1,271; exacta: $1,873. Total - $3,144.

Race 2 - WPS: $1,757; daily double: $102; exacta: $810. Total - $2,669.

Race 3 - WPS: $1,644; daily double: $75; exacta: $1,170. Total - $2,889.

Race 4 - WPS: $1,436; daily double: $75; exacta: $1,362. Total - $2,873. 

Total betting for 4 quarter horse races = $11,575.

 Race 5 - WPS: $2,622; daily double: $137; exacta: $1,176. Total - $3,935.

Race 6 - WPS: $2,007; daily double: $215; exacta: $1,031. Total - $3,253. 

Race 7 - WPS: $1,937; daily double: $241; exacta: $1,007. Total - $3,185.

Race 8 - WPS: $15,435; daily double: $256; exacta: $1,301. Total - $16,992. 

Total for 8 races - $38,940. 

What can be learned from this, if anything?

(1) The daily double, locally, isn't too popular. 

(2) Exactas are the most popular, since the win-place-show totals have to be divided by three. 

(3) The big jump in WPS for Race 8 can probably be explained thusly. First, Kitchen Fire was such a standout (he went off at 2/5 and won by 17 1/4 lengths) that he commanded some huge bets, and second, a late-arriving crowd that came just to see the two stakes. Kitchen Fire's payoffs were stunning - $2.80, $6.00, $3.60.

    The 4-year-old gelding had finished 10th by 14 1/4 lengths at Tampa Bay Downs on the grass in his first 2019 start. Switching to synthetic tracks - Presque Isle Downs and Woodbine - and Kitchen Fire went 3-3-1 in seven tries, so his liking for the OBS track was no surprise. 

    EARLY NEW YEAR'S WISHES:

     I wish all racetracks would close their windows when the first horse enters the gate. Maybe - just maybe - I wouldn't be so disappointed when a horse I bet was 6-1 as they neared the gate, and went to 2-1 during the running. It happens way too often and I am far from being the only one who is angered by the policy. 

    I wish the Blood-Horse - on its stallion website pages - would stop the practice of not including all runners by a stallion who are to compete on any day in the "upcoming races" column. I complained about this once before several years ago and received an answer from one of the editors (Mark Simon, I believe), who explained that stallion owners don't want to see entries for cheaper runners listed. Why not? Do they think the people who search for runners are stupid and don't know that some of the stallion's horses run in cheaper races?

    If a horse's victory total is updated on a stallion's ledger, and how much it earned in the cheaper race is included in its totals, then it should also be included in upcoming entries. Quick example: in today's entries for Handsome Mike, Love Daddy isn't mentioned and she's running in the first at Woodbine. The 3-year-old filly is 3-2-2 in 8 starts with earnings of $64,849 and she's in a $40,000 claimer with a purse of $45,000 plus thousands in enhancements. Doesn't make sense.  

    Wire-to-Wire magazine has its Florida Stallion Progeny page, and it includes EVERY horse by a stallion running at every track in North America that day. Regardless of class.

    Speaking of Wire-to-Wire, every race story in the magazine that discusses winners, and every advance detailing upcoming races, leads off with the owner/owners of each horse mentioned. So why is it that the charts for Gulfstream, Gulfstream West and Tampa Bay Downs include the breeders, but don't include the names of the owners? If the owners are so important that they make up a good part of every column, why aren't they important enough to be listed in the charts?

    And, why do the Florida Stallion Progeny pages list stallions that haven't been here for years, and the runners listed so often are not Florida-breds. Quick example - in today's pages Formal Class is listed under the stallion Formal Dinner, who hasn't been in Ocala since the War of 1812. Formal Class is a 7-year-old mare bred in Pennsylvania. What person reading Wire-to-Wire cares about this horse?   

    MIAMI GARDENS - Gulfstream Park West closed its 40-day Fall Turf Festival meet Sunday with a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which returned $4,761 to multiple tickets with all six winners.

    Unsolved by a single bettor for the duration of the meet, which began Oct. 2, the multi-race wager had a total pool of $4,709,660 after $3,615,196 was bet Sunday on top of a carryover of $1,094,464 from Saturday’s program.

    Sunday’s card also had mandatory payouts of $1,656 in the 50-cent Late Pick 5, $337 in the 50-cent Late Pick 4 and $4,364 in the $1 Super Hi-5.

    Jockey Paco Lopez won once on Sunday and finished as the meet’s leading rider with 38 victories, six more than Emisael Jaramillo and apprentice Cristian Torres. His mounts earned more than $825,000, despite the fact that he was riding at Monmouth Park for the first month of the meeting.  

    Saffie Joseph Jr. earned his second straight fall meet championship with 22 winner's circle visits from 57 starts, with earnings of more than $450,000. Ralph Nicks, Jorge Navarro and Victor Barboza tied for second with eight winners. Frank Calabrese led the owners with eight victories, and Arindel's $245,000 led the money-winning title. 

    Live racing moves to Gulfstream Park for the 2019-2020 Championship Meet, the premier winter meet in the country, which opens its 89-day stand on Friday. Post time for the first of 10 races is 12:35 p.m.