HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $100,000 when live racing returns to Gulfstream Park on Friday, Nov. 8. Following a mandatory payout that yielded multiple $40,299 payoffs on Oct. 26, the multi-race wager went unsolved for a fourth consecutive day Sunday. Friday’s sequence will span Races 4-9 and includes a third-level optional claiming allowance feature in Race 8 for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for five furlongs on the grass. All seven horses entered have won stakes led by 8-year-old geldings and 13-time career winners Yes I Am Free and Xy Speed. Winless in five straight, Yes I Am Free is looking to get back to the form that saw him capture the Gr. III Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in 2022 and 2023.
After a pair of out-of-town starts Xy Speed returns to Gulfstream where he has won three straight races, each sprinting five furlongs on the grass, and six of 13 lifetime with three seconds and two thirds.
Race 5 is a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds scheduled on the grass at five furlongs that drew a field of 11 including second-time starter Fling Ready, a $350,000 son of More Than Ready who ran sixth in his debut on Oct. 19 at Keeneland.
Starting Friday, first-race post time moves from noon to 12:20 p.m.
Saturday’s $75,000 Awesome Banner Draws Field of Nine
Gr. 3-placed Mr Skylight, stakes-winner Divieto and stakes-placed Secret Lover, Big Effect and Roar Ready are among a field of nine entered for the $75,000 Awesome Banner handicap for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs Saturday, Nov. 9.
Peter Vegso’s Mr Skylight graduated in his second career start, a six-furlong maiden special weight on March 16 at Gulfstream, then beat winners in his first try on April 20 at Keeneland and rallied to be third by three lengths in the May 18 Gr. III Chick Lang at Pimlico. Most recently, he was seventh following a slow start in a six-furlong optional claimer on Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs.
Divieto was a front-running winner of the one-mile Aventura two starts back on Oct. 18. Secret Lover was fourth in the one-mile Gil Campbell Memorial on Oct. 19, where he had finished second in the FSS In Reality last December. Big Effect, third in the 2023 Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream, won an optional claimer last out on a Sept. 28 first off the claim for trainer Rohan Crichton. Roar Ready ran third in Gulfstream’s seven-furlong on Carry Back July 5. Notes: Jockey Miguel Vasquez registered a Sunday hat trick aboard Como ($11.20) in Race 5, Black Fury ($4.60) in Race 7 and Smile Po ($4.40) in Race 10 … Trainer Rohan Crichton won twice with Sudoku Terry ($20.80) in Race 1 and Light Fury ($10.80) in Race 8.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Disappointed by Prevent’s most recent runner-up effort, trainer Jorge Delgado is looking for the son of Neolithic to show up in Saturday’s $95,000 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park. BC Racing’s Prevent was upset as the 4-5 favorite in an Oct. 5 optional claiming allowance in his first start since being transferred to Delgado. The Florida-bred colt will face 11 other 3-year-olds in the Showing Up, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes that will co-headline Saturday’s 11-race program with the $95,000 Armed Forces, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds. “We were expecting more that day. It was raining during the race. Maybe it wasn’t the best setup for him. It was a small field,” said Delgado of the four-horse field. “He is training very well. He should be competitive. He doesn’t have the best post position with the 12.” Delgado is hopeful that Prevent can take advantage of a quick start with no one to his outside. “He’s a horse that wants to be on the lead and he wants to be free,” Delgado said. “He’s a horse that the longer he goes the better he will do.” Prevent, who will be ridden back by Edgard Zayas, is rated at 6-1 on the morning line in the well-matched Showing Up field behind 4-1 morning-line favorite Silent Heart. Terry Hamilton and Koocanusa Ventures’ Silent Heart has shown a distinct fondness for the turf at Gulfstream in the past – something that runs in his bloodlines. Silent Heart is a homebred son of Heart to Heart, who was a force on Gulfstream turf between 2016 and 2018 for Hamilton and trainer Brian Lynch. The multiple Gr. 1 stakes-winning son of English Channel captured the 2018, Gr. I Gulfstream Park Turf, currently contested as the Gr. I Pegasus World Cup Turf, after winning the El Prado and Canadian Turf (G3) in 2017 and the Canadian Turf and the Ft. Lauderdale (G2) in 2016. Silent Heart, who finished second at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs in his first two starts, graduated impressively in a five-furlong maiden special weight on turf last Dec. 7 before coming right back to win a five-furlong optional claiming race on Tapeta a month later. Back on turf, Silent Heart was beaten by just a neck while finishing third in the Colonel Liam March 2.
The Lynch trainee has gone winless in three subsequent starts, including a third-place finish in an Oct. 6 allowance while returning from a five-month layoff. Edgar Perez is scheduled to ride Silent Heart, whose best showings have been at the five-furlong distance for the first time Saturday.
Gary Barber’s In a Jam also returns to Gulfstream, where he captured the 1 1/16-mile Not Surprising on Tapeta June 8. The son of Preservationist hasn’t won in four subsequent out-of-town races, but he did finish a troubled third in the Secretariat (G2) at Colonial Downs three starts back. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, In a Jam won back-to-back starts on turf during the Championship Meet, graduating at a mile and coming back to capture a 7 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance. In a Jam, who is rated at 5-1 on the morning line, will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.
Breeders’ Cup Simulcast at Gulfstream Park Friday and Saturday
Full Breeders’ Cup programs will be simulcast from Del Mar Friday and Saturday at Gulfstream Park in conjunction with live cards highlighted by three highly competitive turf stakes. Friday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected for grow to an estimated $50,000 on the second racing day following last Saturday’s mandatory payout that yielded multiple winning tickets of $40,299. Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10, anchored by the $95,000 Cellars Shiraz, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares featuring a highly anticipated clash between Vive Veuve and Majestic Venezuela.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool yielded multiple $40,299 payoffs Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The multi-race wager went unsolved for eight days following an Oct. 6 jackpot hit, producing a carryover of $87,950 heading into Saturday’s wagering on the sequence that spanned races 6-11. A total of $696,306 was wagered into the Rainbow 6 pool Saturday. Sunday’s Late Pick 5 will have a carryover of $48,484. The Rainbow 6 will start anew today, when the sequence will span Races 5-10, kicked off by a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf for fillies and mares in Race 5. Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is represented by two runners, Sol Hope, who will make her first start for the barn after running second back-to-back at Colonial Downs, and Bustin Bullet, who is rated second at 9-5 following back-to-back victories at Saratoga and Gulfstream.
A six-furlong maiden special weight event for Florida-bred 2-year-old fillies follows in Race 6. The eight-filly field that includes three first-time starters will be headed by With Kindness, a David Fawkes trainee who finished second following a slow start in her recent debut.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Troy Johnson and Charles and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, a disappointing third as the favorite to open the Florida Sire Stakes series last month, slipped through an opening along the rail leaving the far turn and drew clear for a 4 ½-length victory in the $200,00 Susan’s Girl at Gulfstream Park.0
The seven-furlong Susan’s Girl, second leg in the FSS series for juvenile fillies by accredited Florida stallions, was the last of three stakes on a 12-race program following Loco Abarrio’s mild upset of the $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap for 3-year-olds and up and undefeated Rated by Merit’s popular romp in the $200,000 Affirmed for 2-year-olds. Ridden by Miguel Vasquez for trainer Carlos David, Win N Your In ($6.80) completed the distance in 1:25.23 over a fast main track. It was a sharp bounce-back effort for the daughter of Win Win Win after being beaten 6 ¼ lengths in the six-furlong Desert Vixen on Sept. 7. “It was the heat. It was really hot that day,” David said. “Some horses don’t handle it well and she’s one of them. She just doesn’t like it. I told the guys that as long as we have good weather she’s going to rock it, and she did. Thank God for the good weather today.” Midwest shipper Rogue Diamond, making just her second career start, broke alertly from Post 2 in a field of seven and immediately sprang to the lead, going the opening quarter-mile in :22.39 seconds pressed to her outside by Desert Vixen winner and 3-5 favorite R Morning Brew. Vasquez settled Win N Your In along the rail in third with 30-1 shot I’malwaysthinking fourth.
Rogue Diamond began to tire leaving the backstretch but Vasquez maintained his inside position and scooted past the fading leader approaching the stretch following a half-mile in :46.10. Win N Your In opened up once straightened for home and was unchallenged to the wire, with 45-1 shot Kip the Distance beating R Morning Brew by 2 ¾ lengths for second.
Don’t Fool With Me, I’malwaysthinking, Rogue Diamond and Wiggle An’ Wine completed the order of finish. “The initial plan was to go to the lead,” David said. “Her best performances have been on the lead, so I told Miguel, ‘I would encourage you to go to the lead if you can get it and just kind of set the pace, but if they go just stay back a little bit and let them do their thing and come around.’
“She does well taking back a little bit, too, and stalking,” he added. “I was a little worried coming around the turn because [Rogue Diamond] was stopping a little bit and I was like, ‘We’re going to get stopped.’ She’s gone to the rail before and she does well doing it, so we got lucky there. She drew off and she’s just great. She’s little, but she can run.”
Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew, trained by Sunshine Meet leader Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Edgard Zayas, lost for the first time after winning her first two starts by 10 combined lengths. “It’s horse racing,” Zayas said. “Last time we beat that filly pretty easily. This time, she got the jump on us and opened up and kept on going. I guess that’s the way she wants to be ridden. Last time, she got in traffic and didn’t fire. Next time, in the third leg, hopefully our filly will run her race.”
Saturday’s outcome means the juvenile filly series won’t be swept for the 11th straight year, since Scandalous Act in 2013. The series wraps up with the $400,000 My Dear Girl going 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 30. “I like her going farther,” David said. “I think she’s going to do well.
Jim and Susan Hill’s Highway Robber (Hard Spun – Yabba) is the latest OBS millionaire after taking the $300,000, Gr. III Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in track record time for the mile and a half on the turf. The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, well off the pace early, swung wide into the stretch, caught the leader a furlong from home and was best by a nose at the wire. Jim an
It’s the second stakes victory for the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, now 11-5-2-1 with $1,001,063 in earnings for trainer Brian Lynch. Consigned by Vickers Racing to the 2011 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $30,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Tucci Stables’ Ecstasy (Paynter – Annihilation) pressed the pace in the $125,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes at Woodbine, took charge on the turn and cruised from there to a 1 3/4-length victory. Fellow OBS graduate Witwatersrand (Connect – Carta deOro) closed well and was up late for second.
It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old filly by Paynter, sold for $32,000 at the 2023 OBS June Sale by Triple J Equine Sales, Agent, after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. She’s trained by Sid Attard and has compiled an 11-4-3-0 record with earnings of $188,742.
HALLANDALE BEACH - St. Elias Stable’s Rated by Merit looms as a strong favorite in a field of seven entered for the $200,000 Affirmed, next Saturday’s second leg of the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.
The homebred son of Battalion Runner is undefeated and untested in two career starts, including a 6 ¼-length romp in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the six-furlong first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series. The Michael Yates trainee scored by 9 ¾ lengths in his July 13 debut at six furlongs, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the fastest produced by a 2-year-old in 2024 at the time. He followed up with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure while setting a stakes record (1:09.45) in his Dr. Fager win. Jesus Rios, who was aboard for Rated by Merit’s two dominating wins, has the return mount.
Ian Parsard, Stefania Farms and Shining Stables’ Neoequos, a son of Neolithic who contested the early pace early before settling for second in the Dr. Fager, is scheduled to return in the Affirmed. Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course, who finished third in the Dr. Fager after losing a photo finish for win in the Proud Man Stakes, is also entered. Arindel’s Lou, John Minchello’s Zizka, and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Big Paradise round out the field.
Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew was entered to seek her third victory without defeat in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for juvenile fillies that will co-headline next Saturday’s program. The daughter of Curlin’s Honor, who followed up a 4 ½-length debut victory with a 5 ½-length score in the $100,000 FSS Desert Vixen Sept. 7, is slated to face 6 rivals in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has awarded the return mount to Edgard Zayas. Christian Maingot and trainer Jose Pinchin’s Wiggle an’ Wine and Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Desert Vixen are scheduled to return in the Susan’s Girl. Win N Your In finished three quarters of a length behind Wiggle an’ Wine after finishing 4 ¾ lengths clear of the Pinchin trainee while winning the Sharp Susan Aug. 10. Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Rogue Diamond, an impressive two-length debut winner for trainer Larry Rivelli at Hawthorne, is scheduled to make her FSS debut in the Susan’s Girl. Stonehedge’s Don’t Fool With Me, Shadybrook Farm’s I’malwaysthinking, and trainer Angel Rodriguez’s Kip the Distance round out the field. The two featured stakes will be supported on an 11-race program by the $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap, which drew a field of 7 including Arindel’s Octane, who won the Gr. III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn.
As part of its ongoing commitment to its horsemen and supporters, OcalaBreeders’ Sales Company announced it will launch OBSOnline, its new digital platform, with an online auction for horses who failed to meet their reserve or were withdrawn from the 2024 October Yearling Sale. Entries for the timed online auction will close on Oct. 18. Bidding will open on Oct. 24 and close on Oct. 30.
The October Yearling Sale was originally scheduled to run from Oct. 8-9. Due to the threat of Hurricane Milton, OBS officials made the decision to move the start date of the sale up one day in the interest of the safety and welfare of the horses and sale participants. The October Yearling Sale held an abbreviated opening session on Oct. 7. The sale then concluded Oct. 8. “We felt providing this opportunity to the horses that were either bought back or scratched from our yearling sale was important,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “I think it is obvious that Hurricane Milton impacted the travel of buyers to the sale. By placing these horses in the online sale format, it will give buyers a second chance. We are appreciative of the collaborative effort of the consignors, buyers, staff, board members and auction team to be able to react to the pending storm and allow us to conduct the sale a day earlier than originally planned. This was not an easy decision or a simple task to implement, so it was important for everybody to pull together to make it happen.” There will also be reduced commissions. Consignors will have the option of bringing the yearlings to OBS for inspection on Monday, Oct. 2. Those who choose to participate in the online sale will not have to pay an entry fee.
Entry forms for the OBSOnline October 2024 auction can be found at obssales.com or in hard copy at the OBS office. Additional OBSOnline Auctions Set for December and January OBSOnline will also hold timed auctions in December and January. The December 2024 online sale will be open to all horses while the January online sale will be limited to 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age. The January online sale will open for bidding during the OBS January 2025 Winter Mixed Sale live auction, which runs from Jan. 28-29. The online sale will close on Jan. 30.
A unique component to the OBSOnline December and January Sale will be an optional under tack show. “Consignors will have the opportunity to showcase their unraced prospects or those horses without recent form with an electronically timed work over the OBS track,” said OBS President Tom Ventura. “These workouts will be videotaped and posted with each horse.” OBSOnlineDecember 2024 · Entries close – Dec. 2 · Optional Under Tack – Dec. 6
· Bidding Begins – Dec. 12 · Bidding Closes – Dec. 17 OBSOnline January 2025 Sale · Entries close – Jan. 14 · Optional Under Tack – Jan. 17 · Bidding Begins – Jan. 23 · Bidding Closes – Jan. 30 For more information, contact: Alicia Hughes, Director of Communications [email protected]
Before she went through the ring at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 October Yearling Sale, Hip 459 already held a special place in the heart of Katie Liebe as the filly represented the first horse she had bred herself. Once the daughter of Complexity exited the auction arena, she carried with her another distinction for Liebe and her husband Norman Dellheim, that being the title of sales topper. Consigned by Thoroughstock, Agent, the dark bay or brown filly by Complexity sold to Jimbo and Torie Gladwell of Top Line Sales for $150,000 on Tuesday to top the two-day OBS October auction held Oct. 7-8.
Out of the Badge of Silver mare Silver Lantana, the Complexity filly is a half-sister to stakes placed winner Six the Hard Way. Silver Lantana is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Lantana Mob.
“This is my first time selling a horse like this. I’m from the hunter/jumper world and this is my first homebred, the first one where I had the mare and everything,” Liebe said. “I just think she has flawless conformation, and her dam line is really hot right now, as well as Complexity so it was just the perfect match. She does look the part, she’s a very classy filly. She’s like a puppy dog. Even my 4- and 6-year-old could lead her around. We’re very happy.” Torie Gladwell said the filly’s physical attributes and active family made her Top Line’s top choice of the OBS catalog. “She was our pick for the whole sale,” she said. “She was our favorite individual: early, fast, sound for a pinhook. We bought her for a partnership so some of our partners are really excited about buying into her. It will probably be March (that she’ll sell) if she’s early enough, maybe April. That’s where she’ll probably end up.” Hip 459 was one of seven horses to bring six figures during the OBS October auction, equaling the number of horses who broke that barrier at last year’s sale.
The sale’s second highest price came when Hip 385, a gray or roan colt by Win Win Win, sold for $135,000 to No Money No Honey, Agent. Consigned by Kaizen Sales, the colt is out of the stakes winning Marciano mare Prize Informant, herself an OBS sales graduate.
“He was just a very athletic individual,” Richard Kent of Kaizen Sales said of the colt. “His 3-year-old half-brother Jasper Robusto is running extremely well in Japan right now and running in a stakes race on the weekend. But it was the individual that sold. He is very well balanced for a big colt and people liked his athletic look.” Three horses were hammered down for $130,000. Hip No. 280, Boujify, a daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify, sold to D. J. Stable LLC for $130,000. The dark bay or brown filly, consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock, Agent, is out of stakes winner Financial Recovery, by Street Cry (IRE). The filly was the only offspring by Justify offered in the sale.
“Bringing a Justify down here, he’s doing so well,” Brennan said. “She has a very good pedigree, it’s an active family. The family has sold really well in the past at 2-year-old sales and yearling sales. We felt that (this sale) was a good fit. She’s nearly a June foal. I think the good horsemen saw past the fact that she was a little immature and really has a lot of potential. I’m tickled.” BD. J. Stable LLC also paid $130,000 for Hip No. 462, a daughter of Vekoma consigned by Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy), Agent. The dark bay or brown filly is out of Sinister Siren, by Empire Maker, from the family of champion and OBS graduate Delightful Mary. Other six figure horses included Champions Equine LLC going to $100,000 for Hip No. 249, a son of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent. The bay colt, a half-brother to graded stakes placed Golden Alchemist, is out of stakes placed Lemon de Oro, by Lemon Drop Kid. Hip No. 516, a son of Midshipman consigned by Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy), Agent, also brought $100,000, selling to Dilligaf. The bay colt is out of Thank You Note, by Uncle Mo, a daughter of stakes winner Coarsegold. Tuesday’s session generated a gross of $4,050,200 from 187 head sold with an average of $21,659 and median of $13,000. For the entire sale, 291 horses sold for a total of $5,804,100 compared with 384 grossing $7,670,600 a year ago. The average price was $19,945 compared with $19,976 in 2023, while the median price was $12,000 compared with $13,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 37.5% compared to 34.6% a year ago. The 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale had an abbreviated opening session on Oct. 7 when the sale was moved up one day due to severe weather concerns. After selling Hips 1-200 on Monday, Hips No’s 201 –595 were offered on Tuesday including those yearlings supplemented into the catalog. “I think one of the great things about OBS is the fact upper management and the team, they recognize when they need to alter a path and try and make things better not only for the buyers and the sellers but most importantly for the horses,” said Jon Green of D. J. Stable, who led all buyers by gross with four head purchased for a total of $355,000. “I think that in a perfect world, the sale would have gone off without a hitch but we’re not in a perfect world and sometimes you have to pivot and be flexible.” Abbie Road Farm was the leading consignor with 30 sold for a total of $841,600.
Ocala - Hip No. 78, a son of OBS graduate Yaupon, was purchased for $75,000 by Pick View to top the rescheduled opening session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 October Yearling Sale. Consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock, Agent, the bay colt is out of Bride Street, by Street Cry (IRE), a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Conveyance. “The sire has been selling so well, they’re so hot,” said Brennan. “We thought this would be a good place for him. He’s a good looking, early type 2-year- old. He looks like he’s also going to be versatile on top of that. The colt did his own thing. He showed himself well while he was here. The pinhookers seem to like him well enough. I think it was a good buy.” “I think that was the best move to move it (the sale) forward,” Brennan said. “Everyone I talked to agreed that with these storms, you never know what’s going to happen. So that was the best move, I commend OBS for that. Considering the horses, the staff, and the buyer’s safety, that was the best thing to do. The market is going to be a little more difficult, it’s going to be tricky because the out-of-towners shied away from the sale for that reason. The rain hasn’t helped matters, but the back ring is as live as it ever is so that helps for those horses.” Hip No. 180, a daughter of Vekoma consigned by Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy), Agent, went to Tom McCrocklin, Agent, for $72,000. The chestnut filly is out of Grin, by Flatter, from the family of graded stakes-winner No Dozing.
Sallusto & Kimmel, Agent, went to $70,000 for Hip No. 85, a daughter of Win Win Win consigned by Sue Vacek, Agent. The dark bay or brown filly is out of Cash Reserve, by Distorted Humor, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Private Treasure.
Hip No. 44, a daughter of St Patrick’s Day consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent, was sold to Sea Warrior Stables for $60,000. The chestnut filly, a half-sister to stakes-placed OBS graduate Loco Abarrio, is out of Ballyhoo Moon, by Malibu Moon.
Hip No. 11, Keep Praying, a colt by Win Win Win consigned by Camelot Acres Racing and Sales, went to Glen Hill for $50,000. The bay colt, a half brother to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Hear My Prayer, is out of stakes-winner Additional Prayer, by Songandaprayer.
Hip No. 33, a daughter of OBS graduate Collected, was purchased for $45,000 by Legion Bloodstock, Agent for Hoolie Racing Stable. Consigned by Sennebec South Farm, the chestnut filly is out of Artistic Quality, by Lemon Drop Kid, from the family of stakes-winner Passionate Bird.
Hip No. 97, a son of Vino Rosso consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, was sold to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock for $45,000. The chestnut colt is out of Clawback, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of champion Wandesta (GB).
For the abbreviated session, 97 horses sold for $1,659,900. The average price was $17,112; the median price was $10,000. The buyback percentage was 39.75%.
The start of the sale was moved up a day due to concerns for severe weather.
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company announced on Monday that award-winning writer Alicia Hughes has been named to the position of Director of Communications. Hughes comes to OBS with nearly three decades of experience covering and working in the Thoroughbred industry. A resident of Lexington, Hughes formerly served as the lead turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader, Racing Editor for BloodHorse publications, and Director of Communications for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Hughes is a past president of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters and was the 2021 recipient of the Charles W. Engelhard Award from the KTA-KTOB for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry. She was also honored with the 2020 Legacy Legends Awards at the Derby Diversity and Business Summit for being a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion.
“OBS has a history that is synonymous with quality, and it is a privilege to join such a passionate and dedicated staff,” Hughes said. “I look forward to amplifying the exceptional work being done at OBS as well as the breeders, consignors, and buyers who drive the commercial marketplace.” “We are excited to add Alicia to the OBS team,” said Tom Ventura, OBS President. “Her credentials speak volumes and we feel fortunate to add her talent with a depth of knowledge, experience and respect in the horse business.”
Flanagan Racing’s Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie – Bernadreamy), last in the early going of the $500,000, Gr. I Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct, circled the field in the five path, took charge a sixteenth from home and eased away to score by 2 3/4 lengths. Fellow OBS Spring Sale graduate Mo Plex ( Complexity – Mo Joy) checked in third.
Chancer McPatrick is three for three with two Gr. I victories for trainer Chad Brown, has earned $495,000 and a slot in the gate in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat and was purchased by Kimmel & Sallusto, Agent, for $725,000.
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable and Jorge R. Abreu’s Scottish Lassie (McKinzie – Bodebabe) went into the $400,000, Gr. I Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct a maiden and came back a Gr. I stakes- winner with an invitation to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The 2-year-old daughter of McKinzie tracked the leaders from third, took over after turning for home and drew away in the stretch to win by nine lengths. Consigned to the 2024 OBS March Sale by Gene Recio, Agent, she was sold for $85,000 to Parkland Thoroughbreds after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat.
West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey’s millionaire Carson’s Run (Cupid – Hot N Hectic), last early in the $500,000, Gr. III Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct, rallied wide on the turn and into the stretch, took command a furlong out and was best by three quarters of a length. It’s the third stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Cupid trained by Christophe Clement, now 9-5-2-0 with $1,574,629 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $170,000 out of the Randy Miles consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Paco Lopez moved to within one victory of the 4,000-win career milestone during a one-day stopover Friday at Gulfstream Park, notching Win No. 3,999 aboard Asher’s Edge ($2.60) in Race 3. The 38-year-old is scheduled to ride this weekend at Keeneland to continue his quest for 4,000. Lopez had five mounts on Friday’s nine-race program and started his day with a fourth-place finish aboard Cajun Fool in Race 2. After scoring aboard Asher’s Edge in Race 3, he finished fourth on Roscoe Village in Race 5, fifth on Nando in Race 6 and fourth on Forwardly in Race 8.
Lopez, who notched a Breeders’ Cup victory aboard Roy H in the 2018 Sprint at Churchill Downs, has ridden the winners of more than $150 million in purses.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Just two wins away from the 4,000-win milestone, jockey Paco Lopez has five scheduled mounts on Friday’s nine-race program at Gulfstream Park. The 38-year-old South Florida mainstay, who rode three winners Wednesday at Parx, is slated to ride two morning-line favorites from his five mounts Friday at Gulfstream Park before moving on to Keeneland for the weekend. Lopez, a Veracruz, Mexico native who rode his first winner at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, FL in 2007, has enjoyed many of his career highlights at Gulfstream Park, including his first graded-stakes victory aboard Smooth Air in the 2009 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2), currently the Gulfstream Park Mile, and a Grade 1-stakes success aboard Lukes Alley in the 2016 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, currently contested as the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). He won his first Grade 1 race aboard Itsmyluckyday in the 2014 Woodward after guiding the Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee to victory in the Gulfstream Park Derby the year prior.
Lopez, who won the 2008 Eclipse Award as North America’s champion apprentice while riding in South Florida, will get his day started Friday in Race 2 aboard Cajun Fool, the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven. The Luis Ramirez-trained son of Cajun Breeze will make his second start at the $8000 claiming level for non-winners of two lifetime while cutting back from seven to six-furlongs. Lopez will come right back in Race 3, a five-furlong maiden special weight event for Florida-bred 3-year-olds on Tapeta, aboard Asher’s Edge, the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven. The David Fawkes-trained Asher’s Edge is coming off back-to-back photo-finish runner-up finishes. Lopez is named aboard Roscoe Village, rated second at 3-1 on the morning-line in a field of eight, in Race 5, a 1 1/16-mile $30,000 filly & mare claimer on turf. Fernando Abreu-trained Roscoe Village, who drops from optional claiming allowance company, will challenge Jose D’Angelo-trained Catholika, the 2-1 morning-line favorite who is dropping from an even effort in the Miss Gracie Stakes. The fan-favorite rider will try to light up the toteboard following Race 6, a six-furlong maiden special weight sprint for 3-year-olds and up, aboard Abreu-trained Nando, rated 12-1 in a field of eight. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained God’s Timing, a debuting 3-year-old son of Catalina Cruiser, is rated as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Lopez will finish his one-day stopover at Gulfstream aboard Forwardly in Race 8, a mile run for 3-year-olds and up non-winners of three racing for an $8000 claiming price. Fawkes-trained Forwardly is rated second at 2-1 on the morning line coming off a second-place finish behind Starship Mocha, Friday’s even-money favorite who registered a front-running victory in their most recent encounter. Lopez was aboard Forwardly during his last visit to Gulfstream.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Multiple stakes-winning 9-year-old gelding Noble Drama, who thrilled fans for six seasons with his dramatic late-running style, has been retired from racing.
Gulfstream Park-based owner-trainer David Fawkes made the decision after Noble Drama, bred in Florida by Harold Queen, breezed three furlongs in :37.05 seconds on Sept. 22. It was the first timed work for the son of Gone Astray since May 10, which came six days before what would be his final start. “Mr. Queen gave him to me a little over a year ago and I won one race with him. He ran huge. Then he just kind of got quiet on me and wasn’t performing the way he should,” Fawkes said. “So, we kicked him out for a little while and brought him back. Those older horses, they never have hard bone problems, and he just got a little thick in his legs. He’s 9 years old, and I just wasn’t going to do that to him. I just thought it was time. He’s been great to all of us.” Helping in the decision-making process was a win that Noble Drama had during his 2-year-old season, the 2018 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, which included a certain long-range condition.
“About four months ago, Sherry Queen, one of Harold’s daughters, reminded me that he won a ‘Win and You’re In’ for Old Friends, so I called them on [Sept. 23] and they were thrilled. They said, ‘This is great. We’re so happy to have him,’” Fawkes said. “It’s a great deal.
“He’s still here. He may be here for two months. They said they’d call me when they’ve got an opening,” he said. “We’re glad to have him around. We’ll unwind him here and I might put the tack on him and shedrow him just to let him do something.” Noble Drama earned nine of his 10 career wins at Gulfstream, including stakes victories in the 2018 and 2020 Wildcat Heir, 2020 Sunshine Classic and Benny the Bull, and 2021 My Name’s Jimmy and City of Dania handicaps. His last win came in a one-mile optional claiming allowance on Nov. 12 at Gulfstream, where he ran last for four furlongs and trailed by as many as 10 ¾ lengths before making his familiar late run to get up by a half-length.
“He won a bunch of races here. He was a little one-dimensional, but he still made a lot of money. And he made the races exciting. He was great to watch run,” Fawkes said. “I really wanted to make him a millionaire, and he was so close. He was a lot of fun, and he was so easy. He never had a thing wrong. He had ice cold legs every single day of his career, so when you get any sign of anything it’s just time to stop.” Noble Drama retires with 10 wins, 12 seconds, six thirds and $876,562 in earnings from 48 lifetime starts. In addition to his victories he placed in 11 other stakes and faced graded competition four times, his best finish being a fourth in the one-mile, Gr. III Fred Hooper last winter Gulfstream. “He’s so kind. People go in and put hats on him, and he likes to sit there and eat carrots all day long. He’s a very friendly horse,” Fawkes said. “If I didn’t already have Posse, my pony, who I have now and has been good to us for 20 years, Noble would be here. He had that [Old Friends] certificate, so we decided to take advantage of it. He deserves it. He’s been great, great fun.”
HALLANDALE BEACH - Attorney David Romanik and trainer Ron Spatz’s Most Handsome, a rallying winner in his recent debut, went right to the front in Saturday’s $95,000 Hollywood Beach and held on gamely to win his stakes debut by a head. The 9-5 favorite in a field of eight 2-year-olds, who debuted on Tapeta, was certainly not at a disadvantage when the five-furlong turf stakes was transferred to the all-weather surface earlier in the day. “I was happy about it. Why wouldn’t I be? He already won on Tapeta,” Spatz said. “But I think he’ll turf too.” Most Handsome broke from the outside post position and outsprinted Mila’s Wish and Moon Factor to grab the lead heading into the far turn. The gelded son of Pleasant Acres' stallion Neolithic traveled comfortably around the turn under Drayden Van Dyke and turned into the stretch with a clear lead. After turning in fractions of :21.23 and :44.96 for the first half mile, Most Handsome began to shorten stride late but managed to edge a resurgent Milo’s Wish for the win. “I was just going to let him break as-is. I could tell in the post parade that he was going to be more forward than he was last time. He was on the muscle, and I was happy with that,” Van Dyke said. “He broke running, and I was telling Ronnie that he was wanting to lean in a little bit with me today, and he did that a little bit his first time out, but he’s a 2-year-old, so he’ll grow out of that. But he’s got talent. He’s got a nice future ahead of him.” Most Handsome ran five furlongs on Tapeta in :57.10 seconds to remain undefeated in two starts. Milo’s Wish, a Michael Yates-trained son of Cajun Breeze, finished a length ahead of Noble N Magical. Ghostly Rose was another head back in fourth.
Rainbow 6 Solved for Jackpot Hit The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved for a $58,833 jackpot payoff Saturday. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for only one day following a mandatory payout last Sunday. There was a jackpot carryover of $9,591 going into Rainbow 6 wagering Saturday.
The Rainbow 6 will start anew today. The sequence will span Races 5-10, kicked off by a maiden special weight on turf for 2-year-olds.
Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato (Valiant Minister – Her Special Way) battled for the lead from the start of Saturday’s $400,000, Gr. II Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing, surrendered the lead a quarter mile out then came again late and scored by a neck. It’s the first graded stakes victory for the four-time stakes-winner trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo, now 8-5-1-2 with $791,830 in earnings.
The 3-year-old Florida-bred colt is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Stuart Morris at the 2022 October Yearling Sale then purchased for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 March Sale after turning in and Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5.
OBS March graduate Ecoro Sieg (Twirling Candy – Lily Pod) could be on his way to Del Mar from Japan for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint after a 2 1/2-length record-breaking win at Nakayama on Saturday. The 2-year-old colt by Twirling Candy took over after a quarter and was never threatened on his way to victory in a track and Japanese 2-year-old record 1:07.2 for six furlongs. Unbeaten after two starts, the colt by Twirling Candy, trained by Hideyuki Mori for Mastatoshi Hakamura, was purchased for $250,000 by his trainer out of the GOP Racing Stable Corp. consignment at the 2024 March Sale after speeding an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford H. Robbins’ With the Angels (Omaha Beach – Sister Margaret) is two-or-two by a combined 22 lengths after a front-running 9 3/4-length victory in the $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday. Trained by Linda Rice, the 2-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach has earned $118,250. At the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 and was purchased for $350,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment.
JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis’ Henro (Collected – Street Minstrel) was last of six early in Churchill’s $300,000 Harrods Creek Stakes, but came running in the stretch, took command a sixteenth from home and won going away by a length and a quarter. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old son of OBS graduate Collected, trained by Chris Hartman, now 9-4-1-0 with $545,889 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS March Sale, he was purchased for $45,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Jockey Joe Bravo celebrated his return to Gulfstream Park in the winner’s circle Friday after guiding Founder’s Joy to victory in Race 5. Bravo, who first began riding at Gulfstream Park in 1994, certainly earned his mount fee while rallying the even-money favorite from off the pace and splitting horses late to win aboard his first mount back. “I just had to make it look exciting,” Bravo said. Jose D’Angelo-trained Founder’s Joy, who ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.70 on Tapeta, prevailed by a half-length to give his 53-year-old jockey his 5,680th career win. “I just like to come back here every year. It’s South Florida living, and some of the best horses in the country come here,” Bravo said. “It’s fun to be a part of.” Bravo has ridden the winners of more than $200 million in purses. Mandatory Payout of Rainbow 6 Pool Sunday A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be held Sunday. The Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $350,000. The multi-race wager went unsolved Friday for the 14th day following an Aug. 17 mandatory payout.
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11, featuring the $220,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney in Race 10 and three other stakes. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Soul of an Angel, who captured the Gr. II Ruffian and finished third last time out in the Gr. 1 Personal Ensign, is rated on top of the Princess Rooney morning line at 8-5. Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Beth’s Dream, who has impressively won her last four starts, is second at 9-5. Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Maryquitecontrary, who was narrowly beaten while finishing second in last year’s Princess Rooney, is rated third at 6-1. The Rainbow 6 sequence will be kicked off by the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up. Xy Speed returns to Gulfstream, where he won three straight turf sprints during the Royal Palm Meet. The Michael Lerman-trained even-money morning-line favorite will take on seven rivals.
The Aventura, a mile stakes for 2-year-olds, will be contested as Race 9, headed by Crazy Frazy, the 9-5 morning-line favorite whom trainer Jorge Delgado saddled for a victory in the Sapling at Monmouth in his most recent start. The $100,000 Ginger Punch, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares, will follow the Princess Rooney. Barboza-trained Majestic Venezuela, who captured the Miss Gracie last time out, is rated as the 7-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 12 and one also-eligible.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Renzo Rojas, who won more than 800 races in Peru, rode his first winner in the U.S. on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The 25-year-old jockey guided Sultan the Great to victory in Race 6, a six-furlong $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up.
“I’m very happy. This has been my dream since becoming a jockey in Peru,” Rojas said through an interpreter. Rojas, who connected on his 21st mount since arriving at Gulfstream during the summer, is represented by Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado.
Memory of Chuck Simon Honored in Gulfstream Winner’s Circle Friends of Chuck Simon gathered in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following Sunday’s Race 6 to honor the memory of the highly respected late trainer and unwavering advocate for Thoroughbred racing, aftercare, and workers on the backstretch. Simon used his role as co-host of the popular podcast ‘Going in Circles’ with Barry Spears as a platform for his passion to improve the lives of those horsemen, fans and bettors who form the backbone of the Thoroughbred sport.
Simon was based his stable at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility, for several years prior to his retirement in 2019. A native of Saratoga Springs, Simon started in harness racing before graduating from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program and serving as an assistant to Hall of Famers Nick Zito, H. Allen Jerkens and D. Wayne Lukas. Simon’s stable was based year-round at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training center in Palm Beach County, for several years prior to his retirement from training.
Baoma Corp.’s Tenma (Nyquist – Amagansett) is two for two and a Gr. I stakes-winner after taking Saturday’s $300,000, Gr. I Del Mar Debutante Stakes.
Rated early, the 2-year-old daughter of Nyquist split horses to reach contention on the turn, caught the leader a sixteenth out and was best by a nose at the wire. Fellow OBS graduate So There She Was (Munnings – Risk Premium) settled for third. Tenma, trained by Bob Baffert, has earned $225,000. At the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she turned in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 and was purchased for $850,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A brilliant debut winner seven weeks earlier, St. Elias Stable ‘s Rated by Merit offered an encore performance extraordinaire Saturday at Gulfstream Park, scoring a dominating 6 ¼-length victory in stakes-record time in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, kicking off the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series in style.
The Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open division for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions, co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies won earlier in the day by R Morning Brew.
Rated by Merit made a splash in his July 13 debut, scoring by 9 ¾ lengths and running six furlongs in 1:10.55. The son of Battalion Runner earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the highest produced by all 2-year-olds in the country until Ferocious, a $1.3 million yearling purchase, was credited with a 96 following his impressive debut at Saratoga two weeks later. Rated By Merit’s speed figure remains the second highest for a 2-year-old this year.
Saturday, he returned to action with a thoroughly professional performance while running six furlongs in 1:09.45, bettering Three Rules’ 1:09.49 clocking in the 2016 Dr. Fager. The 2-5 favorite broke alertly from the No. 8 post position under jockey Jesus Rios to settle outside pacesetter Neoequos along the backstretch and into the far turn. Turning into the stretch, Classic of Course slipped through an opening inside Neoequos to take a brief lead into the stretch, while a three-wide Rated for Merit was asked for his kick. The Florida-bred colt, who was never far off sharp fractions of :21.73 and :44.93 during the first half-mile, responded instantly and drew off to score a comfortable victory. “It kind of went as I thought it would. He’s trained like he could do that. There was speed inside of him and he stalked the speed, and when it was time to run, he accelerated,” trainer Michael Yates said. Neoequos came back to edge Classic of Course by 1 ¾ lengths for second. In the aftermath of such a brilliant debut, Rated by Merit’s second career start had been widely anticipated, but Yates maintained his focus on developing the exciting prospect, who breezed four times since his first start. “I would say I felt like I was under a lot of pressure. The horse was doing well. I have a lot more horses that put more pressure on me than him,” Yates said. “He’s very uncomplicated. He does things very easily and he’s a fast horse. He’s one of the least complicated horses we have in the barn, so I haven’t felt a lot of pressure, honestly.” The Florida Sire Stakes series will continue on Oct. 19 with the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies. The final leg of the series will be held on the opening weekend of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet with the running of the $300,000 In Reality and the $300,000 My Dear Girl for fillies on Nov. 30. The Affirmed will be contested at seven-furlongs, while the In Reality will be run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles. Yates is confident Rated By Merit will handle two turns, and said all options will be explored before deciding what’s next. “At the end of the day, it’s more about developing the horse. That’s the whole goal – to bring him along and develop him,” Yates said. “He’s getting quite developed.”
HALLANDALE BEACH - Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew, making just her second career start and first on a dry track and against stakes company, dueled with Wiggle An’ Wine into the stretch before putting that rival away and drawing clear to a 5 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Desert Vixen at Gulfstream Park.
The six-furlong Desert Vixen for fillies co-headlined an 11-race program with the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the inaugural legs of the $1.2 million FTBOA Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions. Ridden by Edgard Zayas for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., R Morning Brew ($6.80) completed the distance in 1:10.85 over a fast main track as the second choice in a field of seven. It marked the first Desert Vixen win for longtime Florida owner Rich Averill, whose program favorite R Harper Rose was forced to scratch 48 hours prior to last year’s race after spiking a fever. “I’ve had Florida horses forever [and] never had one I ever even got to run in the first one,” Averill said. “Last year Harper had to scratch. It was just heartbreaking. To finally get to run in it and win it, this is a race that, as a Florida guy supporting Florida racing for such a long time, I really wanted to win. To be in the first one this year and to have everything ahead of you, it’s fun.” Wiggle An’ Wine broke running from Post 6 but was outraced for the lead by R Morning Brew, who went the opening quarter-mile in :22.38 seconds. Wiggle An’ Wine continued to press the leader through a half in :45.14 as 1-2 favorite Win N Your In – winner of the Sharp Susan on Aug. 10 at the course and distance – tipped off the inside from her rail post to launch a bid leaving the far turn. After going five furlongs in :57.58, R Morning Brew and Zayas sprinted clear.
“At the quarter-pole when I asked her, she kept digging in, digging in, but once she switched leads in the stretch and put her head down and really picked it up, I knew she had it,” Zayas said. “I was pretty confident. The only filly to beat was [Win N Your In]. Last time she had a dream trip. Today she had the inside post, so I knew she had to bring her best race to beat us. They left [R Morning Brew] alone on the lead and she really dug in at the end.”
Wiggle An’ Wine was second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Win N Your In, who edged late-running long shot Glory Glory by a neck for third. Don’t Fool With Me, Bee Queen and Slew Diva completed the order of finish.
By Curlin’s Honor out of the Uncaptured mare Foolhearted Woman, R Morning Brew was bred in Florida by Dori Morgan Hyatt and purchased for $30,000 at the OBS sale in April. She debuted with a front-running 4 ½-length triumph over a sloppy and sealed Gulfstream main track Aug. 9 and had two breezes for her stakes debut. She became the first stakes-winner for Pleasant Acres Stallions freshman sire Curlin's Honor.
“I feel like any maiden special weight winner has to give this race a shot. Every workout she’s just gotten better and better and better. Her last couple works she really blossomed,” Averill said. “Honestly, I was a little nervous. I think she’s going to want to go further. The six [furlongs] and the dry track we weren’t sure [about], but she just continues to get better. What a fun little horse to have for $30,000.”
If all goes well, Averill will point her toward the $200,000 Susan’s Girl going seven furlongs on Oct. 19.
“We’re going to support the next leg. I think seven-eighths is where we need to be,” he said. “I didn’t talk to Edgard or Saffie today in regard to instructions, but I thought [Win N Your In] would go just because she’s on the inside and try and get position. I thought with what I look at that [Wiggle An’ Wine] would try to get in front of us. When [R Morning Brew] was in front, and if you watch her first race, when they come to her she’s like, ‘Uh, no,’ and she opens up. Right there on the turn today, same thing. The favorite probably didn’t run its race today, so I’
Flanagan Racing’s Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie – Bernadreamy) trailed early after an eventful beginning at the start of Monday’s $300,000, Gr. I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, but circled horses on the turn and came seven wide into the lane. Sustaining his run down the stretch, he reached the lead inside the sixteenth pole and held off a late charge by fellow OBS graduate Ferocious (Flatter – Napier) to win by half a length.
The 2-year-old colt by McKinzie, trained by Chad Brown, is unbeaten after two starts and has earned $220,000. At the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, he turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat and was purchased for $725,000 out of the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment by Kimmel & Sallusto, Agents. Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth (Good Magic – Hoppa), on furlough since taking the Gr. I Arkansas Derby in March, returned to work on Sunday at Del Mar. Pressing the pace in the $156,000 Shared Belief Stakes, he took command a quarter mile out, eased away down the stretch and scored by two lengths. It’s the fourth stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Good Magic, trained by Bob Baffert, now 7-5-2-0 with $1,579,100 in earnings.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In breezed four furlongs in :48.25 seconds Sunday morning in preparation for a highly-anticipated start in Saturday’s $100,000 Desert Vixen in first leg action of the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park.
The 2-year-old daughter of Win Win Win was credited with the third fastest clocking of 13 works recorded at the distance at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. “She was really good. She worked in 48 and galloped out in a minute. She’s sharp,” trainer Carlos David said. “I think that was a great workout. I’m very happy with it.” The Desert Vixen, a six-furlong test for juvenile fillies, will co-headline Saturday’s program along with the $100,000 Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open event in the series for juveniles sired by accredited Florida Stallions. Win N Your In is prominent in a field of seven fillies entered in the Desert Vixen. The daughter of Win Win Win is coming off a 4 ¾-length victory in the six-furlong Sharp Susan against open company. After finishing third in her debut at 4 ½ furlongs, Win N Your In graduated in style at 5 ½ furlongs with a going-away 7 ½-length romp. In her Sharp Susan score, she squeezed through a rail opening on the turn into the homestretch before drawing clear. Miguel Vasquez has the return mount aboard the David trainee, who is joined in the Desert Vixen field by Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained R Morning Brew, Joe Pinchin-trained Wiggle An’ Wine, Jena Antonucci-trained Bee a Queen, Mary Lightner-trained Glory Glory, Kathleen O’Connell-trained Don’t Fool With Me, and Daniel Pita-trained Slew Diva. St. Elias Stable’s Rated by Merit has completed his serious preparation for his anxiously-awaited return in the Dr. Fager with a three-furlong breeze at Gulfstream Saturday morning. The 2-year-old son of Battalion Runner, who turned in a jaw-dropping debut victory on July 13, tops a field of eight entered in the race. Saturday’s tune-up (:36.84 seconds) was the fourth in a series of workouts since Rated by Merit scored by 9 ¾ lengths, getting six furlongs in 1:10.50. That clocking that earned him a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the highest for all 2-year-olds until Ferocious, a $1.3 million yearling purchase, was credited with a 96 for his impressive debut at Saratoga two weeks later. “We didn’t want him to do a whole lot, so we changed up what we’ve been doing. We breezed him from the quarter-pole. I didn’t want him to break off too sharp,” said trainer Michael Yates, whose prospect produced a ‘bullet’ five-furlong breeze 10 days prior. “He breezed well and in hand.” Rated by Merit, who will be ridden by Jesus Rios, is joined in the Dr. Fager field by Patrick Biancone-trained Classic of Course, Jose Pinchin-trained I’mbiggerthanilook, Jose D’Angelo-trained Just Relax, Mary Lightner-trained Candycrumbs, Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Neoequos, Ruben Sierra-trained Lawler, and Javier Gonzalez-trained Zizka.
Arena Racing Company (“ARC”), Britain’s largest racing group, and 1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company, today announce a new partnership to open new opportunities across some of their feature races.
The winners of a selection of prestigious races at Doncaster Racecourse, home of the Betfred St. Leger Stakes, the World’s Oldest Classic, will be offered free entry to races across 1/ST’s portfolio of elite tracks in the United States, including for the inaugural California Crown race day at Santa Anita Park on 28 September, and on the prestigious Pegasus World Cup program held at Gulfstream Park on 25 January 2025.
At the upcoming Betfred St Leger Festival, the winners of the Group 2 Betfred May Hill Stakes will receive free entry to the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (GII), run over 1m 1/16f at Gulfstream Park in January 2025. Equally, the winner of the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes will receive free entry to the $750,000 California Crown Eddie D. Turf Sprint (GII), run over 6½ furlongs at Santa Anita Park at the end of September.
For the first time, Season 12 of the All-Weather Championships will open Finals Day qualification to any horses to running three times over the season on an artificial surface in the USA, in addition to runs in the UK, Ireland or France. As such, the winner of the Carousel Club Handicap at Gulfstream Park on 25 January will receive free entry to the All-Weather Championships Mile Final at Newcastle Racecourse on Good Friday, with two other qualifying runs. Season 12 of the All-Weather Championships begins in October 2024 across the six all-weather racecourses in Britain culminating with £1,000,000 Finals Day at Newcastle on Good Friday, 18 April 2025.
In addition to the free entry to each of these races, ARC and 1/ST will support the connections of any qualifying horse with a subsidy towards their travel. This agreement follows on from the recent announcement of a new strategic alliance between ARC, 1/ST, Tabcorp and Racecourse Media Group to create a network of rights holders that will distribute content across multiple international markets. Director of Media and International at ARC, Brendan Parnell, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with 1/ST to offer the winners of two of the most high-profile races during the Betfred St Leger Festival the opportunity to take up some exciting opportunities in the USA.
“Likewise, in extending the qualification criteria for the All-Weather Championships, and the link with Gulfstream Park, we hope that we might look to add some further international interest in the £1,000,000 Good Friday fixture, alongside the long standing Irish and French participation.” Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST, said: “We’re thrilled to expand our existing partnership with ARC. Working with Doncaster and its revered St Leger Festival is truly a privilege, while we’re also looking forward to sending over a horse for the All-Weather Championships next Spring at Newcastle. Collectively, we’re playing our part to bring US and UK racing closer together across elite races on all surfaces.
“By coupling timeless tradition to forward-thinking innovation, via newly-conceived concepts like the California Crown at Santa Anita Park on 28 September (California's richest day of racing outside the Breeders’ Cup), we will only build on this association and progressive program in the years ahead. At 1/ST, our goal is always the betterment of top-class international fields, a cornerstone project in growing and sustaining the sport we love on both sides of the pond.”
HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 25 and the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 29, will launch its 2024-2025 season Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and run through March 30, 2025. The Championship Meet, winter home of the top horses, horsemen and jockeys in the world, will play host to 66 stakes races – 30 graded – totaling $15.025 million. Opening weekend begins with 2-year-old turf stakes Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Nov. 29, and the $600,000 finals of the Florida Sire Stakes Saturday, Nov. 30.
Pegasus World Cup Day will offer eight stakes races – seven graded plus two overnight handicaps - totaling $5.55 million. Along with the $3 million World Cup and $1 million World Cup Turf, the day will also feature the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2), $200,000 Inside Information (G2) for fillies and mares, the $200,000 W.L. McKnight (G3) for 4-year-olds and up and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) for 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares, both at 1 ½ miles on the turf, and the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the main track. The $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, for 4-year-olds and up on the turf, is expected to draw a crowd as are two overnight handicaps run on Gulfstream’s Tapeta track – the $100,000 Carousel Club and $100,000 South Beach. In just eight years the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf have hosted Horses of the Year in Gun Runner, California Chrome, Knicks Go and Bricks and Mortar, as well as two-time Longines World’s Best Racehorse Arrogate. The race has also attracted runners from England, Ireland and Japan, as well as the world’s most noted celebrities and entertainers. The Curlin Florida Derby highlights 10 stakes totaling $2.5 million – five graded – including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, two 1 ½ mile turf events in the $200,000 Pan American (G2) for older horses and $150,000 Orchid (G3) for fillies and mares, and the $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up on the main track. The Florida Derby continues to be the leader in establishing classic winners. There have been 46 Florida Derby starters that have won a remarkable 59 Triple Crown events, including 25 Kentucky Derbys. Meanwhile, last winter’s Gulfstream Park Oaks produced Alabama (G1) winner Power Squeeze, Test (G1) winners Ways and Means, Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner Gun Song, and Monmouth Oaks (G2) winner Scalable.
Two big days with major preps for the spring classics lead up to the Curlin Florida Derby. On Feb. 1, the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) is the featured event of a five stakes program that includes three other graded races - the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) on the main track, $150,000 Kitten’s Joy (G3) and $150,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) on turf.
The final preps for the Curlin Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks is March 1. The nine stakes program – eight graded - is led by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), won by Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Dornoch last winter, and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2). Gulfstream’s renowned 3-year-old series begins Jan. 4 with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man followed by the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. The 3-year-old filly series begins Jan. 1 with the $100,000 Cash Run at a mile, followed by the Forward Gal, Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks on Derby Day. Gulfstream’s turf course will offer a plethora of opportunities for all horses during the Championship Meet. In December, 3-year-olds and up will have the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at two miles and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at 1 1/8 miles.
From January through March, older turf horses and fillies and mares will each have eight turf stakes available at a mile or more. Five of the eight in both divisions will be graded. Turf sprinters will also have plenty of opportunities. Fillies and mares will contest the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint and $100,000 Captiva Island while 4-year-olds and up will contest the Gulfstream Turf Sprint and $100,000 Silks Run.
OBS grads enjoyed three stakes victories at Colonial Downs:
Amerman Racing’s Trikari (Oscar Performance – Dynamic Holiday) is the latest OBS millionaire after taking Sunday’s $500,000, Gr. II Secretariat Stakes. The 3-year-old colt relaxed off the pace, advanced on the turn to reach contention, took command a furlong out and scored by 2 1/4 lengths for his third graded stakes victory. Trained by Graham Motion, he’s now 8-5-1-1 and has earned $1,303,530. Consigned by Ordonez Thoroughbreds, Agent, to the 2022 October Yearling Sale, he was purchased by Amerman Racing for $27,500. Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Beauty of the Sea (Bucchero – Belong To Sea) pressed the pace between horses in the $150,000 Andy Guest Stakes, took charge a furlong from home and was best by a length and a half. It’s the third stakes victory for the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly, consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock to the 2022 OBS June Sale, where she went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Trained by Joe Orseno, she’s now 11-6-2-0 with $334,410 in earnings.
Exline-Border Racing, Peter Eurton, Richard Hausman and Stonestreet Stables’s Dream Shake (Twirling Candy – Even Song), on furlough since last November, returned to the races in style on Sunday, rallying from off the pace in the $163,250 Van Clief Stakes, collaring the leaders in deep stretch and proving best by three quarters of a length. It’s the second stakes victory for the graded stakes-winning 6-year-old son of Twirling Candy, purchased for $75,000 out of the Cary Frommer consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale by Marette Farrell, Agent for Exline-Border Racing, after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Trained by Michael Stidham, he’s now 16-5-1-3 and has earned $583,010.
Zedan Racing Stables’ Nooni (Win Win Win – Unanimity) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner after a frontrunning 1 1/4-length victory in Del Mar’s $150,000, Gr. III Sorrento Stakes on Saturday. The 2-year-old daughter of Win Win Win trained by Bob Baffert has earned $122,400. At the 2024 OBS Ma rch Sale, she breezed an Under Tack quarter in a track- record-equaling :20 1/5 and was purchased for a sale-topping $1.8 million by Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing.
FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration), idle since March, returned to work on Sunday at Ellis Park in the $150,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Stakes. Going to the front at the start, the 4-year-old graded stakes-winning son of Always Dreaming shook loose in the stretch and eased away to a 1 3/4-length victory. Now 10-5-2-1 for trainer Brad Cox, he has earned $3,070,985. He was consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, and sold for $240,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Rigney Racing’s Halina’s Forte (Mitole – Lunarlady) broke slowly at the start of Saturday’s $150,000 Galway Stakes at Saratoga, but tracked the leaders in the early going, moved inside for the stretch drive and was up late to win by a head. That’s two stakes victories for the 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by champion OBS graduate Mitole, sold for $130,000 by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), at the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Now 9-4-2-1 for trainer Philip A. Bauer, she has earned $331,870. K E M Racing Stable’s Stormcast (Mitole – Scolara) took the lead at the start of Saturday’s $250,500 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine and never looked back en route to a 7 3/4-length victory. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of champion OBS graduate Mitole, now 6-2-3-1 with $202,870 in earnings for trainer Mark Casse. At the 2023 OBS March Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in 10.1 and was purchased for $95,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock Farm consignment. A pair of OBS graduates scored stakes victories on Saturday at Gulfstream. Mr Pug and J.P.G. 2’s Naughty Rascal (Rogueish – Baby Doll) is two for two and a stakes-winner after taking Saturday’s $95,000 Proud Man Stakes, coming from off the pace, battling head-to-head down the stretch and scoring by a neck. Trained by Gerald Bennett, the 2-year-old colt has earned $77,650. At the 2024 OBS March Sale, he was purchased for $39,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In (Win Win Win – Hello Rosie) took command after half a mile in the $95,000 Sharp Susan Stakes and romped to a 4 3/4-length victory with fellow OBS graduate Bee a Queen (Khozan – Queen Brunette) checking in third. It was the stakes debut for the 2-year-old Florida-bred filly, purchased for $12,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Trained by Carlos David she’s now 3-2-0-I and has earned $87,950.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In lived up to her 1-2 favoritism and then some Saturday at Gulfstream Park, following up a sharp maiden score with a thoroughly dominating triumph in the $95,000 Sharp Susan. She became the first stakes-winner for Ocala Stud Farm's freshman stallion, Win Win Win.
Three and a half hours later, sensational Nooni became Win Win Win's second stakes-winner, with a wire-to-wire score in the Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.
The Sharp Susan, a six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies, co-headlined Saturday’s 11-race program with the $95,000 Proud Man, a six-furlong test for 2-year-olds. For many of their participants, both stakes provided dress rehearsals for the upcoming Florida Sire Stakes Series. While Win N Your In was always in the clear while graduating by 7 ½ lengths in a fast time on July 6, but the daughter of Win Win Win had to make her own room to prevail by 4 ¾ lengths under Miguel Vasquez. Win N Your In broke sharply but relinquished pacesetting honors to Wiggle An’ Wine, a recent debut winner who left her rail post position alertly under Emisael Jaramillo. The odds-on favorite settled nicely behind Wiggle An’ Wine and inside Vuela Paloma along the backstretch and on the far turn before being asked to slip inside the pacesetter on the turn into the homestretch. Win N Your In showed no hesitation while squeezing in the tight opening between Wiggle An’ Wine and the rail before surging to a clear lead entering the stretch and drawing away.
“She really delivered today. I didn’t want her on the lead. I told Miguel, ‘There are horses in the race with speed. Let them go to the lead and sit in the pocket,’” trainer Carlos David said. “I was a little worried coming into the turn. He really didn’t have much room, and he kind of forced her. They nicked her a little bit on the knee, but it’s not a big deal. It’s just superficial. Once she got through the hole, I saw him drop his hands and she was just cruising.” Win N Your In ran six furlongs in 1:11.30. Wiggle An’ Wine, the 2-1 second choice, finished second, two lengths behind late rallying Bee a Queen. All three fillies are Florida Sire Stakes eligible. “We’re trying to aim for those Florida Sire Stakes races, and they get longer and longer. The longer they go, the better it is to rate. She’s doing it on her own,” said David, who saddled three winners on Saturday’s card. Vasquez also visited the winner’s circle three times. The $100,000 Desert Vixen, a six-furlong stakes for fillies, and the $100,000 Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open division for 2-year-olds, will kick off the Florida Sire Stakes series on Sept. 7. The $200,000 Susan’s Girl (fillies) and $200,000 Affirmed will be contested at seven furlongs on Oct. 19. The $300,000 My Dear Girl (fillies) and the $300,000 In Reality will be run at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 30. Mr. Pug and JPG 2’s Naughty Rascal withstood a stretch-long challenge from 6-5 favorite Classic of Course to capture the Proud Man by a neck. The son of Rogueish bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon, Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson is not nominated to the Florida Sire Stakes series. Classic of Course, a son of Awesome of Course who is eligible for the lucrative series, finished 3 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Joey Muscles, who rallied after being blocked at the top of the stretch.
Gerald Bennett-trained Naughty Rascal ($18) stalked a strong pace set by I’mbiggerthanilook along the backstretch before sweeping to the lead entering the stretch, where he met a challenge from Classic of Course, who finished fourth in the Tremont at Aqueduct after winning his debut at Gulfstream. Naughty Rascal was up to the challenge under a rigorous ride by Edwin Gonzalez. Naughty Rascal, who was coming off a July 21 debut victory at Gulfstream, ran six furlongs in 1:11.92.
SORRENTO STAKES; Nooni, the $1.8 million OBS March 2-year-old bred by Ocala Stud, coming off a 9 1/2-length maiden victory at Santa Anita, dominated the Gr. II, $150,000 race, going wire-to-wire and winning by 1 1/2 lengths, clocked in 1:10.41 for the six furlongs. The 2-year-old filly bred by Marion Mantovani collected $90,000 and now has banked $122,400. She has posted Equibase 'E' speed figures of 94 and 92 in her two tries.
JR Ranch, Ramiro Restrepo, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments’ Ferocious (Flatter – Napier) broke a step slowly in his debut in a maiden special weight test at Saratoga, but moved quickly to reach contention, took charge after turning for home and drew off effortlessly to win by 7 3/4 lengths. Gustavo Delgado trains the 2-year-old son of Flatter, consigned to the 2024 OBS March Sale by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, and sold to Marquee Bloodstock for $1,300,000 after breezing an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. At Del Mar, trainer O. J. Jauregui sent Craig W. Drager, Rick Johnson and Jose Parga’s Jack’s Magic Girl (Good Magic – Stargirl) out for her maiden special debut and the 2-year-old daughter of Good Magic was much the best, coming from behind to charge past fellow OBS graduate Caitlin Fever (Caracaro – Caroline’s Spirit) in the stretch and win going away by 3 1/4 lengths. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she was sold for $100,000 after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.
Qatar Racing’s Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief – Pearl River) sat just off the pace in the $400,000, Gr. III Pucker Up Stakes on Sunday at Ellis Park, but she rallied down the stretch and got up in the final strides to score by a head. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of OBS graduate and leading sire Into Mischief, purchased for $575,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 4-2-0-1 for trainer Brendan Walsh, she has earned $307,247. Granpollo Stable’s Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo – Lilies So Fair) saved ground after a rough start in Saturday’s $85,000 Bear’s Den Stakes at Gulfstream, swung out for the drive, reached the lead a furlong out and was best by a neck at the wire. Fellow OBS graduate Prevent (Neolithic – Bossy Gal) settled for third. Trained by Victor Barboza Jr., the 3-year-old graded stakes-placed colt by Uncle Mo is now 8-3-0-4 and has earned $259,200. He was consigned by Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, Agent, to the 2023 OBS March Sale, and went through the ring after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Jim and Susan Hill’s Highway Robber (Hard Spun – Yabba), well off the pace in Sunday’s $300,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes at Ellis Park, rallied wide to take command a quarter mile from home and was best by a length at the finish. It’s the first stakes victory for the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, trained by Brian Lynch, now 9-4-1-1 with $441,013 in earnings. At the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, he breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 and was purchased out of the Vickers Racing consignment for $30,000.
Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables’ Governor Sam (Improbable – I’m Betty G) is two for three and a stakes- winner after charging down the stretch in Saturday’s $100,000 Tyro Stakes and getting up late to win by a neck, with fellow OBS graduate Kirin (Lord Nelson – Wealth Effect) checking in third. The 2-year-old colt by Improbable was sold for $275,000 by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale after speeding an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. He’s trained by George Weaver and has earned $117,850.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Granpollo Stable’s Grand Mo the First is set to make his return to action in’s Saturday $95,000 Bear’s Den at Gulfstream Park, where the son of Uncle Mo will also make a return to turf in the mile stakes for 3-year-olds.
The Bear’s Den will close out an 11-race program that will be co-headlined by the $95,000 Miss Gracie, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds carded as Race 8.
Grand Mo the First has not raced since finishing off the board in the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
The son of Uncle Mo had earned his way into the Derby field by finishing third in the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby and overcoming a bumping start to finish a distant third behind Fierceness in the March 30 Curlin Florida Derby. “After the Derby, we gave the horse a break. He had tried hard for three races continuously,” trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said. “Now, the horse is training very well. He is very happy. I think the horse is ready for Saturday.” Prior to stepping onto the Triple Crown trail on dirt this season, Grand Mo the First launched his career last year with success on Tapeta and turf. The Kentucky-bred colt overcame a bad start to graduate at first asking by 2 ¼ lengths at five furlongs on Tapeta before coming right back to win a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance on the all-weather surface by a neck. Barboza shipped Grand Mo the First across the country to run on turf at Santa Anita in the Zuma Beach (G3), a mile stakes in which he finished third behind Endlessly following a slow start. The Barboza-trainee was slated to make his final 2023 start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita but was scratched. “I always thought the horse was better on turf or the synthetic track. He’s won two times on the synthetic track and ran a good race in California on turf. Endlessly was one of the best 2-year-olds on the turf in the country last year,” Barboza said. “After the scratch at the Breeders’ Cup, the owner decided to try for the Derby.” Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Grand Mo the First.
Grand Mo the First is scheduled to meet nine other 3-year-olds in the Bear’s Den, including Echo Papa Racing Corp.’s Freedom Principle, who returns to Gulfstream after finishing seventh in the Penn Mile (G3) at Penn National and the American Derby at Churchill Downs. The Jose Garoffalo-trained son of Flameaway had previously captured the English Channel at Gulfstream.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will be represented by C2 Racing Stable LLC and All in Line Racing Stables’ General Ledger, who scored a front-running optional claiming allowance victory July 19 while returning to turf after four main-track appearance.
Earlier on Saturday’s program, Barboza Jr. is scheduled to saddle Orlyana Farm’s Majestic Venezuela for a clash with eight rivals in the Miss Gracie.
The daughter of Mendelsohn has finished on the board in all seven of her career starts, all of which were run on Tapeta or turf. She broke her maiden in front-running fashion on the all-weather surface April 7 in her fifth career start before scoring a half-length victory from off the pace in an optional claiming allowance on turf. In her most recent outing, Majestic Venezuela overcame a rough trip to finish second behind De Regreso in the Martha Washington on Tapeta. “She’s a very consistent filly. She was a late April foal. She needed more time. Now, she has more concentration in her races,” Barboza said. “Her last race was a very good race. When you check the replay. She was bumped at the start and then she had to go three and four wide, and she finished second to De Regreso, who is a very nice horse. This filly is in her best condition now.” Majestic Venezuelan is a half-sister to Venezuelan Hug, a son of Constitution who won five turf races at Gulfstream, where he capped his career with three straight stakes wins, including the Canadian Turf (G3) in 2021. Jaramillo has the return call on the Kentucky-bred Majestic Venezuela.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has entered three fillies in the Miss Gracie – Mathis Stable Inc.’s Mojave Desert and Gentry Farm’s Candie Gray, who finished third and fourth in the Martha Washington; and Skymac Racing LLC and Stefania Farms’ Show Off, who is coming off a late-rallying second in an optional claiming allowance on Tapeta. Vicente Stella Stables LLC’s Mi Amore will be in search of her fourth win in her last five starts in her stakes debut. The Eniel Cordero-trained daughter of Vino Rosso is a Tapeta specialist who finished second by a neck two starts ago in her only turf start.
OBS grads enjoyed a productive opening weekend at Del Mar with a pair of stakes victories and an impressive score by a first-time starter.
Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr, Marsha Naify, John Snyder and Stacey Snyder’s Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy – Silver Screamer) is three for three and a graded stakes-winner after a game three-quarter length victory in the $202,500, Gr. II San Clemente Handicap on Saturday. The 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, trained by Philip D’Amato, has earned $189,600. Consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by GOP Racing Stable, she was sold for $145,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5.
Bob Baffert unveiled Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Casalu (Caracaro – Key D’oro) on Sunday in a maiden special weight test and the 2-year-old daughter of Caracaro made no mistakes, taking the lead at the break, shaking loose on the turn and drawing away to a 5 1/2-length victory, attaining TDN “Rising Star” status. Fellow OBS graduate Oveta’s Hobby (Army Mule – Bitzka) made a good stretch run to finish second. Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, Casalu was purchased for $775,000 by Three Amigos after speeding a quarter in :20 2/5 at the Under Tack show. Rancho Temescal, Red Baron’s Barn and Rodney E. Orr’s First Peace picked up his second stakes victory in the $133,000 Wickerr Stakes on Sunday, rating kindly off the pace, sweeping three-wide on the turn after the leaders, taking charge in the stretch and scoring by a length and a half. The 4-year-old graded stakes-placed colt by Funtastic was purchased for $75,000 out of the Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan) consignment at the 2022 OBS June Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. Trained by Mark Glatt, he has compiled a 13-4-5-2 record and earned $328,020. Colts Neck Stables’ Nothing Better (Munnings – One True Love (IRE), tracked the leaders from just off the pace in Monmouth’s $103,000 Wolf Hill Stakes on Saturday, turned in a strong run in the final furlong and was best by three quarters at the wire, with fellow OBS graduate Arzak (Not This Time – Delightful Melody) closing for third. It’s the second straight stakes victory and fifth stakes win for the 7-year-old son of Munnings, trained by Jorge Duarte, now 28-11-5-3 with earnings of $761,382. After working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $230,000 out of the Brick City Thoroughbreds consignment. Resolute Racing’s Mensa (Complexity – Lady Halite) was an impressive winner of the $150,000 Victoria Stakes on Friday at Woodbine, going straight to the lead and romping to a 7 1/4-length victory. Trained by Mark Casse, the 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Complexity has won two of three starts and earned $102,007. He was sold for $135,000 by Beth Bayer Agent, at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale. Klaravich Stables’ Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince – Glide On By) went to the front and never looked back en route to victory by a length in Saratoga’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes on Friday. It was the stakes debut for the 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince, consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by White Lilac (Katie Miranda), Agent, and sold for $450,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Chad Brown, he has earned $178,750.
R and H Stable’s Mo Plex (Complexity – Mo Joy) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner after a front-running one length victory in Saturday’s $175,000, Gr. III Sanford Stakes at Saratoga, with fellow OBS graduate Three Echoes (Echo Town – Bayou Miss) finishing third.
A 10-length winner in his debut at Aqueduct in June, Mo Plex has earned $137,500 for trainer Jeremiah C. Englehart. After breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale he was purchased for $45,000 out of the Hoppel consignment. Resolute Racing’s Lucky Jeremy (Lookin At Lucky – Powder N Blush) set the pace in Saturday’s $150,000 Caesars Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis, was challenged by fellow OBS graduate Beyond Stoked (Into Mischief – Miss Southern Miss) in the stretch and was best by half a length at the wire. That’s two stakes victories for the 3-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, trained by Mike Maker, now 8-3-0-1 with $271,980 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS June Sale, he
HALLANDALE BEACH - Edgard Zayas, who entered today’s program at Gulfstream Park on a streak of three four-win days, added another two wins to his Royal Palm Meet-leading total. The 31-year-old rider, who has been riding first call for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., has accumulated 86 victories at Gulfstream since April 1 to open up a lead of 31 wins in the jockey standings over Emisael Jaramillo. Zayas started with a winning ride aboard Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Zio Lorenzo ($4.40) in Race 2 and came right back to score aboard Pablo Torres-trained I’m Still Brave ($3.20) in Race 3. “I’m getting the right lineup of horses and all the support from the owners and trainers and my agent,” said Zayas, who has ridden more than 2300 winners during his career while based in South Florida. “Saffie has been a big help. I’ve been winning for a lot of people, but mostly for him. I’m blessed to have that barn, for sure.” Zayas has been riding in a zone, making the right decisions at the right time on the right horses. “Once you get the momentum, you ride with that confidence, and I definitely think the horses feel that confidence,’ Zayas said.
Taking advantage of his burgeoning success, Zayas has 10 mounts on Saturday’s 11-race program, including six morning-line favorites, most notably R Harper Rose in the $95,000 Azalea in the Race 10 feature. The Rio Grande, Puerto Rico native, who began his riding career at Calder Race Course in 2012, was taken under Hall of Famer rider Angel Cordero’s wing during Gulfstream’s 2012-2013 Championship Meet. Cordero imparted his knowledge on Zayas during the morning hours, and his student went on to become an Eclipse Award finalist in 2013.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Rohan Crichton, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Daniel Walters and Dennis Smith’s Real Macho captured his first stakes victory in Friday’s $95,000 Carry Back at Gulfstream Park by holding off a late rally by heavily favored Catalytic, who was making his first start in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds since running in the Kentucky Derby. Real Macho ($18.20), who won by a head, was re-equipped with blinkers for his first start since finishing fourth in the May 8 Sir Barton under Flavien Prat at Pimlico. “When he ran on Preakness Day, Flavien said he was just gazing. We had the blinkers on him before and he won. Then we took them off and he won, but he was getting distracted, so we put them back on,” Crichton said. “We were going to ship him out of town, but with the heat and the travel arrangements got so convoluted we decided to stay here.” Real Macho kept his mind on business in the Carry Back. After settling off a pace contested by Etendre, Saybrook and El Principito for the first half-mile in :45.52 seconds, the son of Mucho Macho Man was sent after the leaders by Emisael Jaramillo on the far turn. Real Macho made a three-wide sweep to the lead heading into the stretch and held on gamely to edge Catalytic, who raced far back in traffic before finding room and his stride under Drayden Van Dyke to close steadily through the stretch. Rey.al Macho, who finished fourth in the Gr. II Fountain of Youth and off the board in the Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby during the Championship Meet, ran seven furlongs in 1:23.37 to collect his third win in eight career starts. “We’re not sure where we’ll go next. Maybe we’ll stay one turn, a mile or something like,” Crichton said.
Catalytic, who earned his way in the Kentucky Derby with a distant second-place finish behind Fierceness in the Florida Derby, finished 4 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Roar Read.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Four days after coming up a little short of earning a trip to the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot, jockey Emisael Jaramillo found the winner’s circle at Gulfstream Park Sunday after guiding Beth’s Dream to a dominating front-running victory in the $95,000 Powder Break. Jaramillo showed the way aboard Gabaldon in Wednesday’s Windsor Castle Stakes during Great Britain’s most prestigious meeting, before Gulfstream’s Royal Palm Juvenile winner came up just short to finish second behind Ain’t Nobody. There would be no catching Beth’s Dream, the 3-5 favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares assembled for the mile overnight handicap. The 6-year-old daughter of Jess’s Dream, who received one pound from 124-pound high-weight Maryquitecontrary, went right to the lead to set fractions of :24.62 and :47.28 for the first half mile. The Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Florida-bred mare was never threatened thereafter while drawing away to win by 2 ¾ lengths. The second and third finishers are by First Dude.
“It was pretty easy. The filly was so good. She broke, and that was it,” said Jaramillo, who admitted to still having a touch of jetlag from his adventure to Royal Ascot. Beth’s Dream, who won her eighth race from 15 career starts, ran a mile in 1:36.35 without need of encouragement from Jaramillo. Charlies Wish finished second, while Maryquitecontrary, the 2-1 second choice ridden by Edgard Zayas, finishedthird, another 4 ½ lengths back, while never posing a serious threat.
The honor of getting the first winner by a 2024 Florida freshman sire goes to Ocala Stud Farm's Win Win Win, whose 2-year-old filly, Nooni, annihilated four rivals in a $54,000 maiden special at Santa Anita.
The Bob Baffert trainee was a $1.8 million purchase for Zedan Racing out of the OBS March sale, consigned by Ocala Stud and the O'Farrell family.
Juan Hernandez was aboard the filly, who was sent off at 1/5 based on her morning trials at Santa Anita, which included three of the bullet variety. He shot Nooni out of the gate in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs, and she passed the poles in :22.07 and :45.44, while opening up by six lengths. Through the stretch, announcer Frank Miramahdi blared, "Welcome to the racing world, Nooni," as she cruised to the wire in front by 9 1/2 lengths, clocked in :58.21.
She paid $2.40, earned an Equibase speed figure of 92, exceptionally high for a debuting 2-year-old, and collected a check of $32,400 for Zedan Racing.
Zedan Racing Stables’ Nooni (Win Win Win – Unanimity) was awarded TDN Rising Star status after her debut at Santa Anita, bouncing to the front in a maiden special and coasting to an effortless 9-1/2 length victory. She’s trained by Bob Baffert and picked up $32,400 for her effort.
Consigned to the 2024 OBS March Sale, she sped an Under Tack quarter in a track-record-equaling :20 1/5 before going to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing, for a sale-topping $1.8 million. Wathnan Racing’s Spiralizer (Twirling Candy – Jotown) scored a front-running two-length victory in his maiden special debut at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen, earning $42,000. The 2-year-old son of Twirling Candy was purchased at the 2024 March Sale for $550,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat.
HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to swell to an estimated $525,000 Thursday at Gulfstream Park. The multi-race wager went unsolved for the 20th day Sunday. A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 is scheduled for Saturday.
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 3-8, featuring a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on Turf. Trainer Steve Dwoskin’s Choose Joy, a multiple-stakes winner who has finished in the money in 17 of 24 career starts, tops a field of seven in Race 7. Gulfstream Horses Have Big Weekend at Saratoga Several horses who wintered in South Florida and raced at Gulfstream Park celebrated big victories at Saratoga during Belmont Stakes weekend. No win was bigger than Dornoch’s in the $2 Belmont Stakes. The colt began his 3-year-old season at Gulfstream with a victory in the Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth. He becomes the first Fountain of Youth winner to win the Belmont since Union Rags in 2012.
Horses from the Pegasus World Cup also delivered during the weekend.
Pegasus World Cup winner National Treasure won the Gr. I Metropolitan Handicap and Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Didia won the Gr. I New York Stakes. Crupi, third in the Pegasus World Cup, won the Gr. I Suburban while Chili Flag, sixth in the Filly and Mare Turf, was victorious in the Gr. I Just a Game. Van Dyke Enjoys Five-Win Weekend Drayden Van Dyke enjoyed a most successful first weekend of riding, finding the winner’s circle on five of nine mounts, all of whom are trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. The 29-year-old jockey, who switched his tack from Santa Anita for a 30-day trial run at Gulfstream, won aboard his only mount Friday before winning on two of four mounts Saturday. On Sunday, he won with Novo Sol ($20.60) in Race 2 and Practically Dark ($4.20) in Race 8. Van Dyke, the 2014 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, ventures to Gulfstream with an extensive resume, including 67 graded stakes victories. He rode Stormy Liberal to victory in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He also notched Grade 1 wins in the 2017 Malibu and 2018 Triple Bend aboard City of Light, who went on to win the 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode two winners from four starters in a recent two-day stint before returning to Southern California, is named to ride two horses Thursday, two more Friday and five Saturday at Gulfstream.
Clark O. Brewster, L. William Heiligbrodt and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Cogburn (Not This Time – In A Jif) went straight to lead in the $500,000, Gr. I Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga and never looked back, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths in a course record :59 4/5 for 5 1/2 furlongs, with fellow OBS graduate Arzak (Not This Time – Delightful Melody) closing for second.
The 5-year-old son of Not This Time, trained by Steve Asmussen, has compiled a 14-8-2-0 career record, become the newest OBS millionaire with $1,237,730 in earnings and earned a berth in the starting gate in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in the fall. At the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $150,000 out of the Pick View consignment after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Heather Smullen has developed an extensive resume during her racing career. She can now add ‘winning trainer’ to her list of accomplishments. Smullen saddled her first winner as a head trainer today at Gulfstream Park, where Quester put her in the winner’s circle following a length victory in the Race 7 feature, a mile optional claiming allowance on turf for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up. Robert and Lawana Low’s Quester, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, was Smullen’s fourth starter since she went out on her own in April. “It feels great. I’ve been really lucky. I have a lot of owners and managers and people who have supported me over the years. I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to have nice horses,” she said. Smullen was the regular exercise rider for 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and 2-year-old filly champion Caledonia Road while working as an assistant for trainer Ralph Nicks. She also was the regular work rider for 2020 Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner Tiz the Law.
Smullen’s exercise riding career came to an end following an accident on Labor Day morning at Saratoga in 2022 that left her with a broken fibula and tibia in her right leg. She has served at Gulfstream Park as an assistant for Arindel Farms, as well as for trainers Dale Romans and Phil Serpe over the past several years. “I’ve worked as an assistant for about 20 years,” said Smullen, a niece of Tagg’s assistant trainer Robin Smullen. “I’ve been lucky to have been around good horses.” She currently has a stable of 12 horses at Gulfstream and is looking to add more.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Arindel’s Octane asserted his class in Saturday’s $100,000 Big Drama Handicap at Gulfstream Park, where the graded stakes-winning millionaire carried high-weight of 124 pounds to an overpowering 6 ¼-length victory. The Big Drama, a seven-furlong handicap for 3-year-olds and up, co-headlined an 11-race program with the $95,000 Mr. Steele, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up on turf. Octane, the 4-5 favorite in a field of six, captured the 1 1/16-mile, Gr. III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park two starts back. The 5-year-old gelded son of Brethren’s performance Saturday was hardly negatively impacted by Saturday’s cutback to seven furlongs around one turn.
Octane broke on top before jockey Emisael Jaramillo opted to let speedster Vivir Con Alegria show the way along the backstretch and into the far turn. After pressing fractions of :22.61 and :45.51 seconds for a half-mile, the Arindel homebred took the lead midway on the turn without need of encouragement from Jaramillo. The Florida-bred gelding, who conceded between four and six pounds to his rivals, took complete control of the Big Drama the rest of the way. “He broke very well. I wasn’t surprised because he has so much talent, but I was a little surprised about how fast he went to the lead because he was coming from longer races,” Jaramillo said. “I could have won wire-to-wire, but I knew there was a horse (Vivir Con Alegria) with a lot of speed inside, so I just waited.” Octane, who finished off-the-board in the 1 1/8-mile, Gr. II Oaklawn Park Handicap in his prior start, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.33 while winning for the ninth time in 20 career starts. Loco Abarrio, who saved ground while tracking the pace, finished second, a neck ahead of Shaq Diesel. Jaramillo hadn’t ridden Octane since scoring a front-running victory in a mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream in April 2023, but he has a long history with the Juan Alvarado trainee. Jaramillo, who was Venezuela’s winningest jockey of all time before venturing to South Florida in 2015, guided Octane to a maiden score in his second career start in 2021 before coming right back to capture the last two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series, the $200,000 Affirmed at seven furlongs and the $400,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles. Octane has earned $1,101,640 on a record of 9-4-1 in 20 starts. Win for The Money Gets the Money Live Oak Plantation’s Win for the Money got the money while proving much the best in the $95,000 Mr. Steele. The 3-2 favorite took advantage of a perfect setup to begin his 2024 season with a 6 ¾-length victory under Edwin Gonzalez – with an assist from his Mark Casse stablemate Eyes On the King. Main Event, who registered a front-running victory in theGr. II Fort Lauderdale during the Championship Meet, broke well from the starting gate but was denied the early lead in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up by Eyes On the King, who was hustled to the front by Jaramillo. Eyes On the King showed the way around the first turn and on the backstretch, chased closely by Main Event. Win for the Money settled nicely in third following fractions of :22.58 and :46.50 seconds for the first half mile. As Eyes On the King and Main Event began to tire from their early efforts, Win for the Money swept to the lead on the turn into the homestretch and drew off to win convincingly. “Honestly, we don’t give instructions. It’s more of how they break and go from there,” Casse’s long-time assistant trainer Nick Tomlinson said. “Obviously, the race set up really nice for this horse. He’d been training extremely well, and he showed it today.” Win for the Money ran 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf in 1:38.51. Eldon’s Prince closed from last to finish second, a half-length ahead of Me and Mr. C. Main Event finished fourth, while Eyes On the King faded to last in the eight-horse field. Win for the Money flirted with graded stakes success in his final two starts of 2023 while finishing second in the Gr. II Autumn and third in the Gr. III Valedictory at Woodbine.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Mark Casse looks doubly tough to beat in Saturday’s $95,000 Mr. Steele, in which the Hall of Fame trainer will be represented by a multiple graded stakes-placed veteran campaigner and a maturing in-form 4-year-old colt. The Mr. Steele, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up, will co-headline Saturday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park with the $100,000 Big Drama, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up. Win for the Money will make his 2024 debut after finishing his 2023 campaign with a second-place finish in the Autumn (G2) and a third-place finish in the Valedictory (G3) over Woodbine’s Tapeta course. The 5-year-old gelded son of Mohaymen, who is owned by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, started twice at Gulfstream last year, losing a photo finish over the Tapeta Course before winning an optional claiming allowance on turf. He went on to win an optional claiming allowance and finish fifth in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs before closing out his season at Woodbine. “Mrs. Weber likes to give her horses time. We just gave him some time,” Casse said. “He ran very hard in the Valedictory and he ran well in the Autumn. His race in the Arlington Million was pretty good, I thought. Our thoughts were to give him a little break and bring him back fresh. This is a way to stay in Florida and get a race into him.” M Racing Group LLC’s Eyes On the King, multiple stakes-placed at 3, has made a strong impression this year in three starts at Tampa Bay Downs, where the son of Street Sense lost a photo before scoring back-to-back optional claiming allowances on turf. “His races over at Tampa were very good. He’s a beautiful horse on the cusp of showing us that he’s a really good horse,” Casse said. “This will be a big challenge that he’ll partake in.” Edwin Gonzalez is scheduled to ride Win for the Money for the first time, while Emisael Jaramillo will get reacquainted with Eyes On the King.Harrell Ventures’s Main Event is expected to be involved in the early pace Saturday while trying to duplicate a front-running victory in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Dec. 30. The 5-year-old son of Bernardini, who went on to finish off the board in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and Mac Diarmida (G2), is set to make his first start for trainer Fernando Abreu. Edgard Zayas has the call on Main Event.
Me and Mr. C, a three-time stakes winner on turf and Tapeta last season, will seek to recapture his winning form in the Mr. Steele for trainer Michael Maker. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s 7-year-old gelding is coming off a third-place finish in the Turf Classic for Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs. Hector Diaz Jr. is slated to ride Me and Mr. C for the first time Saturday. Gentry Farm’s Eldon’s Prince, a multiple-stakes winner on Gulfstream turf; Rachid Racing LLC’s Marwad, who seeks relief following three straight graded-stakes appearances; in addition to Gods Glory Stables and Matthew Ciamei’s Love Me Not and Abel Rangel’s Benvolio, a pair of last-out optional claiming allowance winners; round out the field. Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $225,00
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $225,000 Friday at Gulfstream Park. The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a seemingly wide-open five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up on turf in Race 8, followed by a five-furlong maiden special weight race on Tapeta for 3-year-olds and up.
Amador Sanchez-trained Abrir Caminos, a multiple stakes-winning Chilean-bred 4-year-old, is scheduled to make his U.S. debut while facing eight rivals, including Joe Orseno-trained Portofino, the 8-5 morning-line favorite who lost his last in a photo finish. Morplay Racing, Rosedown Racing Stables and Kerri Radcliffe’s Urban Legend will make his first start for trainer Jose D’Angelo while making his 2024 debut. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, who was purchased for $1.3 million at the 2023 OBS April sale, made three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bab Baffert in Southern California, including a pair of runner-up finishes. One of those was behind undefeated Nysos.
BALTIMORE - Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will run in the 149th Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, trainer Kenny McPeek announced Saturday morning. “All systems go,” McPeek said. “He’ll ship out in the morning.” Mystik Dan had a routine 1 1/2-mile gallop at Churchill Downs under retired jockey Robby Albarado, who will be part of the Derby winner’s travel team to Baltimore, much as he was in 2020 when he rode the filly Swiss Skydiver to victory for McPeek. The difference this time is that Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Mystik Dan in his races. Mystik Dan underwent an endoscopic exam and had bloodwork analyzed just to ensure everything was normal. When everything came back clean, McPeek confirmed everything was a go for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. “The horse is doing fantastic,” he said after Mystik Dan trained. “I’ve already kind of arranged the logistics of it all.”
Mystik Dan will get a rematch in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness with Arkansas Derby winner Muth. Mystik Dan finished third that day, his first race in seven weeks after he was a romping winner of Oaklawn Park’s Gr. III Southwest Stakes in the slop. “He was ready for the Arkansas Derby,” McPeek said. “I’m not going to use that as an excuse. But he did get turned sideways in that turn, and Brian felt that cost him three or four lengths. But the horse fought back, fortunately…. I’m optimistic we can give (Muth) another run.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Nolan Ramsey, the longtime assistant to trainer Michael Maker before going out on his own in April, saddled his first winner as a trainer Friday at Gulfstream Park.
The 27-year-old Lexington native notched his first victory with Marshamarshamarsha ($5), who is owned by his grandfather, Ken Ramsey, the longtime owner who won four Eclipse Awards as North America’s outstanding owners with his late wife Sarah and was the leading owner during the 2023-2024 Championship Meet. Marshamarshamarsha, Ramsey’s fifth starter, stalked the early pace while saving ground before making a three-wide sweep on the turn into the homestretch on her way to a decisive score in Race 5, a mile turf event for 3-year-old fillies racing for a $16,000 claiming price. “It’s special. It’s the first one. It’s great to get off the duck. It’s nice doing it for family too,” said Ramsey, who was doused with water by a stable employee in celebration. “I wouldn’t be here without him (Ken Ramsey). My love for the horses and horseracing all came from him. I remember watching the races when I was 5 or 6. He taught me how to handicap and started bringing me around the horses. Without my grandparents I wouldn’t be here. To get where I’ve been and being able to knock off the first one for the family, that’s really special.” Ramsey started walking hots for Maker when he was 14 years old. “I was hands-on with them, and I really fell in love with the racetrack. The action and the speed of it really drew me in. It was full-blown from there on,” said Ramsey, who has assembled a 30-horse stable at Gulfstream with plans to train a small string in the Mid-Atlantic.
“I was very grateful to work for Mike,” he added. “The thing about Mike is he has all the horses. He has the Grade 1s; he’s got the starter allowances; he’s got the ‘nickel’ claimers."
OLDSMAR - Before the 2023-2024 meet, Tampa Bay Downs received a $5.5-million allocation from the state of Florida for purses and operations. Officials earmarked 90 percent for overnight purses, enabling the track to lure its strongest roster of trainers, jockeys and horses in recent memory. The public responded in kind to the upsurge in quality by wagering $361,483,261, a 2.4-percent increase from 2022-2023. The average daily handle rose to $4,016,481. Additional increases in both the number of starters and average starters per race helped stamp the 2023-2024 Tampa Bay Downs racing season, which ended Saturday, a major success. But an unseasonably wet winter and early spring, coupled with the loss of an estimated $5-million in handle on March 9 when a communications outage led to the tote system shutting down and the Gr. III Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby being declared a non-wagering event, left track Vice President & General Manager Peter Berube pondering “what might have been.” “The events of March 9 were unprecedented in our experience, and steps have been taken to assure they will not happen again here or hopefully anywhere else,” Berube said. “It’s a reflection of our popularity as a major winter track that we were able to post gains in wagering and other key categories in spite of not being able to accept wagers on our biggest race of the season.” The estimated wagering handle lost on March 9 would have resulted in Tampa Bay Downs being up about $14-million (3.8-percent) from the previous year. Berube said weather – specifically, the El Niño pattern that caused higher-than-average precipitation and cooler temperatures throughout much of the winter and early spring – also prevented Tampa Bay Downs from posting larger gains during the 90-day meet.
Although the number of starters at the meet rose 9.56-percent (from 6,190 in 2022-2023 to 6,782) and the average starters per race went up 9.03-percent (from 7.58 to 8.26), more rain than normal caused the number of turf races to decline by 10.47-percent, from 277 to 248. “The popularity of our turf program leads to bigger fields and more wagering opportunities for our customers,” Berube said. “Weather is always a variable in winter and early spring, but it seemed like Mother Nature worked against us more than usual.” Fueled by the boosts to maiden special weight and higher-level allowance race purses, Tampa Bay Downs paid out $21,898,640 in purses, 26-percent more than a season ago. Overnight purses climbed from $155,596 a day to $211,535, a 35.95-percent rise.
On-track attendance decreased less than 1-percent, to 243,526, and on-track handle fell less than 1-percent, to $15,917,768. “The main takeaways are that we improved in most major categories and that the overnight purse increases will remain in effect next season,” Berube said. “With the competition for wagering and recreational dollars growing more and more intense, we’re confident we have established a firm foothold both locally and throughout the simulcast market that will enable us to keep moving upward.” The 2024-2025 meet is expected to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
BALTIMORE – For an eighth straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 stakes races during Preakness weekend, May 17 and 18, at Pimlico Race Course. The blockbuster weekend includes a total of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $4.4 million in purses. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000. Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the 15 horoughbred stakes, led by the 149th running of the $2 million Preakness Stakes, Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 18. Trainers must have a minimum of five starts to qualify for the bonus. Other graded events on Preakness Day are the $500,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and older at 1 1/16 miles, each on turf, and the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up, both at six furlongs; and $100,000 UAE President Cup (G1) for older Arabian horses on the main track. The UAE President Cup is not part of the bonus. Supporting Preakness undercard stakes are the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-old non-winners of a sweepstakes going 1 1/16 miles and $100,000 Skipat for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs, both on dirt, along with the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds going one mile and $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at five furlongs, each on the grass. Preakness Eve, May 17, will be highlighted by the 100th running of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles and two supporting graded-stakes – the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs. The Black-Eyed Susan undercard also includes the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as well as the $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going one mile and $100,000 The Very One for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs, both on the turf. Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has been the leading Preakness weekend stakes trainer four times in its first seven years, earning the top bonus in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022. Brad Cox (2019), Mike Maker (2020) and Maryland-based Graham Motion (2023) have also won the top prize.
Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 7. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at [email protected] or call 800-638-1859.
There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus.
Entries will be taken and post positions drawn on Sunday, May 12 for the Black-Eyed Susan Day program and Monday, May 13 for the Preakness Day program. The post-position draw for the Preakness will be held at Monarque on Fleet Street in Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood.
HALLANDALE BEACH - The doors at Silks simulcast facility at Gulfstream Park will open at 9:30 a.m. today and Saturday to accommodate patrons wishing to watch on wager on races from Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Oaks will be run on today’s Churchill Downs program and will get underway at 10:30 a.m. Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day program will also have a 10:30 a.m. first-race post time. Fierceness, who captured the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream by a record 13 ½ lengths, tops the field of 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby. Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Power Squeeze will run in the Kentucky Oaks. Many other horses that competed during Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet will compete in stakes on both days at Churchill Downs. Today’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool at is expected to grow to an estimated $100,000 after going unsolved Thursday for the second day following last Saturday’s mandatory payout.
Jockey Edgard Zayas continued to win races in bunches Thursday. Zayas, who rode four winners on Saturday’s program, won another five races Thursday to push his Royal Palm meet-leading victory total to 27. Zayas rode back-to-back winners for trainer Joe Orseno, scoring aboard Magic Soul ($7) in Race 3 and Super Spin ($20.80) in Race 4. He also doubled for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. with back-to-back wins aboard Lady O’Brien ($2.60) in Race 6 and Goats On a Tree ($5) in Race 7. He finished his big day with a gate-to-wire score aboard Live High Live Low ($9.40) in Race 8 for trainer George Weaver.
OLDSMAR - The Silks Poker Room at Tampa Bay Downs and TGT Poker & Racebook are rolling out big payouts in May. The rooms are collaborating on a $500,000-guaranteed “Mystery Bounty” tournament running through Memorial Day, May 27. Satellite action is already underway at both sites. There is a $400 buy-in, with each entrant receiving a 30,000 starting stack. Ten percent of the field makes the money with 8 percent of the tournament field qualifying for Day 2 action, which begins at noon on Sunday, May 26 at The Silks Poker Room with 40-minute levels. Day 3 action begins at 1 p.m. on May 27 at TGT Poker & Racebook and consists of 50-minute levels. Main Event Flights begin at noon on Saturday, May 11, with a series of 30-minute, blind-level events through Saturday, May 25.The top bounty payoff will be $40,000. The tournament is guaranteed to pay out 10 bounties of $5,000 or more, including single bounties of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 and two apiece of $7,500, $6,000 and $5,000.
Lead-up events before the May 11 Main Event launch include Pot-limit Omaha (PLO), TORSE, No-Limits Hold’Em, Seniors, Omaha and Quadruple Stud. The buy-ins for each range from $175-$220. Satellite action is ongoing through Saturday, May 23. For details, visit https://www.tampabaydowns.com/poker/tournaments or call (813) 855-4401, extension 149.
OLDSMAR - By winning the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs and the Gr. II Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30, 3-year-old filly Power Squeeze proved she belongs in next Friday’s $1.5-million Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. So did her jockey, six-time Tampa Bay Downs riding champion Daniel Centeno.
Following the 52-year-old Venezuela product’s outstanding performance in the Gulfstream Park Oaks – in which Centeno avoided an early squeeze play going into the first turn after breaking from the No. 1 post position, then timed her power stretch move perfectly to upset 1-2 favorite Ways and Means – owner Bill Cosgrove of Lea Farms and trainer Jorge Delgado agreed they need look no further for their filly’s rider under Churchill’s Twin Spires. Centeno, who will be making his first-ever appearance at Churchill Downs, is still (figuratively) pinching himself to be sure it’s for real. “You never know in this business,” said Centeno, whose previous brush with the classic scene came in 2019 when he rode Alwaysmining to an unplaced finish in the Preakness at Pimlico. “You only have to get the opportunity to ride the right horse and try to keep on her for something like this to happen. “When I talked to the owner and he told me he wants me to come to Louisville and ride her again, I said ‘Sure, no problem. I’ll follow her wherever you want me to go.’ The filly and I get along real well, so now we’re going to the Oaks,” Centeno said. While Power Squeeze’s credentials are topnotch – she is 4-for-6 in her career, with a four-race winning streak – she is expected to face such standouts as 2023 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Just F Y I, Grade I Central Bank Ashland Stakes winner Leslie’s Rose, Grade II Fantasy Stakes winner Thorpedo Anna and Ways and Means, along with eight or nine others. Despite the imposing lineup, if Power Squeeze can duplicate her Florida form, she should be right in the mix for the garland of pink stargazer lilies awarded to the winner. “It’s very exciting,” said Centeno, who plans to fly to Louisville on Thursday with his wife Brooke and his father Enrique. “I’ve ridden a lot of nice horses in my career, and it’s never too late to get another one. I’m blessed and grateful to Jorge and Mr. Cosgrove to be going.” Power Squeeze completed the mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream in 1:44.19. Her winning time of 1:40.22 in the mile-and-40-yard Suncoast, the Oldsmar oval’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” prep race, was less than a second off Nest’s stakes record. Nest went on to finish second in the 2022 Longines Kentucky Oaks to Secret Oath. Centeno thinks Power Squeeze, a daughter of Union Rags out of the Awesome Again mare Callmethesqueeze, will welcome the added distance of the mile-and-an-eighth Longines Kentucky Oaks.
“I think the longer she goes, the
Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling) passed the $2-million mark in earnings with an authoritative victory in Saturday’s $1,250,000, Gr. II Oaklawn Handicap. Pressing the pace from the start, he went for the lead on the turn, took over in the stretch and eased away to a two-length victory.
Trained by Saffie A. Joseph Jr., the 4-year-old has posted six graded stakes wins, compiled a 23-8-2-4 career record and earned $2,291,685. At the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 and was purchased for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment. Mellon Patch’s Patriot Spirit (Constitution – Mistical Plan) took the lead shortly after the break in Sunday’s $200,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne and never looked back, en route to an effortless 5 3/4-length victory. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old colt trained by Michael B. Campbell, now 7-3-0-1 with $208,300 in earnings. He was purchased for $80,000 out of the Clary Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat.
HIP No. 915, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne) Agent, was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp. for $850,000 to top the fourth and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The dark bay or brown filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the Saturday session’s co-fastest, is out of Amagansett, by Tapit, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes winner Twirl (IRE).
Kimmel & Sallusto, Agent, went to $725,000 for Hip No. 995, a son of McKinzie consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat, is out of Bernadreamy, by Bernardini, a daughter of Gr. I stakes-winner Dream Empress.
Hip No. 1005, a son of Twirling Candy who breezed an eighth in a co-fastest :9 4/5 on Saturday was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock, Agent, for $700,000. Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, Agent, the bay colt is out of Bite the Stars, by Flatter, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Stanford.
Hip No. 1075, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to 30 Year Farm for $700,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Choir, by Pulpit, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winning two-time OBS graduate Emmy Darling.
Hip No. 920, a son of Uncle Mo consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, went to D. J. Stable & Robert Cotran for $685,000. The bay colt, who galloped at the Under Tack Show, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner First Captain out of graded stakes- winner America, by A.P. Indy.
Hip No. 974, a daughter of McKinzie consigned by Julie Davies, Agent, was sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds for $675,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Bay Harbor, by Speightstown, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Our Khrysty.
Three Amiwgos ent to $600,000 for Hip No. 928, a daughter of Tiz the Law consigned by On Point Training & Sales. The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth on Saturday in a co-fastest :9 4/5, is out of stakes-placed Animal Appeal, by Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), from the family of stakes-winner Triple Card.
Hip No. 972, Metallix, a son of Quality Road consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent for Chester & Mary Broman, was sold to Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables, for $600,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Coinage out of Gr. I stakes-winner Bar of Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro.
Hip No. 1143, a daughter of McKinzie whose Under Tack quarter in :20 1/5 equaled the track record, was sold to Bill Childs for $600,000. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, the bay filly is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes -winner Strategic Dreams out of D’fashion, by D’Wildcat.
Hip No. 936, a son of Not This Time consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, went to Lael Stable for $550,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed a quarter in :20 4/5, is a half brother to recent stakes-winner Laughing Boy out of Applauding, by Congrats, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Shedaresthedevil.
Hip No. 1064, a son of Nyquist consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp. was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing Stable for $525,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Charlatana by Harlan’s Holiday, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Laoban.
Hip No. 1056, a son of Omaha Beach consigned by Richardson Bloodstock, Agent, was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $510,000. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat, is out of Caxambas Pass, by Tiznow, a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Point of Entry.
Bow River Ranch, Hoby Kight, Agent, went to $500,000 for Hip No. 1044, a son of OBS graduate Into Mischief consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a full brother to graded stakes- winner Into Chocolate out of Candy Drawer, by Candy Ride (ARG).
Hip No. 1191, a son of Tiz the Law consigned by Britton Peak, Agent, was purchased by Taproot Bloodstock, Agent, for $500,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Enough, by Arch, a half-sister to stakes-winner Plenty of Vision.
For the session, 141 horses sold for a total of $19,701,500 compared with 168 horses grossing $22,781,000 at last year’s final session. The average price was $139,727, compared with $135,601 a year ago, while the median price was $65,000, identical to 2023. The buyback percentage was 21.2%; it was 12.9% in 2023. For the entire Spring Sale, 633 horses sold for a total of $82,086,500, compared to 699 horses bringing $90,405,000, last year. The average was a sale record $129,679, eclipsing last year’s $129,335 while the median price was a sale record $70,000, compared with $65,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 19.2%; it was 16.8% in 2023.
OLDSMAR - Whether you’re new to Thoroughbred racing or you’ve been coming to the racetrack since the days of Secretariat, Forego, Ruffian and Affirmed, it’s hard to pass up a chance to watch the most exciting 2 minutes in sports surrounded by fellow horse lovers who understand what the fuss is about.
Kentucky Derby Day is May 4, and Tampa Bay Downs plans a celebration like none other on the west coast of Florida. As track management is fond of saying: Louisville has the race, but we have one heck of a party! Plus, a full slate of racing to wrap up the 2023-2024 meet and accompany the simulcast excitement from Churchill Downs – which will present seven graded-stakes races in addition to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve – and many other racetracks. Admission at Tampa Bay Downs is $10, with children 17-and-under free. Valet parking is $25. The gates will open at 10 a.m., and the first local race will begin around noon. Automatic wagering terminals will be set up outside in front of the main Grandstand entrance for fans who decide to grab their tickets early and watch at home or elsewhere. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:57 p.m. The final minutes before the race are electric, as the realization sinks in that this is it for another year. Plenty of Kentucky Derby souvenirs will be available in the Gift Shop, including glasses listing all 149 winners of the race. The cost is $14.95; if you want the traditional mint julep, the cost is $19 ($10 for the glass and $9 for the drink). There will also be food-truck specials on the grounds, in addition to the usual concession and restaurant fare. The 150th edition of the Run for the Roses is expected to feature a full field of 20 horses, including as many as three who have competed at Tampa Bay Downs: the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby winner, Domestic Product; West Saratoga, who finished third in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes and second in the Pasco Stakes; and Grand Mo the First, the third-place Tampa Bay Derby finisher who is 21st in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points standings, necessitating a withdrawal beforehand to qualify. Domestic Product, a homebred owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, has worked four times at Payson Park Training Center since winning the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9, including a 4-furlong breeze of 48 2/5 on Saturday, the fastest of 58 recorded workouts that day at the distance. “The horse is training super, better than ever, and I’m happy I chose to train him into the race,” Brown told the Daily Racing Form.
Brown also trains top contender Sierra Leone, who won the Toyota Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland.
Hip No. 199, a daughter of Caracaro consigned by Global Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, was sold to Three Amigos for $775,000 top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay filly, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was fastest at Monday’s Under Tack session, is a half sister to stakes placed Twirled out of Key d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of graded one stakes winner Key Phrase. Hip No. 291, a son of Global Campaign consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables for $650,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Maid in Heaven, by Yes It’s True, a full sister to graded stakes-winner Yesbyjimminy.
Hip No. 166, a daughter of Uncle Mo consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, was sold to Justin Casse for M. V. Magnier for $600,000. The bay filly, whose Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5 was co-fastest at Sunday’s Under Tack session, is a half sister to grade one stakes placed Be You out of graded stakes winner Jacaranda, by Congrats, a half sister to grade one stakes winner Constitution.
Hip No. 125, a son of Nyquist consigned by Thorostock LLC, Agent, was sold to Spendthrift Farm / MKW Racing and Breeding LLC for $550,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to graded stakes placed stakes winner Monday Morning QB out of How My Heart Works, by Not For Love, from the family of graded stakes winner Cyberknife.
Hip No. 153, a son of Nyquist consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was purchased by James Divito, Agent, for $460,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to stakes placed Elle’s Town out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Irish Presence, by champion OBS graduate Midnight Lute.
Hip No. 295, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold for $460,000 to Bregman Family Racing LLC. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5, is out of Major Z, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of champion Shared Belief.
Woodford Thoroughbreds went to $390,000 for Hip No. 127, a daughter of Omaha Beach consigned by JVC Training and Sales, Agent. The bay filly, who worked an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Humor Me Dixie, by Distorted Humor, a daughter of graded stakes winner Dixie City.
Hip No. 302, a son of Not This Time consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, went to D. J. Stable LLC for $380,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is a half brother to stakes winner Balandeen out of graded stakes winner Mama Kimbo, by Discreet Cat.
Hip No. 143, a daughter of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC for $370,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is a half sister to graded stakes winner Lovely Bernadette out of Inlovewithlove, by Bernstein.
Hip No. 136, a son of Street Sense who breezed an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat, went to Taproot Bloodstock, Agent, for $340,000. Consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent, the bay colt is out of In a Snit, by Lookin At Lucky, a half sister to graded stakes winner Blind Date.
Hip No. 109, a son Vekoma consigned by Kinsman Farm, went to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing for $325,000. The bay colt, who breezed an Undeofr Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of Hidden Facts, by The Factor, a daughter of stakes winner Mystic City.
Hip No. 106, a daughter of Win Win Win consigned by Ocala Stud, was sold for $310,000 to Champion Equine LLC. The bay filly, who worked a quarter in :21 1/5, is out of Hello Juliet, by Adios Charlie, a half sister to stakes winner Lisa’s Booby Trap.
Speedway Stables also paid $300,000 for Hip No. 16, daughter of Good Magic consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Longtime South Florida trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. notched win No. 2,500 at Gulfstream Park when Raging Fury scored by four lengths in Race 6 of a 10-race program. The highly-respected 74-year-old trainer watched the milestone victory in Ocala, where he will attend next week’s OBS April Spring Sale. “I feel very fortunate. I’ve been very blessed in this game. I’ve been blessed with great owners. I’ve been blessed with great support, especially from my wife and family,” said Plesa, whose wife, Laurie, owns Racing Fury with longtime client Donald Mensh. “Laurie just asked me, ‘How do you feel?’ I said, ‘Who would have thought I would ever win 2,500 races?’” Plesa, the son of highly-respected trainer Eddie Plesa Sr., has been based in South Florida throughout his career but has enjoyed Gr. 1 success out of town. He saddled Itsmyluckyday for a victory in the 2014 Woodward at Belmont following a second-place finish in the 2013 Preakness Stakes. Plesa-trained Three Ring, winner of the 1999 Davona Dale (G2) and Bonnie Miss (G2) at Gulfstream, captured the Acorn (G1) at Belmont Park. Raging Fury ($10.20) took command at the top of the stretch under Edgard Zayas and drew off to win the $35,000 claiming race. Just two races later, Epona’s Hope ($32.20) awarded Plesa with Win No. 2,501 with an upset victory in the Race 8 feature, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old fillies on turf.
Plesa, obviously, hasn’t grown tired of winning. “I’m up here for a reason. I’m not up here for the weather,” Plesa said. “I’m not quite ready to hang it up. We bought a couple of 2-year-olds earlier in the year. I’m going to see if I can buy a couple more right now.”
NOTES: Ralph Nicks visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle Saturday, a day before he will step away from training. Nicks-trained Fast Chad ($7.60) scored a dominating win in Race 1, a maiden claiming race for 3-year-olds. The 57-year-old horseman, who assisted Hall of Famer Bill Mott during the Cigar years before going out on his own to win 722 races, plans to travel throughout the U.S. following Sunday’s program, for which he has entered three horses.
HALLANDALE BEACH - D. J. Stable LLC’s Mensa registered a professional three-length debut victory Friday at Gulfstream Park, becoming the first winning offspring of first-year sire Complexity in the Royal Palm Meet’s first race for 2-year-olds.
Mensa ($10) broke alertly from his inside stall to quickly open up a clear lead on his six rivals and rolled to an impressive triumph under Patrick Husbands. The $135,000 2023 OBS October purchase ran 4 ½ furlongs in :51.86 seconds in Race 2. “He’s been extremely professional from Day 1,” said Nick Tomlinson, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. “He’s a beautiful horse. A lot of the credit goes to the guys in the barn. They did a lot of gate schooling with him. They’re the reason a lot of these babies are ready to roll. He’s far more advanced than anyone else. Hopefully, he continues to progress from here.” Mensa is only the second offspring of Complexity to run in a race. Chad Brown-trained Complexity, a son of Maclean’s Music, won the 2018 Gr. I Champagne and the 2020 Gr. II Kelso. Trainer Patrick Biancone’s Unchained Elaine, a homebred daughter of American Pharoah, finished second, 11 lengths clear of third-place finisher Tank. Wesley Ward-trained Delightful Flame, the 7-10 favorite, broke slowly and was never a factor. Catalytic Breezes - Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaac’s Catalytic breezed four furlongs in :49.25 seconds Friday morning at in preparation for a start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby. The workout was the son of Catalina Cruiser’s first since his distant runner-up finish behind Fierceness in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby on March 30. “He went well. It was his first breeze back. It was an easy half in 49-and-1,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’ll work back here once more, most likely next Friday, and then he’ll ship and have his last work at Churchill.” Catalytic made only his third career start while making his stakes debut in the Florida Derby, in which he chased Fierceness throughout, holding on to finish second, 13 ½ lengths back and 2 ½ lengths over Grand Mo the First. “He bounced out of the race well for a horse that was only making his third start, second start in three weeks,” Joseph said. “He was a distant second behind a deserving favorite, but I feel like he’s a horse that can improve again, which he should.” Trumpets a Heaven-Sent Filly for Owner/Trainer Joe Catanese III - Trumpets overcame a slow start to follow up an impressive maiden score with an even more eye-catching victory Friday. Catanese inherited the 3-year-old daughter of Neolithic upon the passing of lifelong friend and beloved South Florida horseman Larry Bates last year. “I just thank Larry. This is all for Larry,” Catanese said in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following Trumpet’s four-length score in Race 6, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old Florida-bred fillies on Tapeta. Trumpets broke last from her inside stall in the starting gate but took over the lead midway through the backstretch during a first-quarter of a mile in 21.73 seconds. The Florida-bred filly was never threatened thereafter, completing the five-furlong distance in 57.58 seconds. “I was a little surprised because the filly is usually fast from the gate,” jockey Edgar Perez said. “My filly is a very classy filly. After she broke slow, I push and push and push to put her on the lead and from the three-eighths pole, it was an easy way home.” The daughter of Neolithic was coming off a dazzling 5 ¾ length victory in a Feb. 14 maiden special weight event on the all-weather surface, over which she ran five-furlongs in :56.36 seconds. Trumpets previously finished second in her Dec. 23 debut, in which she was beaten three-quarters of a length by 3-5 favorite Karaya, who came right back to win an optional claiming allowance before finishing second in the March 24 Melody of Colors. In Race 7, a mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds on turf, BC Racing’s Prevent, a multiple stakes-placed son of Neolithic, held on to score by a nose over Ninja Star. The Juan Alvarado-trained 2-1 favorite provided Edgard Zayas with his second winning ride on Friday.
OLDSMAR – After beginning her career 0-for-4, 3-year-old Florida-bred filly Hopesndreams has turned Tampa Bay Downs into her own personal playground this season.
The daughter of former Pleasant Acres stallion Ride On Curlin-Exchangeable, by Exchange Rate, won for the fourth time from five starts at the meet in yesterday’s sixth race, holding off a belated rally by Glorious Lady in the $25,000 starter/optional claiming event to prevail by three-quarters of a length under jockey Jesus Castanon. Hopesndreams’ only defeat here came on March 24, when she finished third in the Florida Cup Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes. Bred by Helen and Joe Barbazon, and owned and trained by Mike Dini, Hopesndreams sped the 6-furlong distance on a fast track in 1:09.78, 1.11 seconds off the Oldsmar track record. With less than four weeks remaining in the meet, she trails only Paper Mansion (5-for-5) in victories. Surprisingly, Hopesndreams’ time was only second-best on the card. Ritabook, who was running for a claiming price of $25,000, drew away through the stretch under apprentice jockey Gabriel Maldonado in the stretch to win the second race by 3 ¼ lengths from D’ tiger Lily. Ritabook’s winning time was 1:09.73. The 5-year-old Florida-bred mare (Uncaptured-Four White Legs, by Albertus Maximus) won for the third time in 21 starts, with eight seconds. She is owned by Monarch Stables and trained by John Rigattieri. Maldonado, who is third in the Oldsmar standings with 41 winners, won the first three races on the card, followed by two seconds. He scored in the first race on Tiz a Beast, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by TCBR Stable and trained by Jennifer Paragallo. Maldonado added the third on the turf with Lucky Girl Coco, a 4-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Coco Ranch and trained by Guillermo Morales Jr. Maldonado had previously ridden three winners here on Feb. 9. Dini sent out two winners as an owner and trainer. He won the seventh race, a 1-mile turf claiming event, with 3-year-old Florida-bred filly Platinum Diva, who raced past the leaders late to post a length-and-a-half victory under Charlie Marquez. Trendy finished second. A Florida-bred daughter of another Pleasant Acres stallion, Treasure Beach-Platinumplus, by Mizzen Mast, Platinum Diva was also bred by Helen and Joe Barbazon. Platinum Diva was claimed from the race for $20,000 by trainer Renaldo Richards for new owner Paula S. Capestro. Tim Hamm notched two training victories, as well. Both came on the turf. He won the fifth race with E Minor, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Blazing Meadows Farm and ridden by Angel Arroyo. Hamm added the ninth with Harrow, a 6-year-old gelding owned by Ruth Pelfrey, Gerard Nicoletta, Ella D Racing Stable and Blazing Meadows Farm and ridden by Pablo Morales. Around the oval - Racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:20 p.m.
Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz’s Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon – Miss Derek) was much the best in the $300,000, Gr. II Santa Anita Oaks, scoring by 7 1//2 lengths over fellow OBS graduate Kinza (Carpe Diem – Secret Wonder).
Away slowly, the 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon rated on the inside, slipped through on the rail to take the lead turning for home and drew off with authority. Trained by Bob Baffert, she has three stakes wins, an 8-4-1-0 record and $423,160 inearnings. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat and was purchased out of the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment for $190,000. Sonata Stable’s Arzak rated behind the leaders in Keeneland’s $350,000, Gr. II Shakertown Stakes, went after the lead after turning for home, took charge a furlong out and was best by a length at the wire. It’s the third graded stakes win for the 6-year-old son of Not This Time, purchased for $575,000 out of the Julie Davies consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Mike Trombetta, he has compiled a 25-8-3-1 career record and has earned $824,019.
HALLANDALE BEACH - JR Racing’s Slide Show put on quite a show today at Gulfstream Park while romping to a 12-length debut victory over the Tapeta surface. The son of Neolithic broke alertly from the gate and led his six rivals on a merry chase on his way to graduating in Race 3, a mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight event for 3-year-olds.
Trainer Jose Garoffalo had confidence in Slide Show ($12.60), entering him in his debut in open company and around two turns, but the colt bred in Florida by the late NFL player Freddie Hyatt exceeded his expectations. “I always had faith in him and knew he was a good horse. The older he got the better he performed. I was impressed with his debut,” Garoffalo said. “I was expecting a good race but not that good.” Slide Show ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:40.50 under Miguel Vasquez, who rode three winners on today’s program. “We’re very happy with the horse. He did it easy,” said Garoffalo, who hopes to schedule an optional claiming allowance for Florida-breds for Slide Show’s next start. “We’ll take it step by step.” Kid Cairo, a Mark Casse-trained son of Cairo Prince, finished second in his debut, a neck ahead of Annointed, a son of Justify.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park lowered the curtain on its 2023-2024 Championship Meet with an 11-race Easter Sunday program that saw jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. defend their respective titles at the prestigious winter stand. Ortiz won twice Sunday on Invigorated ($19) in Race 7 and Miss Speedy ($19.20) in Race 9 to finish with 119 winners and top the rider standings for the fifth time in the past six seasons and second straight after leading the way with 128 in 2022-2023. Ortiz, who accepted his fifth Eclipse Award and second straight in January for 2023, also led Gulfstream in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, when he won a record 140 races. Also tops with more than $5.9 million in purses earned, Ortiz won 13 stakes during the Championship Meet including graded triumphs in the Gr. II Inside Information, Gr. III Suwannee River, Gr. III William L. McKnight, Gr. III Sweetest Chant, Gr. III Canadian Turf, Gr. III Honey Fox and Gr. III Orchid. The Orchid and Sand Springs were among five wins on Saturday’s Florida Derby program. “It went very good for us. It means a lot to win another title here. They make me feel at home here,” Ortiz said. “The owners, everybody training here, the whole organization – security and the people who work here – they make me feel good. I have great support from the trainers and owners of Florida, and I appreciate it. I’m so happy to win another title here.” Ortiz’s brother, Jose, held off Paco Lopez for second in the rider standings. Jose He visited the winner’s circle Sunday on Broderie ($3) in Race 3, Far Bridge ($3.40) in Race 6 and Creed’s Gold ($21.80) in Race 11 to finish with 94 wins, two more than Lopez, who also registered three aboard Poliglota ($9.80) in Race 2, Turf Rocket ($8.60) in Race 4 and Classify ($4.20) in Race 9. Joseph collected his third straight Championship Meet training title following an 18-year reign by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who finished second with 37 winners including Invigorated. Joseph won with Classify ($4.20) in Race 9 to finish with 66 wins and more than $3.4 million in purse earnings.
Seven of Joseph’s wins came in stakes, including O’Connor in the Gr. III Harlan’s Holiday, R Harper Rose in the Gr. III Forward Gal and Honor D Lady in the Gr. III Royal Delta. He also ran second in the $1 million Florida Derby with Kentucky Derby-bound Catalytic. Joseph led Gulfstream with 58 wins in 2021-2022 and 47 victories in 2022-2023. Pletcher still holds the Championship Meet record with 72 wins in 2017-2018.
“The three titles – each one feels better than the other,” Joseph said. “We’re thankful for the opportunities from the owners, the team we have – how hard they work and all the effort they put in – and most importantly to have the horses we have. The horses are the biggest piece of the puzzle. The horses make everyone look good.” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse won three races Sunday, Boomin’ Belle ($11.20) in Race 8, Miss Speedy ($19.20) in Race 10 and Creed’s Gold ($21.80) in Race 11, to finish third with 30 wins. Ken Ramsey claimed the owner title with 27 winners. Among them were Joseph-trained Be My Sunshine in the Tropical Park Oaks and Abrumar in the Colonel Liam. Ramsey previously led the owner standings in 2021-2022, 2019-2020 and from 2012-2013 to 2017-2018. Gulfstream will open the Royal Palm Meet with an eight-race program Thursday starting at 1:10 p.m.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Repole Stable’s Fierceness recaptured his championship form in dramatic fashion Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the son of City of Light overpowered his opposition by a record 13 ½ lengths in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa. “That was a pretty awesome performance. That’s what we see in the mornings when we breeze him, a special talent,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “That's why it was so perplexing his two races that he didn't run brilliantly. He's three times brilliant and two times has had off days.” Fierceness provided Pletcher with his record-extending eighth Curlin Florida Derby victory while posting the largest winning margin in the 73-year history of the tradition-rich 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, eclipsing Empire Maker’s old record of 9 ¾ lengths set in 2003. The juvenile champion of 2023 joined Pletcher’s previous Curlin Florida Derby winners, Forte (2023), Known Agenda (2021), Audible (2018), Always Dreaming (2017), Materiality (2015), Constitution (2014), and Quality Road (2009). Fierceness, who finished a disappointing third in the Feb. 2, Gr. II Holy Bull in his 3-year-old debut after clinching the Eclipse Award with a 6 ¼-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, earned 100 qualifying points for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, where he will no doubt vie for favoritism in the first leg of the Triple Crown. “From a talent perspective, he has it all,” Pletcher said. “Like everyone else in the Derby, you’ve got to hope you draw a good post, you get a good trip, and you like Churchill Downs – all those things.” Despite his subpar showing in the Holy Bull, Fierceness was sent to post as the even-money favorite in a field reduced to nine upon the early morning withdrawals of his stablemate, Bail Us Out, and Seminole Chief. The Repole Stable homebred put on a show for his backers and everyone else with his dazzling effort, in which he took control on the first turn and was never threatened thereafter. Fierceness set fractions of :24.06 and :47.50 for the first half-mile, with Grand Mo the First and Catalytic in pursuit, before drawing away while geared down by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. “It was pretty easy. This is what I expected last time out of him. He had been working lights out. He broke well today, and I just let him have it. I let them come and get him, and he dominated the whole race. When he got to the backstretch and switched to the turn, he picked it up and so I let him do it. He was comfortable,” Velazquez said. “Then at the quarter pole, I gave him a little smooch and he picked it up right away. It was pretty easy. This is why we’re here. This is what we work for, for opportunities like this. It’s exciting.” Fierceness ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.22 to also provide Velazquez with his record-extending sixth Florida Derby success. The Hall of Famer previously won aboard Audible, Always Dreaming, Materiality, Orb (2013) and Quality Road. Fierceness has bounced back from a subpar showing before. After winning his debut at Saratoga last August, he finished seventh over a sloppy Aqueduct track in the Oct. 7, Gr. I Champagne. The Pletcher trainee redeemed himself with his dominating Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win. Catalytic, who was making his stakes debut in only his third career start, held on to finish second under Julien Leparoux, 2 ½ lengths ahead of Grand Mo the First, who nosed out 5-2 second choice Conquest Warrior for third. Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaac’s Catalytic won his debut by 5 ½ lengths at Gulfstream last October and came back five months later to finish second in a March 8 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs. “He’s a good horse. It wasn’t the ideal circumstance, but he was brave today. I had a lot of respect for some of the horses in the race and he ran a really good second,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said after Catalytic earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. “Nothing was going to beat the winner. We should improve a lot from this. Hopefully he comes out well, and we’ve got five weeks to keep dreaming.” Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. is hopeful that Grand Mo the First, who was beaten by only a neck while finishing third in the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby, will make the Kentucky Derby field. “I’m very happy with the race. Today he earned 25 points. He has 40 points,” Barboza said. “He has a good chance to make the Kentucky Derby.”
Courtlandt Farms’ Conquest Warrior, who was coming off a pair of impressive victories during the Championship Meet, was never in contention while finishing fourth.
“He didn’t break real sharp, so I think it got him out of position a little bit. He was kind of having to wind through all that dirt and stuff,” McGaughey said. “He’s still a young horse. He just needs to learn.” Conquest Warrior finished 4 ¾ lengths ahead of Holy Bull winner Hades, who raced evenly to check in fifth.
“It was a terrible trip. I had a lot of trouble on the first turn and at the three-eighths [pole]. He wasn’t handling the track today very well,” Hades’ jockey Paco Lopez said. “I can’t believe it the way he was training here. I’m very surprised. He tried hard, but it was not like the last race.” Fierceness gave Repole Stable back-to-back Florida Derby wins, following Forte, who was co-owned by St. Elias Stable.
“It’s surreal. I don’t know what to tell you. It’s not normal to do it once, [but] twice in back-to-back years to win this race and go in with the Kentucky Derby favorite? As you guys know from the past, a lot can happen from now to post time, but we saw something pretty special today,” owner Mike Repole said. “It’s just special. I got 70 family members, and they wanted it for me as much as I wanted it for them. It’s just very special,” he added. “I said before, we forget he’s only had four races. He had a layoff. That was just really special. I told Todd if he wins by five or is beat by five, I wouldn’t be surprised. How could you be?”
Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth (Good Magic – Hoppa) again served notice he’s a force to be reckoned with in the 3-year-old division, scoring a two-length win in the $1.5-million, Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
Pressing the pace from the start under Juan Hernandez, the son of Good Magic went after the lead leaving the backstretch, took command turning for home and eased away down the stretch to a decisive victory. It’s the second Gr. I win for Muth, consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by Top Line Sales, Agent, and purchased by Donato Lanni, Agent, for a sale record-equaling $2 million after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5.
The latest OBS millionaire, Muth is now 4-2-0 in six starts for trainer Bob Baffert and the check for $787,500 increased his earnings to $1,504,100.
OLDSMAR - Chamber of Commerce weather – clear skies, temperatures in the 70s and enough wind to keep things interesting – greeted a crowd of 3,720 enthusiastic racegoers to Tampa Bay Downs Sunday for the 21st annual Florida Cup, a collection of six $110,000 stakes races for registered Florida-breds.
While the turf course was listed as “good” rather than firm for the first time since the 2013 Florida Cup, horsemen, jockeys and track officials praised the efforts of the track maintenance crew for their preparation of both the turf and dirt track after considerable rain the previous two days. In short, the stage was perfectly set for products of the state’s Thoroughbred industry to put on a first-class show, and they didn’t disappoint. Jockey Paco Lopez was the star of the afternoon’s competition, winning the last three Florida Cup races, including a stakes-record performance on 5-year-old gelding Forever Souper in the ESMARK Turf Classic. But, as always, the Thoroughbreds captured the public’s imagination, striving for excellence with those qualities of determination and courage that have long stamped the industry in the Sunshine State. ESMARK TURF CLASSIC About the last thing Lopez expected from 5-year-old gelding Forever Souper was a stakes record after two days of rain soaked the Oldsmar turf, turning it to “good” rather than firm for the Florida Cup for the first time in 11 years. But the electronic timer didn’t lie: Forever Souper ran the mile-and-an-eighth in 1:46.87, bettering the former mark of 1:47 flat set in 2010 by Picou. Forever Souper’s time was .61 seconds off Hall of Fame member Tepin’s course record for the distance. “Oh, wow. Really? I didn’t know that,” Lopez said with a wide smile. “(Trainer) Michael (Trombetta) had him ready, and the horse did it very well. I had plenty of horse today.” The victory was the second Florida Stakes triumph on the card for Trombetta and breeder-owner Live Oak, the legendary Ocala showcase of Charlotte C. Weber. Forever Souper’s triumph happened the fifth in the ESMARK Turf Classic for Live Oak Plantation, a mark it also reached in the Equistaff Sophomore Turf earlier on the card with Crystal Quest. Happyisasdhappydoes set a measured pace under Antonio Gallardo and appeared dangerous on the backside, at least until Lopez asked Forever Souper to get going. The rider angled him to the outside for the stretch run, and from there he posted a convincing length-and-a-quarter victory from Happyisashappydoes, with Me and Mr. C finishing third.
“I wasn’t really worried (about Happisashappydoes) stealing the race, because it’s a long stretch and I had plenty of horse,” Lopez said. The son of American Pharoah-Mighty Souper, by War Front, paid $3.00 to win as the wagering favorite. He is 6-for-13 lifetime, having won the Sunshine Turf Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 21 in his previous start. First-place earnings of $60,000 boosted his career figure to $272,255. Trombetta was ecstatic about Forever Souper’s performance. “We are very fond of him. He's been a lot of fun,” Trombetta said via telephone. “He's a cool cat, this horse. It would be awfully hard to beat Tepin's course record, but the stakes record is really great. “We were looking forward to this race with him. After the last race at Gulfstream, there just wasn't enough room in the schedule to try to squeeze another race in that would make sense. I figured, you know what? We'll just point him to this race and give him plenty of time. He came through really well. Paco rides this horse really well and (Forever Souper) seems to run right out from underneath him.” STONEHEDGE FARM SOUTH SOPHOMORE FILLIES Expectations were high among the connections of Mystic Lake entering the race, and the daughter of Mo Town-Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday, didn’t disappoint. She moved to the lead shortly after the start and was never threatened, with Edgard Zayas riding high in the saddle until asking for her best at the quarter-mile pole. The result was a 3 ½-length victory from Girvin’s Princess in a time of 1:23.37 for the 7-furlong distance. Hopesndreams finished third in the six-horse field. The victory was the third in seven starts for Mystic Lake, who was supplemented to the field at a cost of $2,000 after not being originally nominated. Mystic Lake had won the Gasparilla Stakes here on Jan. 13, also under Zayas, in her 3-year-old debut. First-place money of $60,000 raised her career bankroll to $183,266. “She broke super sharp out of the gate and as soon as she took the lead, she kind of relaxed and from there I knew I was in a good spot,” Zayas said. “She can be a little nervous, but she relaxed so good today and when I asked her, she really kicked on and kept on rolling.” Mystic Lake paid $3.20 to win as the betting favorite. She is owned by C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms and trained by Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Peggy Costanzo bred her. Clint Cornett, a partner in C2 Racing Stable with his brother Mark, said they were able to relax as well as their horse when Mystic Lake started so nicely. “As long as she got out of the gate and got her trip, we felt pretty confident she was going to do exactly what she did,” Clint Cornett said. “We cut her back to 7 furlongs (after a fifth-place effort on March 2 at Gulfstream in the Grade III, 1-mile Herecomesthebride Stakes on the turf), and I think she liked it. You could tell on the backside she was really relaxed, and (Zayas) really didn’t ask her until late.” Joseph, who watched the race from south Florida, was delighted with the performance by both filly and rider. "She ran well. I thought Edgard was very smart,” Joseph said. “He broke well and was able to keep Paco (Lopez, on Miss Sayley from post 1) on the inside and not put on too much pressure. She showed up and ran a big race, and she was very professional. I have no plans for the future with her yet. This race was a decider for her so I'll talk it over with the owners and then come up with a plan.” PLEASANT ACRES STALLIONS DISTAFF TURF Every time his 4-year-old filly Charlie’s Wish runs, owner Mark Queen (Royalight Racing LLC) feels as if he is playing with house money. He acquired the son of First Dude-Superior Sarah, by Werblin, when a member of the horse’s breeding partnership, Three Gin Guys Stable, died and the other two partners (who were clients of Queen’s) gifted him the horse. “They gave her to me as a yearling, and it’s so nice when you raise them yourselves,” Queen said after Charlie’s Wish scored a half-length victory from a hard-charging Mohawk Trail. The pace-setter, Baby Steps, finished third, while defending race champion and favorite Sweet Dani Girl settled for fourth. Charlie’s Wish paid $14.60 after stopping the timer in 1:40.94 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance, .52 seconds off Speed Seeker’s course record. Charlie’s Wish improved to 4-for-14 with five seconds, and first-place money of $70,000 raised her earnings to $296,474. Queen, the son of legendary 88-year-old Florida breeder-owner Harold Queen, also received a bonus of a stallion fee from sponsor Pleasant Acres Stallions for up to $10,000. It’s doubtful he’ll use it to breed Charlie’s Wish any time soon. With Lopez en route to his third consecutive victory, the winner moved smartly along the inside on the turn for home to wrest the lead from Baby Steps, then held off Mohawk Trail courageously. “Paco did a great job with this horse,” said trainer David Fawkes, who also teamed with Lopez to win the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore with Pure Class. “The last time she ran on the grass (a third-place finish on Jan. 14 in the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf Stakes at Gulfstream), she was really green She’s growing up now, like all of them.” Lopez was momentarily worried he might have moved prematurely on Charlie’s Wish, but he didn’t want to get beaten to the punch by Javier Castellano, who had Sweet Dani Girl in prime striking position outside of Baby Steps. Lopez needn’t have worried, as his horse was best, plain and simple. "My filly just ran very good. She had been working well, but I was a little surprised how well she ran,” Lopez said. Lopez also won the fifth race on the card on 8-year-old gelding Klickitat for owner In Front Racing Stables and trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo, giving the rider four winners on the card. EQUISTAFF SOPHOMORE TURF Javier Castellano wasn’t concerned when Prevent opened up a 5-length lead on the backstretch, posting moderate fractions of 23.38 seconds for the quarter-mile and 47.85 for the half. He was confident his horse would respond when asked, and Crystal Quest didn’t let him down, powering to a ¾-length victory from the determined pace-setter. Ninja Star finished third. The victory was a record fifth in the race for owner Live Oak Plantation, which bred Crystal Quest under its Live Oak Stud banner. Michael Trombetta trains the son of Uncle Mo-Giant Crystal, by Giant’s Causeway, for breeder-owner Charlotte C. Weber. Crystal Quest’s time for the mile-and-a-sixteenth was 1:41.86. The victory was his third in four starts, and his first stakes effort had Castellano singing his praises. “I liked the way he finished. He is learning a lot and I think this win is huge for him,” said Castellano, who was riding Crystal Quest for the first time. “I think he can go on from here to the graded (stakes level).” Trombetta was pleased, and also a bit relieved, after his colt’s third consecutive victory since Jan. 28. "We were a little concerned running back on short rest but he bounced out of his last race pretty good, so we didn't want to pass up this opportunity,” Trombetta said. “He was doing well so fortunately he was able to handle it. He certainly seems to like the turf and the artificial surface (at Gulfstream). “He's always done everything right. He was pretty green in his first start – he walked out of the gate and showed us he wasn't ready to do it yet, so I had to go back to work and kind of put some good works in him and give him a little bit more time to put it together. Since then he's done everything really well. Javier was patient with him and when he asked him, he kicked on pretty good. He's just starting to mature and really come into himself so we're real happy with him,” Trombetta added. Castellano was content to let Prevent open up early. “I didn’t want to rush my horse out of his style,” he said. “He’s a come-from-behind horse no matter what the pace is, so I just picked out a good target and encouraged him a little at the 3/8-mile pole, and I asked him turning for home. I liked the way he responded.” Riding for connections such as Weber and Trombetta never loses its meaning, even to a veteran such as Castellano. “She is a wonderful lady who has supported the sport for many years, and Michael did a great job getting him ready. I’m grateful for the opportunity to ride for them.” Crystal quest paid $4 to win as the even-money favorite. First-place money of $60,000 boosted his earnings to $122,830. NYRABETS SPRINT Even though Sibelius’s credentials as a world-class sprinter are well-established, jockey Samy Camacho couldn’t help but blame himself For Mish’s neck defeat against last year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen winner on Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs in the Pelican Stakes. Without Sibelius to contend with today, the 7-year-old gray gelding Mish displayed his class, moving to the lead effortlessly on the turn for home before gearing down late for a 3 ¼-length victory from If Not for Luck. Zydeceaux finished third. Mish, a son of Field Commission-Wicked Great, by Greatness, improved to 9-for-28 with the victory. Owned by the C2 Racing Stable partnership of brothers Clint and Mark Cornett and trained by Saffie A. Joseph, Jr., Mish was bred by Joyce Mary Kielty. “It’s a huge win. He’s a beautiful horse, and he came in sharp today like he did (in the Pelican). I was in a perfect spot from the outside, in the clear, and when we turned for home he took off,” Camacho said. Clint Cornett said they had considered sending Mish to Dubai for a rematch against Sibelius in Saturday’s upcoming Dubai Golden Shaheen, but sometimes the best plans are the ones you don’t follow through on. Clint didn’t seem in the mood to wonder “what-if” after such an impressive triumph, achieved in a time of 1:09.82 for the 6-furlong distance. “He ran a good second (in the Pelican) and he ran well today. He’s Mr. Consistency,” Cornett said. “He keeps doing his thing.” Mish has finished first or second in eight of his last nine starts. Watching via simulcast, trainer Joseph viscerally experienced what happens when an experienced Thoroughbred pro who is still at or near the peak of his ability is allowed to do his thing. “This horse is the gift that keeps on giving, most definitely,” Joseph said. “He lost some form last year so we backed off of him and went back to some easier races. Once he found his form again he's been ultra-consistent. “Today's race worked in his favor. He sat in a perfect spot and after that he just did what he should. He's a good old gelding who's very solid, and even when he gets beat he shows up. In his last race, Sibelius just beat him. Mish likes Tampa, too, and today he came back here and won a stakes.” And when he walked back to his barn, his gray coat glistening with sweat, he donned the winner’s blanket with a pride and bearing that was kind of awesome to see. First-place money of $60,000 increased Mish’s career bankroll to $473,682. OCALA BREEDERS’ SALES SOPHOMORE JoAnn and Alex Lieblong’s colt Pure Class was somewhat overlooked by bettors in the eight-horse Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore. But trainer David Fawkes and jockey Paco Lopez sensed they were sitting on a horse ready to take off after winning his previous start, a 6-furlong conditional allowance on Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. “I talked to Paco before the race and said ‘What do you think?’ and he said ‘I want to be right off the pace and ask him turning for home,’ and that’s what he did,” Fawkes said. “This horse is still just learning. He’s not a slow learner and he’s doing great, but he’s still a big baby,” Fawkes said. And one with black stakes type to his credit. Pure Class paid $16.20 to win as the co-third wagering choice in the eight-horse field. Pure Class is a son of The Big Beast out of I’mclassyandsassy, by Master Command. He has three victories and three seconds from seven starts, and first-place earnings of $70,000 increased his bankroll to $176,140. His time for the 7-furlong distance was 1:23.77. Sugar Boy, the unbeaten (4-for-4) colt from Puerto Rico, finished second, with Everdoit third in his second race in eight days. Saybrook, making his third career start, ran creditably to hold fourth in the eight-horse field as the surprising 6-5 wagering favorite. Lopez has also been working Pure Class, and he thought that gave him an advantage today. “I felt comfortable with him, and I was confident he would respond when I asked him,” Lopez said. “He worked very good the last couple of times, and he’s doing better and better.” The race was the first outside OF Gulfstream Park for Pure Class.
HALLANDALE BEACH - D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s Hades, who captured the Feb. 3 Holy Bull (G3) breezed a half-mile in 50.21 seconds Friday morning in preparation for a return to action in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa March 30 at Gulfstream Park. Due to forecasts for heavy rain Friday and Saturday, trainer Joe Orseno opted to breeze Hades a day earlier than scheduled – a workout that was completed on Gulfstream’s fast main track. The 3-year-old gelded son of Awesome Slew will enter the Florida Derby undefeated in three starts. After rallying from far back to graduate at 5 ½ furlongs, Hades shook off heavy pressure in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance before drawing off to victory by six lengths. In the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Feb. 3, the Florida-bred gelding took control right from the start to set a pressured pace before again drawing off to win by two lengths.
“He has exceeded my expectations,” Orseno said, “even with today’s last breeze going into the Florida Derby. “He did everything perfect. He just handles himself very professional. He gets things easily where other horses struggle.” At Palm Beach Downs, Repole Stable’s Fierceness, who finished a troubled third as the 1-5 favorite in the Holy Bull, breezed a half-mile in 47.43 seconds over a fast track at Palm Beach Downs Friday morning. After working in company with Be You, a Grade 1-placed Repole stablemate who is coming off an optional claiming allowance win, Fierceness galloped out five-furlongs in 1:00.63 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. “It went very well,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He looked great.” Fierceness was voted 2023 Eclipse Award 2-year-old male champion after winning the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita by 6 ¼ lengths, rebounding from a disappointing performance in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct in his prior start. Notes: Frank DeLuca’s Frankie’s Empire, who finished third in the Fountain of Youth (G2) after winning the Swale (G3), breezed a half-mile in 48.02 seconds at Gulfstream Friday morning. The son of Classic Empire worked in company with Stonehedge LLC’s Davona Dale (G2) winner Fiona’s Magic, a leading prospect for the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) who was timed in 48.12. Both 3-year-olds are trained by Michael Yates. Jockey Jose Ortiz has been confirmed to ride Conquest Warrior in the Florida Derby after riding the Shug McGaughey-trained colt to back-to-back wins during the Championship Meet… Edwin Gonzalez will return aboard Fountain of Youth and Swale runner-up Le Dom Bro for trainer Eniel Cordero in the Florida Derby. Le Dom Bro breezed a half-mile in 49.45 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County Friday morning… Emisael Jaramillo has the mount on Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Grand Mo the First, who lost by a neck while finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
OLDSMAR - The tote shutdown following Saturday’s 10th race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade III Florida Oaks, occurred because of a communications outage between AmTote International and Roberts Communication Network (RCN), according to officials with both companies. AmTote, which is owned by 1/ST Racing, is a technology and services provider to numerous tracks, while RCN provides the communication link between AmTote and the racetracks. 1/ST Racing president Aidan Butler said that while AmTote remained operative late Saturday afternoon, both the primary and secondary links to the affected tracks went down. The crash led to wagering disruptions at numerous tracks and guest locations (simulcast facilities) through AmTote’s mid-Atlantic hub, which includes Tampa Bay Downs. Service was returned to normal Sunday. An investigation is ongoing. The outage led to a half-hour delay before the 11th race, the Grade III Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, and resulted in it being declared a non-wagering race. The scheduled 12th and final race, an allowance for fillies and mares, was cancelled by Tampa Bay Downs track management due to approaching darkness. “The loss of our tote system resulted from circumstances entirely out of our control,” said Peter Berube, the Oldsmar oval’s Vice President & General Manager. “During the delay, we remained hopeful that service could be restored, and the horses for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby were taken to the paddock to prepare to go on the racetrack. “As the delay grew in length, the skies turned overcast, leading to concerns about running the 12th race in near-darkness. For the safety of those horses and jockeys, we knew the only prudent decision was to cancel the race.” Berube said the conditions surrounding the delay of the track’s showcase race and the subsequent race cancellation were unprecedented in his experience. “Customer satisfaction and trust are at the foundation of our business, and anything that erodes that needs to be addressed,” Berube said. “We knew Saturday that most of our patrons were totally unaware of the circumstances that led to our decisions – they wanted to know why they couldn’t cash their tickets from the 10th and why they couldn’t bet on the last two races. “The situation was surreal, to say the least, and for it to happen on our biggest racing day of the meet was nightmarish. Fortunately, we had a fair and exciting running of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, producing a deserving winner in Domestic Product.” Many bettors have questioned why winning tickets purchased earlier Saturday on the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby could not be cashed by establishing pools based on monies already wagered, rather than having their wagers refunded. Berube replied that despite the early wagering that went on, the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby did not have anywhere near a full set of mutuel pools and wagers. Further, patrons could not wager on the race after the Florida Oaks had been run, nor could they cancel wagers made earlier. “Basically, the integrity of those pools would have been nonexistent,” he said. With hundreds of sites not being able to transmit wagers, calculate and receive updated odds information or stop betting, the decision to issue refunds on those wagers already made was deemed fairest for all involved. “When the shutdown took place, the pools for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby became compromised,” Berube said. “We sympathize with those bettors who would have won, but it’s conceivable the payoffs based on much-reduced pools could have caused bad feelings, also.” He added that the decision to pay off on multi-race wagers, such as Pick 3s, Pick 4s and Daily Doubles, by stipulating “ALL” winners of the 11th and 12th races was made in accordance with Florida parimutuel statutes, which are similar to nationwide standard rules whereby “no contest” or “no race” designations dictate awarding “ALL” runners as the “winners” for such legs.
Berube said he hopes transparency in dealing with the questions posed by Saturday’s incredible events will placate the majority of patrons who may have left Tampa Bay Downs with a sour taste in their mouths. Even though the track was not responsible for the tote shutdown, he will continue to push officials to determine the cause. “For us as a racetrack, the timing could not have been any worse,” he said. “But we want our customers to know we value their business and their input, and we plan to work even harder to satisfy them moving forward.
Hip No. 533, a son of Not This Time consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Agent was sold to Pro Racing Stable LLC, Agent, for $1.5-million to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, is a half brother to stakes placed Pammy’s Ready out of Pammy Whammy, by War Front, from the family of stakes winner My Mogul. Hip No. 494, a son of Flatter consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, went to Marquee Bloodstock for $1.3-million. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5, is out of Napier, by OBS champion graduate Midnight Lute, a half sister to grade one stakes winner Obligatory.
Hip No. 304, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, went to Justin Casse, Agent, for $750,000. The chestnut filly is out of High Heeled Girl, by Malibu Moon, a daughter of grade one stakes placed stakes winner High Heeled Hope.
Joey Platts paid $750,000 for Hip No. 529, a son of Tiz the Law also consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds. The bay colt, whose eighth in :9 3/5 was the day’s co-fastest, is out of graded stakes placed Our Majesty, by OBS graduate Majesticperfection, a half sister to stakes winner Overvalued.
Hip No. 445, a son of champion OBS graduate Mitole consigned Eddie Woods, Agent, went to Speedway Stables, LLC for $725,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who worked an eighth in :9 4/5, is a half brother to graded stakes wining OBS graduate Midnight Stroll out of Midnight Magic, by champion OBS graduate Midnight Lute.
Hip 526, a son of Gun Runner consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to Spendthrift Farm LLC & Frank Fletcher Racing for $725,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to graded stakes winner Sister OToole out of O’Toole, by Distorted Humor.
Hip No. 539, a son of Justify consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent, went to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing for $700,000. The bay colt, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was the day’s co-fastest, is out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Pauseforthecause, by Giant’s Causeway, a daughter of graded stakes placed stakes winner Sprightly.
Hip No. 421, a son of graded stakes winning OBS graduate Shancelot, consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was purchased by Bill Childs for $650,000. The dark bay or brown colt, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest, is out of Magnolias in Bloom, by Flatter, a half sister to stakes winner Quinoa Tifah.
Mitsu Nakauchida went to $600,000 for Hip No. 378, a son of Tapit consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds LLC (Steven Venosa), Agent. The chestnut colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of L’ Age d’Or, by Medaglia d’Oro, a daughter of grade one stakes winner Mona de Momma, dam of grade one stakes winner Vekoma.
Jet Horse LLC, Peter Miller, Agent, went to $600,000 for Hip No. 499, a daughter of Twirling Candy consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half sister to Thanks Mr. Eidson out of Nest Egg, by Eskendereya.
Hip No. 482, a daughter of Twirling Candy also consigned by Wavertree, was purchased for $575,000 by Saints or Sinners LLC. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5, is out of My Day, by Uncle Mo, from the family of graded stakes winner Declaration of War.
Hip No. 348, a son of Twirling Candy consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold for $550,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. The bay colt, who worked an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of Jotown, by Speightstown, a daughter of graded stakes winner Jojo Warrior.
Hip No. 370, a daughter of American Pharoah who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, was sold to Resolute Bloodstock for $525,000. The bay filly is a half sister to graded stakes winner Bellavais out of graded stakes winner La Cloche, by Ghostzapper.
Hip No. 554, a son of Laoban, who worked an eighth in :9 4/5, was purchased by Arthur Hoyeau, Agent, for $525,000 . The bay colt, consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent , is out of Princess Aspen, by Birdstone, a half sister to grade ones stakes winner Zazu.
Boardshorts Stables, LLC, paid $510,000 for Hip No. 386, a daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) who worked an eighth in :10 1/5. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, the dark bay or brown filly is a half sister to graded stakes winner Three Witches, recent winner of the Santa Monica Stakes (G2), out of Layreebelle, by Tale of the Cat.
Hip No. 453, Racing Withthemoon, a daughter of Munnings consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent for Peter J. Mirabelli, was sold to Resolute Bloodstock for $500,000. The dark bay or brown filly, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was the session’s co-fastest at the distance, is out of Miss Majestic, by Majestic Warrior, a daughter of graded stakes winner Cassidy.
Hip No. 325, a son of Improbable consigned by Majestic, Agent, went to James Divito, Agent for $475,000. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in a co-fastest :9 4/5, is out of stakes placed Inaugurate, by Empire Maker, from the family of graded stakes winner Top Rung.
Hip No. 290, a daughter of City of Light consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, was sold to Patricia’s Hope LLC for $435,000. The bay filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest, is out of Hassler (IRE), by War Front, a daughter of grade one stakes winning millionaire OBS graduate Turbulent Descent.
Hip No. 173, a son of Tapit consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent for the Complete Dispersal for Lothenbach Stables, Inc., went to West Point Thoroughbreds /D J Stable /C J, LEB Agent, for $1,200,000 to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The gray or roan colt, who galloped at the Under Tack Show, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner She Can’t Sing out of Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor.
Katsumi Yoshida went to $850,000 for Hip No. 183, consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Agent, a son of Not This Time who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. The dark bay or brown colt is out of Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy, a half-sister to stakes-winner China Grove.
Hip No. 89, a son of McKinzie consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to Bill Childs for $750,000. The bay colt, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest at the distance, is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Merveilleux out of Breech Inlet, by Holy Bull.
Hip No. 106, a son of Uncle Mo consigned by Pick View, Agent, was purchased for $750,00 by B S W / Crow Colts Group & Spendthrift Farm. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 is out of Canteen, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Lady Melisi.
Woodford Thoroughbreds went to $700,000 for Hip No. 26, a daughter of Munnings consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent. The bay filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was the day’s co-fastest, is a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Denman’s Call, out of Ansaam by Bernardini.
Hip No. 202, a son of OBS graduate Into Mischief consigned by Old South Farm, Agent, was sold to Muir Hut Stables for $700,000. The bay colt, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of graded stakes-winner Electric Forest, by Curlin, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Forest Music.
Hip No. 267, a son of Curlin consigned by Pick View, Agent, went to On The Run Racing for $500,000. The bay colt, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5, is a half-brother to Gr. I stakes-winning OBS March graduate My Conquestadory out of stakes-placed Golden Artemis, by Malibu Moon.
Hip No. 17 a son of McKinzie consigned by Kings Equine, Agent, was sold for $450,000 to Jones / Everett, for Belmar Racing, RA Hill & Gargan Racing. The dark bay or brown colt, who turned in a co-fastest Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, is out of stakes-winner Altamura, by Artie Schiller, from the family of graded stakes-winner Private Creed.
C H P Racing paid $450,000 for Hip No. 222, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Fierce Scarlett, by Scat Daddy, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Thank U Philippe.
Hip No. 30, a daughter of Bernardini consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, was sold to Simon Callaghan, Agent, for $400,000. The bay filly is out of Arbanne, by Midshipman, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Condo Commando.
Hip No. 45, a son of Nyquist consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was purchased for $380,000 by Bradley Thoroughbreds for Rodeo Creek Racing. The chestnut colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Bashful, by Orb, a half- sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Left a Message.
Hip No. 14, a son of Omaha Beach consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $350,000, The bay colt, who worked an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show, is out of All Dressed Up, by Super Saver, a daughter of stakes-winner Dress the Part.
Whitehorse Stables went to $350,000 for Hip No. 191, a son of Global Campaign consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Absolute One out of Driving Rain, by Storm Cat.
For the session, 153 horses sold for $20,844,000, compared with 149 horses grossing $21,110,500 at last year’s first session. The average price was $136,235, compared with $141,681 a year ago, while the median price was $72,000 compared with $70,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 26.4 %; it was 22.8% in 2023.
HALLANDALE BEACH - The overnight purses during Gulfstream Park’s upcoming Spring/Summer Meet will receive significant increases from top to bottom over a season ago. Come April, upon the conclusion of the 2023-2024 Championship Meet, purses will be boosted in all categories from open handicaps to $6,250 claiming races with conditions. Gulfstream will race four days a week in April, May and June and three days from July through November. There will be turf racing throughout the spring and summer. The new and historic workers compensation plan will offer significant savings. The workers compensation program provides all state coverage with the exception of New York, California, Ohio, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. “We expect the increase in purses, the new workers compensation program, and year-round turf racing will continue to strengthen Gulfstream’s overall program,” said Bill Badgett, Executive Director of Florida Racing Operations for Gulfstream Park. “With the increased purses, grass racing and our workers compensation program, Gulfstream is now the summer place to be,” said FTHA President Joe Orseno. “We are able to offer better purses and we hope this will encourage trainers and owners to keep horses at Gulfstream Park through the non-championship meet. A big thank you to 1/ST management and the FTHA purse committee for negotiating this competitive purse structure.” Open handicaps, which were contested for $60,000 last season, will offer purses worth $74,000. The purse for a $6,250 claiming race with conditions will be increased from $17,000 to $20,000. Open allowance races will offer purses $10,000 higher than 2023 levels, ranging from $61,000 to $63,000. Entry-level allowance races for Florida-breds will see a $5,000 increase from $43,000 to $48,000.
Starter allowance purses will be increased from3,000 to $9,000, ranging from $25,000 to $49,000. Maiden special weight races will also be increased by $10,000 to $60,000. Maiden special weight races for Florida-breds will see increases from $40,000 to $48,000. A maiden race for $12,500 claiming horses will get a boost of $6,000 to $25,000. The purse for a $50,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds will be increased by $9,000 to $44,000.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool yielded multiple payoffs of $35,544 Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for 17 days following a Feb. 8 jackpot hit, leaving a pool carryover of $834,368 heading into Sunday’s wagering. A total of $5,110,271 was bet on the sequence that spanned Races 6-11. The winning combination was4-6-8-6-12-12. On mandatory-payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence. The carryover jackpot is usually only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winner, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. The Rainbow 6 will start anew Wednesday. Who’s Hot: Paco Lopez notched a three-win day, doubling aboard Macuto ($18.80) in Race 2 and St. Pat’s Day ($21.20) in Race 8 before scoring aboard American Diamond ($22) in Race 10. Jose Ortiz made two trips to the winner’s circle aboard Movin’ On Top ($4.60) in Race 5 and Sedona ($5.40) in Race 7.
Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won three races, connecting with Speed Control ($5.60) in Race 1, Movin’ On Up ($4.60) in Race 5, and American Diamond ($22) in Race 10.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Dornoch, a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, made a significant step along the Road to the Triple Crown Saturday at Gulfstream Park, scoring a commanding victory in the $400,000, Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park as the 1-5 favorite. The 78th running of the Fountain of Youth, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds that serves as a key prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby on March 30, headlined a spectacular 14-race program that featured nine stakes, eight graded. Dornoch has earned 60 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby after collecting 50 in the Fountain of Youth. “We could run in the Florida Derby or the Blue Grass (at Keeneland April 6),” trainer Danny Gargan said. “We’re lucky enough now where we can pick our spot. Sixty points usually gets you in, so now we’re on cruise control. We’ll figure out where we want to go next and try to enjoy this for a minute.” The Fountain of Youth field was reduced to five when Speak Easy was scratched after unseating jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and running off directly following the post parade. The field had already lost Merit, who finished second behind Conquest Warrior in a Friday optional claiming allowance, as well as Locked, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, and Victory Avenue, who finished second behind Speak Easy in his debut, both of whom were withdrawn Saturday morning. Owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables, Dornoch took advantage of the scratch of Speak Easy, who showed brilliant speed in a highly promising debut victory on Jan. 27. The son of Good Magic rounded the first turn outside 25-1shot Le Dom Bro, before taking the lead for good at the top of the backstretch under Luis Saez. Real Macho was kept in relatively close pursuit by Tyler Gaffalione as Dornoch set fractions of :24.39 and :48.14 for the first half-mile. As Real Macho dropped back, Le Dom Bro tried to make a race of it again leaving the turn into the stretch under Edwin Gonzalez, but Dornoch remained strong in the stretch run to win by 1 ¾ lengths. “We didn’t want to be on the lead but when [Speak Easy] scratched, he gets out there and he kind of plays around. You can see him with his ears kind of goofing off. I told Luis, ‘Just go ahead and go,” Gargan said. “We had no choice. We really wanted to stalk today, it just didn’t work out that way. He won fine enough. Surely it won’t be his fastest race. We didn’t expect to win today. It just kind of played out that way. I don’t think he ran very hard. He was just kind of playing around out there.” Dornoch, who ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.64, was making his 2024 debut after capturing the Dec. 2, Gr. II Remsen at Aqueduct, fighting back to score a nose decision over Sierra Leone, who won the Gr. II Risen Star at Fair Grounds in his 3-year-old debut. “I was very confident. I had a lot of horse,” Saez said. “I knew he was going to give me another gear. He always does. He’s just a good horse. I’m very happy.” Co-owner R. A. Hill went into the Fountain of Youth with confidence in Dornoch. “I wasn’t that worried to be honest. We got lucky with the scratches, but I was pretty confident all along. I think this horse is the real deal,” Hill said. “He won today, Luis stood up about halfway down the stretch. We get the two scratches, which of course was lucky, but you got to run against who’s in the game. We’ll probably run in the Florida Derby or the Blue Grass. It’s up to Danny.” Le Dom Bro, a son of Mucho Macho Man who had finished second in the seven-furlong Swale on Feb. 3 after he finished ninth behind Dornoch in the Remsen, held second, a neck in front of Frankie’s Empire, the Swale winner who chased the top two throughout the race.
“I’m really happy. The horse ran good,” Le Dom Bro’s trainer Eniel Cordero said. “I talked to Edwin, and I said to get some position and then go. He’s a good horse. The more distance the better for him. I’ll talk to the owner and see what’s next. We have a good horse.”
HALLANDALE BEACH - Bridlewood Farm homebred Palace Zip, a first-time starter by Palace Malice, came with a steady run down the center of the track to surge past Reina Mar and Mi Amore and give trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. his 1,000th career win in Sunday’s finale at Gulfstream Park. Ridden by Edgard Zayas and sent off the 5-2 favorite in a field of eight, Palace Zip ($7) covered 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather Tapeta in 1:43.58 to capture the maiden claimer for 3-year-old fillies. It was Joseph’s lone starter on Sunday’s program. “It’s amazing,” Joseph said after being recognized and posing for photos in a winner’s circle ceremony. “I remember the first one and here we are at 1,000. The first probably 200 took five or six years and it was a struggle, and the last 800 have come pretty quickly. We’ve gotten the opportunities from the owners and that’s what you need. Without the owners, you can’t do it. There’s no trainer without horses, and the owners produce the horses.”
A native of Barbados, the 37-year-old Joseph has won eight consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park since finishing second during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. He has led the nation’s premiere winter gathering each of the past two years, dethroning 18-time winner and Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. Joseph is on track for a third straight Championship Meet title, leading the 2023-2024 stand in wins (47), starters (223) and purses earned ($2.37 million). Among his victories are six stakes-winners, including O’Connor in the Gr. III Harlan’s Holiday, R Harper Rose in the Gr. III Forward Gal and Honor D Lady in the Gr. III Royal Delta. Married with two children, Joseph is a third-generation horseman following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. At the age of 22, he became the youngest trainer to win the Barbados Triple Crown with Areutalkintome in 2009. Joseph came to the U.S. two years later and finished seventh with his first starter, Go Zapper, on April 10, 2011 at Tampa Bay Downs. His first win came on June 19, 2011 at Calder Race Course with Artefacto, and he saddled his first stakes- winner, Saraguaro, in the 2015 Foolish Pleasure at Gulfstream Park. Math Wizard, a horse he claimed for $25,000, put Joseph on the national stage by winning the 2019, Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby, the trainer’s first graded stakes victory. Joseph has 33 career graded triumphs including Gr. 1 success with White Abarrio in the 2022 Florida Derby, Mischevious Alex in the Carter Handicap and Drain the Clock in the Woody Stephens, both in 2021. Joseph set career highs with 201 wins in 2021 and $10.66 million in purse earnings last year. He has trained three millionaires – Skippylongstocking, Math Wizard and White Abarrio – and has ranked in the top 12 nationally in wins and/or purse earnings since 2020. Other top horses trained by Joseph include multiple graded-stakes winners O’Connor, Officiating and Tonalist’s Shape, as well as Three Witches, last year’s winner of Gulfstream’s Gr. III Princess Rooney who went on to be third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. “We’re only as good as what the owners give us. That’s what makes trainers,” Joseph said. “We have to take care of them with the staff, and that’s what makes me. I’m one person that is head of 80 people that make me and make us as a unit. It’s not just me, it’s a credit to the whole staff. It’s a whole crew that makes this success possible and I’m very thankful to be in this position.”
(Joe and Helen Barbazon and their Pleasant Acres Stallions were well-represented in various ways at the big day of racing at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday. Leinster, who stands at the farm, had both featured stakes races named after him; Jordi's Dream, third in the $100,000 Leinster Lightning City Stakes is by Pleasant Acres' red-hot stallion, Neolithic; and Extendo, second by a neck in the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash stakes is by former Pleasant Acres stallion Handsome Mike and was bred by the Barbazons in partnership with Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson).
OLDSMAR - Few sounds you’ll hear are as joyous, and filled with love and gratitude, or as loud as the high-pitched yells coming from trainer Douglas Nunn after his 8-year-old gelding Smithwick’s Spice hung on under jockey Daniel Centeno to win the 21st running of the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs by a neck from Extendo.
Nunn trained the winner’s dam, Spicy McHaggis, and his siblings. He has always believed in Smithwick’s Spice, but had doubts about entering him against the quality of competition in the Leinster Turf Dash.
“I liked him cutting back in distance today (following a good second going 1 1/16-mile earlier this month at Gulfstream Park), but these were not just New Jersey-bred horses,” Nunn said once his state of near-hysteria subsided. “I was all ready to scratch him, but the owner (New Spice Stable’s Robert Matthies) said let’s take a shot. “He had never run against the big boys, and I didn’t want to take his heart away. But he showed he can run with the big boys,” added Nunn, who broke Smithwick’s Spice as a yearling. In the co-feature on the Turf Sprint Showcase Day card, Play the Music overcame early trouble to win the $100,000 Leinster Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares under jockey Antonio Gallardo. Smithwick’s Spice’s time for the 5 furlongs on the grass was :55.98 seconds. Yes I Am Free, the wagering favorite, flattened out in the stretch and finished third, a half-length behind Extendo and ¾-lengths ahead of Thealligatorhunter. Storm the Court, the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, was a late scratch. Smithwick’s Spice paid $14.20 to win. He improved to 10-for-40 lifetime and the winner’s share of $45,000 raised his career earnings to $508,847. His only other stakes victory came in the 2022 Joey P. Handicap at Monmouth Park. Once Smithwick’s Spice showed Centeno he wanted the lead, the jockey rolled with the veteran campaigner and was richly rewarded. “He fought the entire way. I’ve ridden him before and he’s always run good for me,” Centeno said. “When I turned for home I saw (Antonio) Gallardo (on Yes I Am Free) outside me and I thought, he’s not going to go by me. My horse likes to fight, and he ran big today.” The victory was the first for Nunn at the meet from 15 starts. “The reason I’m still here doing this is this horse,” Nunn said after rejoicing with his wife, Maria Claire Van Sant. “When this horse retires, I’ll retire. He doesn’t want to retire yet, so I guess I’m going to keep on going. “When you hang a bridle on some horses, it’s hard because they don’t always give you what they have. This horse has given everything he has from Day 1,” Nunn added, tears flowing freely. In the 21st running of the Leinster Lightning City Stakes, supplemental entry Play the Music launched an impressive stretch rally under Gallardo and rolled to a 2 ½-length victory from the other supplemental entry in the race, Howboutdemapples. Pace-setter Jordi’s Dream, a 50-1 shot, held on well for third. Covenant Lady closed well to be fourth. A scary moment occurred earlier in the stretch run when betting favorite Just a Care bumped with Howboutdemapples while trying to angle between rivals, causing Just a Care’s jockey Samy Camacho to lose his balance and fall from his mount. Camacho, the track’s leading jockey, walked back to the jockeys’ room after laying on the turf for about 2-3 minutes and was able to return to ride Sky’s Not Falling in the Leinster Turf Dash. Earlier in the race at about the 3/8-mile pole, Just a Care and Camacho came over on Play the Music while seeking position on the turn, forcing Gallardo to check sharply. But he was able to swing Play the Music outside, and from there the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred made quick work of her rivals en route to her fourth victory and first stakes triumph from 10 starts. Play the Music is owned by Glassman Racing and trained by Mark Casse. Her time for the 5-furlong distance was :55.98 seconds, .89 seconds off Jean Elizabeth’s 2020 stakes record. The 4-year-old Just a Care finished with good energy while riderless and was reported to be in good shape after returning to the backside. But her difficulties didn’t detract from the quality of Play the Music’s victory. “(Casse’s assistant, Jimmy Miranda) told me this filly was ready, and that’s what she showed,” Gallardo said. “Thank God I could put her in gear again after getting checked. She gave me everything and I was able to get her in the clear and into the race.” Play the Music had won her previous race, a 7 ½-furlong turf event on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, but this may have been her best career performance. “Antonio had her tucked inside early, which was perfect,” Miranda said. “Then he was able to swing her outside and get her in the clear to make her run. If you read Chapter 7, that’s what it says to do.”
OLDSMAR - By Saturday afternoon, the waiting will be over for 18 turf sprinters primed to show their best stuff against stakes competition. Postponed last week by a rainy weather forecast that lived up to its billing, the $100,000 Leinster Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward and the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash for horses 4-and-upward will be held on the Tampa Bay Downs turf course.
Saturday's weather forecast calls for plenty of sunshine, with temperatures reaching the upper 60s. Both 5-furlong races have drawn nine horses, with 4-year-old filly Awesome Pic a “main track only” entrant in the Leinster Lightning City, which is scheduled as the seventh race. The Leinster Turf Dash is the ninth race. The first of 10 races begins at 12:18 . Saturday's card also includes the third legs of the Tampa Turf Test, as starter handicap event for older horses of both sexes which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2023-24. The distance of both Tampa Turf Test races is a mile-and-an-eighth.
The field for the Leinster Turf Dash is headed by a pair of graded stakes-winners, Yes I Am Free and Storm the Court. Yes I Am Free, an 8-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Golden Kernel Racing Stable and trained by Laura Cazares, has earned more than $750,000 in his career, highlighted by victories in the Gr. III Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes in 2022 and 2023. Antonio Gallardo has been named to ride Yes I Am Free.
Storm the Court has two lifetime victories from 24 starts, but one came in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2019 at Santa Anita. The 7-year-old’s career earnings exceed $1.4-million. Owned by David A. Bernsen, Susanna Wilson and Peter Eurton and trained by William E. Morey, Storm the Court has finished second in two Tampa Bay Downs starts, both at the Leinster Turf Dash distance. Pablo Morales is the jockey. Another likely contender is Sky’s Not Falling, a hard-knocking 6-year-old gelding owned by R. Larry Johnson and R. D. M. Racing Stable and trained by Michael Trombetta. Samy Camacho has been named to ride. Sky’s Not Falling has won almost $400,000 in his career, highlighted by a victory in the 2022 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Stakes at Laurel. The Leinster Lightning City appears to be a wide-open affair. The field includes two stakes-winners: Boo Boo Kitty, owned by Rice Racing and trained by Kevin Rice, and She’s My Warrior, owned by Peter Mattson and Tim Padilla and trained by Padilla. Boo Boo Kitty, a 5-year-old Florida-bred mare, will be ridden by Morales. She won the 2022 Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs, but will be making her first start in more than 16 months.
She’s My Warrior, a 5-year-old owned by Peter Mattson and Tim Padilla and trained by Padilla, is a two-time stakes-winner at Canterbury Park in Minnesota. She will be ridden by Alonso Quinonez.