HALLANDALE BEACH - C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos breezed a half-mile this morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a desired start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Florida-bred colt, who finished third in both the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby and $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth 1 at Gulfstream, sits 21st in the qualifying points standings for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old son of Neolithic will need a defection from the current Top 20 to run in the 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses. Neoequos worked in company with Mr. Narcissistic and finished on even terms with his veteran stablemate in 48.43 seconds, the fastest four-furlong clocking of the morning. “It went good. He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance,” Joseph said. “It went well. He’s in good form.” Joseph reported that Neoequos will ship to Churchill Downs Friday morning. “We feel like we can get into the Derby, but if he doesn’t get in, he’ll run in one of the other races Derby Day,” he said. If unsuccessful drawing into the Derby field, Neoequos would run in either the Gr. I American Turf or the Gr. II Pat Day Mile on the undercard.
“Right now, we’re leaning to the American Turf, but the Pat Day Mile, I’d say, is also in contention,” said Joseph. Flavien Prat will be named on Neoequos and would ride him in the Derby unless Baeza, who sits 23rd in the points standings, also drew into the field.
Neoequos’ career got off to a rocky start last July when he stumbled and lost his rider early in his debut at five furlongs. The Florida-bred colt bounced back to graduate in his next start before finishing second in the first two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series behind undefeated Rated by Merit, who produced the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (99) of all 2025 juveniles in the seven-furlong FSS Affirmed.
Neoequos was sharp off a layoff to win a Jan. 23 allowance by 3 ½ lengths before finishing third behind Sovereignty and River Thames in the 1 1/16-mile Coolmore Fountain of Youth and again in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby behind Tappan Street and Sovereignty, both of whom are Kentucky Derby-bound. Joseph-trained Early On has secured a start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill on the strength of a second-place finish in the March 15 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs and a runner-up finish in the April 5 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. The New York-bred daughter of Union Rags graduated at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut on Feb. 5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 13 at Gulfstream Park. Originally scheduled for last Sunday, the multi-race wager’s mandatory payout was postponed due to heavy rains and windy conditions that forced the cancellation of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet’s closing-day card following Race 5. The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the fifth day on Thursday’s Royal Palm Meet’s opening-day program. Today’s Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $450,000. The sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta carded as Race 7, in which Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Time Passage will make her 2025 debut. The 5-year-old daughter of Tunwoo, who will run for a $62,500 claiming tag, has won three stakes on the all-weather surface. Kevin Rice-trained Ms. Tart enters the feature with a victory while cutting back to 5 ½ furlongs last time out. Silks to Open at 9 a.m. for Dubai World Cup Card Simulcast The doors of the Silks simulcast center will open at 9 a.m. Saturday for the convenience of fans wishing to watch and wager on the $30 million Dubai World Cup Day program. Gulfstream will be represented by Il Miracolo, Super Chow and Steal Sunshine at Meydan Racecourse. Antonio Sano-trained Il Miracolo, a multiple graded-stakes winner who’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, will run in the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the 1 ¼-mile feature that is scheduled to close out the action at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
Jorge Delgado-trained Super Chow, a multiple graded stakes-winner who captured the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in his 2025 debut, will be reunited with jockey Chantal Sutherland in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a six-furlong test for older horses with an 11:40 a.m. post time. Bobby Dibona-conditioned Steal Sunshine, a Grade 2 winner who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, will run in the $1 million Godolphin Mile, a stakes for older horses that is slated for 9:45 a.m.
Mark Casse trainee and OBS graduate Sandman (Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) used the final Saturday in March to book his plans for the first Saturday in May when he rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $1.5 million, Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, headlining a weekend that saw three OBS grads earn graded stakes victories. Sandman took advantage of wicked early fractions to unleash his closing kick and collected 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The son of Tapit notched his third win in eight lifetime starts and improved his lifetime earnings to $1,254,595. “I couldn’t believe it, actually (early fractions),” Casse told the Oaklawn publicity team. “I said: ‘Well, they’ll have to be superstars to keep going.’ The farther they went, the more confident I was."
A $1.2 million purchase at the 2024 OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training sale, Sandman races for D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables. He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin as part of a complete dispersal for his breeder, Lothenbach Stables. The busy slate of stakes across the country on March 29 also saw C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) make a triumphant return from his victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational with a handy 5 ¼-length score in the $165,000, Gr. III Ghostzapper over fellow Gr. 1-winning OBS grad Power Squeeze at Gulfstream Park.
White Abarrio, who had captured the Pegasus World Cup by 6 ¼ lengths, is scheduled to run next in the Gr. I Met Mile on June 7 at Saratoga. A two-time OBS graduate, White Abarrio was sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5. At Santa Anita Park, CSLR Racing Partners’ Pilot Commander (Justify-Rebuke, by Carson City) earned his first stakes win when he prevailed in the $100,000, Gr. III San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs. A 4-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert, he was purchased by his owners for $700,000 out of the 2025 OBS March sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after breezing in :9 4/5. Other OBS graduates who earned stakes victories: March 29: Appleton Stakes: Brad Grady and David Grund’s Seminole Chief (Girvin – Secret Song, by Dunkirk) earned his second stakes victory when he annexed the $165,000 Appleton at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Seminole Chief was consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, to the 2023 OBS June Sale and sold to HND Bloodstock for $80,000 after breezing in :10 1/5. March 30: Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes: Macho Music (Maclean’s Music-Southern Girl, by Tapit) drew off to an 11 ¼-length victory over fellow OBS graduate P Four to take the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore going seven furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs, lowering the former stakes mark of 1:22.13 set in 2011 by Manicero to 1:21.30. Macho Music is owned by Mark Fletcher Taylor, Rohan Crichton and Daniel L. Walters and trained by Crichton. The partners purchased him for $60,000 from the Pick View consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after breezing in :10 2/5. Sophomore Fillies Stakes: Win N Your In (Win Win Win-Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True) powered to a 7-length victory in the $110,000 Sophomore Fillies Stakes over fellow OBS graduate Bella Cleopatra at Tampa Bay Downs. The victory was the fourth from nine lifetime starts for Win N Your In, who is owned by Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston, and her third stakes victory. Trained by Carlos David, she was purchased by Johnson for $12,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
One day after being the underbidder on the session topper, agents John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto were able to snag the most sought-after offering yet during a strong second session of the 2025 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Bidding on behalf of owner Sean Flanagan, Kimmel and Sallusto stretched themselves just beyond the million-dollar mark when they landed a bay daughter of champion Good Magic for $1.1 million, the highest priced horse to sell during the first two days of the OBS March sale. Catalogued as Hip 486, the Good Magic filly was one of two horses to crack the seven-figure barrier on Wednesday with the other being Hip 404, a bay colt by Independence Hall who sold to JPM Bloodstock for $1 million. Having been outbid Tuesday on Hip 119, a bay colt by freshman sire Maxfield who brought $1 million, Kimmel and Sallusto were diligent in their pursuit of the Good Magic filly, who breezed in :9 4/5 during the under tack show. Consigned by Top Line Sales, LLC, Agent, the filly is from the female family of champion Escena and is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Rose Mine. “We got outbid on the Maxfield yesterday…but this filly was the highest graded filly I saw,” Kimmel said. “These good fillies that breeze well and have the physical that she has, you really have to pay for. Her physical attributes are something where if you could produce offspring that look like her, she’ll be a hell of a broodmare. I’ve had many good fillies over the years and this filly exudes that kind of quality.” The Good Magic filly highlighted an exceptional day for Top Line Sales as they led all consignors with nine sold for a total of $4,060,000, including the day’s third highest price, Hip 343, a bay colt by Charlatan purchased by trainer Brad Cox on behalf of Prime Bloodstock for $660,000. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the stakes winning Street Sense mare Miss Interpret and hails from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winners Paulassilverlining and Dads Caps. “We’re having a great day. A lot of it was how the horses drew up in the catalogue,” said Jimbo Gladwell of Top Line Sales. “We just had some excellent horses go on the second day of the breeze show. The sale seems a lot more positive today, some faster times and a little more for the buyers to look after. It’s a good vibe around here and things are going well. “The Good Magic filly, everyone on the sales grounds loved her. She’s just been a queen. We had high hopes. You never know if they’re going to go for a million, but we were very happy with the price.” The Independence Hall colt was the first to hit seven figures on the day with JPM Bloodstock prevailing in a spirited bidding duel. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, the colt is out of the winning stakes-placed Harlan’s Holiday mare Orecchiette, an OBS graduate, and will head to trainer Mark Glatt in California to begin his on-track career. “It makes me nervous (with a first-crop sire) because you never know which way they’re going to go but we looked up (Independence Hall) and he ran very, very fast - he was consistently fast in all his races,” Glatt said. “At these 2-year-old sales, you’re here to buy the best athlete you possibly can. You look at the pedigree but we’re here to buy what we think are the best athletes. I’m extremely excited (to have the colt in the barn). Hopefully it was all worth it.” The colt showcased his talent when he breezed in :9 4/5 during the under tack show. In addition to the time itself, Woods said the way the colt moved during the breeze is what helped make him a standout. “The best thing about this horse was that if you look at his video, it’s spectacular,” Woods said. “It almost gets better every time you look at it. He gets quicker and quicker and quicker in the work, he looked wonderful. He vetted well and he’s beyond handsome.” Wednesday’s session saw 10 horses sell for $550,000 or more including: Hip 325, a chestnut colt by Midshipman consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, Agent, and purchased by Kimmel & Sallusto for Flanagan Racing, LLC for $650,000. The colt, who breezed in :20 2/5 – tying for the fastest time of the day at the distance - is out of the Line of David mare Meetmeonline, who is a half sister to graded stakes winner, sire, and OBS graduate Bucchero. Hip 498, a bay colt by Tiz the Law consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent and purchased by Hideyuki Mori for $610,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, hails from the female family of Grade 1 winner Vicar and is out of the winning First Samurai mare Saucy Symphony. Hip 405, a dark bay or brown filly by Bolt d’Oro consigned by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon and Ali Rice), Agent and purchased by AMO Racing USA LLC for $600,000. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, hails from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Affirmed Success and is out of the stakes-placed Fed Biz mare Orquidias Biz, an OBS March graduate. Hip 491, a bay colt by Authentic consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent and purchased for $600,000 by Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Congrats mare Rumandice and is from the female family of Grade 1 winners Albertus Maximus and Daredevil. Hip 392, a dark bay or brown colt by Good Magic consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent and purchased by Yoshihisa Ozasa for $575,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Flatter mare Nightlife Baby, who has produced two winners from four to race. Hip 295, a bay filly by Tiz the Law consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc (Ciaran Dunne) who breezed in :9 4/5. The filly was purchased for $550,000 by Three Amigos and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Lucky Song, a daughter of graded stakes winner Caminadora. Hip 419, a bay colt by Tapit consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent and purchased by Spendthrift Farm and Epic Racing for $550,000. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Violence mare Peace Corps, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Her Smile.
Wednesday’s session saw 143 head sell for $22,998,500, just a tick off last year’s second session which generated $23,976,000 from 156 head sold. The session average of $160,829 was up from $153,692 in 2024 while the median dipped to $70,000, down from $75,000 last year.
A total of 31 horses failed to meet their reserve during the second session for an RNA rate of 17.8%. Last year’s RNA rate for the session was 26%. Overall, the total gross through the first two days of selling came in at $39,588,000 from 269 sold, down from $45,835,000 from 323 sold in 2024. The average of $147,167 is up from $141,904 in 2024 with the median of $70,000 is equal to this point last year. Top Line Sales leads all consignors through the first two days with 15 sold for $5,390,000. Kimmel and Sallusto for Flanagan Racing, LLC lead all buyers by gross with two purchased for $1,750,000.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Godolphin’s Sovereignty made a last-to-first sweep to overtake previously undefeated River Thames nearing the finish of Saturday’s $415,000, Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. The son of Into Mischief, who closed out his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Gr. III Street Sense at Churchill Downs, stamped himself as a most promising prospect for the Triple Crown campaign while winning his 2025 debut by a neck. The 79th running of the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds offered qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
Sovereignty ($8.40) settled into stride as Neoequos was rushed out of the starting gate by Irad Ortiz Jr. to challenge River Thames for the lead and take early command entering the backstretch. Neoequos set fractions of :23.12 and :47.07 seconds for the first half-mile while the long-striding Sovereignty continued to trail the six-horse field. John Velazquez asked River Thames and the son of Maclean’s Music put in his challenge to the pacesetter on the far turn. Meanwhile, jockey Junior Alvarado also asked Sovereignty for his run, and the strapping colt responded, making a three-wide sweep to loom boldly while passing a struggling 9-5 favorite Burnham Square. Neoequos maintained a lead at the top of the stretch before River Thames changed leads and took charge in mid-stretch, only to be caught late by the fast-closing Sovereignty. “It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “Fortunately, we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration.” Sovereignty, who broke his maiden in his third career start in the Street Sense, ran 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.12 to provide Alvarado with his second Fountain of Youth win, joining Mohaymen (2016). “I was just trying to give him a good race,” Alvarado said. “We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground, but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be, so I thought, ‘let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside.’ I was already riding him a little bit and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.” The $1 million, Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream is a strong possibility for Sovereignty’s next start on the Triple Crown trail. “We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track,” Mott said. “Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.” WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.’s River Thames, the 2-1 second betting choice, was making his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth following a pair of dominating races to launch his career during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet. “He kind of got to looking around a little bit late. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home, and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race.” River Thames finished 2 ½ lengths clear of Neoequos, who finished a neck ahead of Burnham Square, the impressive Holy Bull winner last time out but who was never a factor in the Fountain of Youth. “He didn't break that good, like always," said Burnham Square's jockey, Edgard Zayas. "Last time, he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn't there. He's just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again. At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn't get beat by much. I thought, ‘wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch.’ He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he's going to keep improving.”
At the beginning of the 1979-80 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, when the track was still known as Florida Downs and Sam F. Davis was the president, Sam hired Ocalan David Goldman to act as publicity, advertising and marketing director for the Oldsmar track. David had years of experience in the field in New England, and then at old Tropical Park, Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park in South Florida.
At the time, before the advent of simulcasting, the track was averaging less than $300,000 a day in handle and Sam was determined to do something about it. Aside from his salary, Sam told David he would give him a bonus of $10,000 if David could get Florida Downs over the $300,000 mark. David's first move was to have the maintenance crew nail signs on telephone poles all over town giving directions to the track. The track announcer then was a young Tom Durkin, destined to become one of the nation's best a short time later.
Among the new ideas David came up with was to name races after many of the local personalities from newspapers, TV and radio stations and invite them to present the winner's trophy after their respective races. It generated a great deal of publicity from each of the media organizations when their presenter's race came up.
(Another genius idea David instituted was to hire a racing writer named Bernie Dickman to conduct handicapping seminars on the ground floor, first on Saturdays and years later on Sundays after Sunday racing was approved).
With two weeks remaining in the meeting, which ended in April in those days, the daily average handle was up to about $309,000 a day and the bonus appeared to be safe. But - it was that time when the snowbirds began heading north, and by closing day the average dropped to $297,000. Goodbye bonus.
Then, the track was turned over to Stella Thayer and George Steinbrenner for the 1980-81 season and it became Tampa Bay Downs, with myriad improvements. That partnership lasted six years before Mrs. Thayer bought out the New York Yankees owner, and the track has prospered ever since, becoming one of the simulcasting leaders in the country.
On Sam F. Davis day a few weeks ago, with a crowd of 5,401, there was on-track handle of $552,673, while ITW handle reached $419,695 and ISW handle an eye-opening $11,198,488. That's an all-sources figure of $12,170,856. The same day, Gulfstream's all-sources handle was $11,853,973.
Sam F. Davis would be proud. So would David Goldman.
As the old Virginia Slims commercial used to say, "You've come a long way, baby."
HALLANDALE BEACH - Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square, exiting an eye-catching maiden win at the course and distance four weeks ago, proved that effort was no fluke by putting away favored front-runner Tappan Street at the top of the stretch and edging clear for a 1 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $265,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The 36th running of the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull headlined a 12-race program featuring five stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds worth $925,000 in purses anchored by Eclatant’s rallying triumph in the $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Forward Gal (G3) for fillies.
Other stakes Saturday saw Vixen register a popular victory in the $165,000 Sweetest Chant and California shipper Charlie’s to Blame take the $165,000 Kitten’s Joy on the turf, and Gate to Wire spring a 13-1 upset in the $165,000 Swale sprinting seven furlongs on the main track.
The second step on Gulfstream’s road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29, preceded by the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man, the Holy Bull offered Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the first five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.
Burnham Square completed the distance in 1:43.60 over a fast main track to capture his stakes debut. It was the second straight win for the gelded bay son of Liam’s Map since adding blinkers to his training and racing equipment. “The key is the blinkers. I had to put the blinkers on because he wasn’t helping me at all. I had to help him,” winning trainer Ian Wilkes said. “He wouldn’t help the jockey. He wouldn’t start running in the race. He’d run away from horses, wouldn’t run into the dirt. He did everything wrong.” Appearing somewhat anxious before the race, Burnham Square broke evenly and settled in fourth position as 13-1 longshot Kinetic Control quickly established command from his rail post and went in 23.42 seconds for the opening quarter-mile. Mucho Macho Man winner Guns Loaded pressed in his outside in second, with Ferocious – making his highly anticipated season debut – racing third. Guns Loaded took over the top spot as Kinetic Control began to retreat following a half-mile in 47.60 seconds, with Ferocious holding third and million-dollar yearling and 8-5 favorite Tappan Street gaining ground into fourth. Tappan Street inherited the lead after going six furlongs in 1:11.69 but Edgard Zayas was following his move around the far turn on Burnham Square, setting his sights on the leader. “Last time he broke a little sharp, so I really thought he’d break a little sharp and be close to the pace, but I feel like he was a little worked up before the race, a little nervous, so he broke out of there a little slow and I had to go to Plan B,” Zayas said. “I dropped to the rail and let him do his thing. He’s a horse that doesn’t get tired, has a really good stride, steady. Once I was closing in on the quarter pole, I knew I had a really good shot of winning.”
Burnham Square straightened for home with full momentum and surged past Tappan Street, digging in to hit the wire 1 ¾ lengths in front. It was another 9 ¼ lengths back to Burning Glory in third, followed by Ferocious, He’s Not Joking, Kinetic Control and Guns Loaded. “This horse doesn’t get tired, and that’s an asset you saw today,” Wilkes said. “He overcame a lot of adversity today and still won.” Wilkes spent many years as an exercise rider and assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger, who won the first Holy Bull with Home At Last in 1990 when it was known as the Preview Stakes. Nafzger was in attendance Saturday. Next up on Gulfstream’s stakes schedule for 3-year-olds on dirt is the $415,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, also going 1 1/16 miles. “That’s a strong possibility. First, I’m going to enjoy the night,” Wilkes said. “I’ll talk to Mrs. [Janis] Whitham and [her son and racing manager] Clay after this.” Trainer Brad Cox, who ran 1-2 in the Forward Gal with Eclatant and Stunner, was pleased with Tappan Street’s effort. “I thought he ran really big,” Cox said. “He was wide throughout. Youn horse, still learning, second start of is life. He’s going to really move forward off this, I believe.” A dominant debut winner last summer that ran second in back-to-back Grade 1 stakes before finishing a troubled fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 in his most recent start, Ferocious went off the 2-1 second choice from Post 2 in his season opener. It was his first race since adding blinkers.
“I had a great trip. I liked the way he settled behind horses on the first turn. I saved all the ground, and on the backside I gave him a little break. I stepped up outside and let him keep track of those pacemaker horses and he traveled good,” Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano said. “He hadn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup and we tried to put a couple works together to make him fit for this race, but it seemed to me like he got tired a little bit.”
The connections, including trainer Gustavo Delgado and co-owner Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock, were encouraged by how the blinkers helped Ferocious, who had three breezes since the Breeders’ Cup leading up to the Holy Bull. “He seemed more focused [with the blinkers], right on the bridle from the beginning the whole time,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to both his father and Restrepo “He was going good until the quarter pole and then he got a little tired. You have to start running. This horse seemed to be fit and you have to carry on and keep going. We were expecting to be a little closer. We’ll regroup and look forward.”
It's been quite a while since we checked out which of Florida's casinos were faring best, so following is a synopsis of the eight, with statistics from July 1, beginning of the fiscal year, through Nov. 30.
Credits in (amount of money sent through the machines):
1. Gretna Racing - DBA Magic City Casino (formerly Flagler dogs). $770,373,722.
2. PPL Inc. - DBA Pompano Park. $574,150,396.
3. Casino Miami (formerly Miami Jai-Alai). $561,913.203.
4. South Florida Racing (Hialeah Park). $559,878,399.
5. Calder Race Course. $542,032,644.
6. Gulfstream Park. $362,237,516.
7. Dania Jai-Alai. $339,642,231.
8. Big Easy Casino (formerly Hollywood dogs). $276,643,614.
Total betting for 8 casinos - $3,986,871,725.
Net Slot Revenue (positions are skewed due to different takeouts - takeouts listed)
1. Flagler dogs - $48,928,502 - 7.12%
2. Pompano Park - $47,788,923. - 9.51%
3. Hialeah Park - $41,319,430. - 8.04%
4. Calder Race Course - $37,250,251. - 8.90%.
5. Miami Jai-Alai - $36,893,574. - 8.41%.
6. Gulfstream Park - $22,753,863. - 8.61%.
7. Dania Jai-Alai - $20,134,091. - 8.71%.
8. Hollywood dogs - $15,421,033. - 8.11%.
(Note that Flagler dogs, with the lowest takeout, is the betting leader. The total net slots revenue comes to $270,489,667. The state takes 35%, or $94,671,384).
HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. called Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park as “one of the best days of my career.” Not only did Joseph saddle Be Your Best to victory in the Gr. II TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf presentation by Sir Davis American Whisky, and Mystic Lake in the Gr. II Inside Information, but he capped off his day by winning the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational with White Abarrio. “In general, you win with Mystic Lake and you win with Be Your Best, that would be a great day in its own right,” Joseph said. “To have the story unfold with White Abarrio. It comes full circle and to end like that, it’s almost like a movie. A dream, basically.” Joseph said White Abarrio, Be Your Best, Mystic Lake and Skippylongstocking, who finished third in the Pegasus World Cup, “all bounced out well.” “The ownership group is going to speak to each other and decide on what happens with [White] Abarrio. The Saudi Cup is possible.”
Mandatory Payout of Rainbow 6 Sunday’s mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 returned $37,865. There was $4,115,143 of new money in the pool and a carryover of $559,027.
The all-sources handle for the Pegasus program was a monumental $41,700,226.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Two starts after being claimed for the bargain price of $8,000 Wallace Moore Jr.’s Ashima became stakes winner on her first try with a front-running 1 ¼-length triumph in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 23rd running of the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf was the first of two stakes for Florida-breds age 4 and up, followed by the $75,000 Sunshine Classic going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Ashima ($17), a 4-year-old daughter of The Big Beast, was racing for just the fourth time on turf in her 13th start, and first in nine months. Her prior two starts were wins over Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta course, both going longer, including a 4 ½-length triumph Nov. 17 when she was taken by trainer Sal Santoro. “I liked her and I just felt something towards her. I said, ‘You know what, we need to claim this horse,’” Santoro said. “All this horse wanted was, ‘I love you, too.’ That’s all we did.” As they did in a front-running optional claiming allowance together Dec. 12, jockey Emisael Jaramillo got Ashima comfortable on the front end from outside all but two of her six rivals and settled through a quarter-mile in 23.36 seconds and a half in 47.16 tracked to her outside by 6-5 favorite Great Venezuela, riding a four-race win streak.
Six furlongs went in 1:10.45 with Ashima still in command, and put away Great Venezuela once set down for a drive after straightening for home and finished up in 1:33.73 over a firm turf course. Great Venezuela held second, with Princess Bettina third.
Love Mami Love, Maryquitecontrary, Beach Ready and My Sunny Valentine completed the order of finish. Parallel was scratched.
Dating back to last October, Ashima has now won four straight races for three different trainers, and improved her career record to 6-1-2 with $150,590 in purse earnings. Currently, she makes up the entirety of Santoro’s Gulfstream-based stable. “Right now he’s my only horse,” said Santoro, who won the 2012 Delta Downs Princess (G3) and 2013 Honeybee (G3) and Fantasy (G3) with Rose to Gold. “I’ve got like five or six others that are probably coming in.” JC Racing Stables’ Lightning Tones ($15.40), facing Florida-breds for the first time in his 26th career start, reeled in pacesetting One Sharp Cookie in deep stretch and edged clear to register a last-to-first victory in the Sunshine Classic.
Winner of the seven-furlong Carry Back in 2023 at Gulfstream for previous trainer Danny Hurtak, late-running Lightning Tones earned his first victory in three tries since being claimed for $16,000 last July. One Sharp Cookie, racing for the first time since mid-October, was eager for the lead and held it through splits of :23.61, :47.48 and 1:12.21. Jockey Jorge Ruiz began to move up on the far outside leaving the backstretch, rolled up near the leaders rounding the far turn and closed steadily through the stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:44.34 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track. One Sharp Cookie held second, followed by 2-1 favorite Secret Chat, Shaq Diesel, Awesome Train, Souper Watson and Khozeiress. Defending champion Lure Him In was scratched, along with Power Humor, Belts ‘n Brooks, Holiday Pay and Big Martini.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Fifteen years after leaving his native Venezuela as the country’s winningest trainer, Antonio Sano reached a milestone Sunday at Gulfstream Park when he saddled his 1,000th winner in North America. A day after Sano celebrated his 62nd birthday, Big Boy Jak ($11.60), a 3-year-old gelding, provided the popular trainer with the milestone when he led throughout to win the seventh race. “I am so happy. I am proud to be here in the United States. It’s my home now,” said Sano, surrounded by friends and family in Gulfstream’s winner’s circle. “I won over 3,000 races in Venezuela and now 1,000 races here. I am very thankful for every opportunity in 14 years to win 1,000. I have to thank all my owners, my team, my family, my son, everybody that have shown support for me. I hope to win another 1,000.” A third-generation horsemen - a champion conditioner in Venezuela with a stable upward of 150 horses - Sano was kidnapped twice in his native country – once for 36 days – before coming to the U.S. After winning his first race in April of 2010, Sano has found success at all levels of the sport. He is the winningest Venezuelan trainer in the U.S., surpassing Manny Azpurua in September of 2023. Sano’s first major success was Gunnevera, a $16,000 yearling who would win the 2017 Fountain of Youth (G2) and finish second in the Travers (G1) as a 3-year-old and run third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as a 4-year-old and retire with $5.5 million in earnings.
Simplification would reward Sano with his second victory in the Fountain of Youth in 2022 and run fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Il Miracolo won the 2023 Gr. III Smarty Jones and Gr. III Ghostzapper and was third in the 2023 Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool yielded multiple payoffs of $36,102 Sunday at Gulfstream Park. It was the first mandatory Rainbow 6 payout of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet, which began Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. The multi-race wager had been solved twice, for life-changing payoffs of $489,592 Dec. 15 and $244,071 Dec. 21. The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved for nine days. A total of $2,511,879 was bet into the pool Sunday on top of a $337,274 carryover from Saturday’s 11-race program. Cat Eyes ($33) captured Sunday’s Race 10 finale to complete the winning 1-7-10-2-6-4 combination. Other winners in the sequence were Sol d’Oro ($9) in Race 5, Tiz Romantic ($9.80) in Race 6, Big Boy Jak ($11.60) in Race 7, Brees ($19.60) in Race 8 and War Signal ($4.40) in Race 9. The Rainbow 6 begins anew spanning Races 4-9 when the Championship Meet resumes Wednesday. First race post time is 12:20 p.m. Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 sequence includes a maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather Tapeta course featuring a pair of first-time starters from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Amande and Cantora, as well as Mischief in Motion, a $525,000 debut runner by Into Mischief trainer for trainer Mike Trombetta. Race 8 is an optional claiming allowance going five furlongs on the Tapeta that drew eight 3-year-old fillies including last-out maiden winner Mattinata; Laurice, unraced since finishing fifth in the six-furlong Matron (G3) last fall at Aqueduct; and Rohan Crichton-trained stablemates Sweet Sash and Bad Gal Party, both with wins over the Gulfstream Tapeta. Gulfstream Well-Represented Among Eclipse Award Finalists Led by Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Soul of an Angel, Gulfstream Park was well represented among the 2024 Eclipse Award finalists announced Sunday. Soul of an Angel won Gulfstream’s Princess Rooney (G3) last summer to earn an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup, where she rallied from the clouds for a 19-1 upset. Her trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., has won 11 consecutive meet titles at Gulfstream including each of the last three Championship Meets.
Other finalists in the female sprinter category are Society and Ways and Means, a 2023 maiden winner at Gulfstream.
National Treasure is one of three finalists in the older dirt male category. National Treasure won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) last January as a preview for his victory in the Met Mile (G1). He was ridden by Flavien Prat, expected to earn his first Eclipse as top jockey off a record-setting season with 82 stakes wins, 56 graded.
The 3-year-old male category has both Fierceness and Dornoch among the finalists. Fierceness won the Florida Derby (G1) in his second sophomore start and went on to win the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1) and run second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Dornoch captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) in his season debut before winning the Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1). Joining Prat as jockey finalists are Gulfstream regulars Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione. Ortiz won his fifth Championship Meet title and seven graded-stakes at the 2023-2024 stand and has won five prior Eclipse Awards. Gaffalione, the champion apprentice of 2015, is a native of nearby Davie. That ranked sixth with 51 wins, four graded, and $2.9 million in purse earnings last winter.
The Eclipse Award winners will be announced Jan. 23 from Palm Beach.
HALLANDALE BEACH - There will be a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park on Sunday. If there is no unique winner of the wager through tomorrow, the estimated pool of Sunday’s mandatory payout is $3 million. Sunday’s sequence will begin with Race 5, a $94,000 maiden special weight event for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf. Post time is approximately 2:14 ET for the Rainbow 6. The dozen entered include Just Silvia (trainer Todd Pletcher), Sol d’Oro (Christophe Clement), Tellus Mater (Graham Motion), In the Wild (Shug McGaughey), Crystalaire (George Weaver), Sweet Surrender (Bill Mott), Close Up (Cherie DeVaux), and Cocktail Kisses and Goal, both from the barn of Mark Casse.
The sequence concludes with Race 10, another $94,000 turf event for maiden fillies and mares at a mile. Just So Pretty was beaten a head and two lengths in maiden special weight events on the turf at Saratoga and Aqueduct. El Zain is a $700,000 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro making her debut. Sunday’s first race post is 12:20. The Rainbow 6 will have an estimated pool of $400,000 for today’s nine-race program. Who’s Hot: Jockey Miguel Vasquez won twice Thursday with Mywifeknowsitall ($6.60) in Race 2 and Win With Faith ($23.20) in Race 5 … Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher notched back-to-back wins with El Megeeth ($8.60) in Race 7 and Autumn Evening ($8) in Race 8.
HALLANDALE BEACH - The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Assocation (FTHA) held its 5th annual awards and membership dinner on Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park’s Ten Palms Restaurant. This event gives FTHA the opportunity to recognize excellence in the thoroughbred racing industry and at Gulfstream Park. “This year our winners consist of outstanding Florida- and Kentucky-bred horses who performed exceptionally in 2024,” said FTHA Executive Director Herb Oster. “Congratulations to their talented trainers, owners, and breeders.” The 2024 FTHA Annual Award Winners: 2YO COLT / GELDING Rated by Merit FL (Battalion Runner / Banner Waving, by Speightstown) Trainer: Michael Yates Owner: St. Elias Stable Breeder: St. Elias Stable
CO-2YO FILLY Win N Your In FL (Win Win Win / Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True) Trainer: Carlos A. David Owners: Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston Breeder: Marion G. Montanari CO-2 YO FILLY
R Morning Brew FL (Curlin’s Honor / Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Owner: Averill Racing
Breeder: Dori Morgan Hyatt
CO-3YO COLT / GELDING Real Macho KY (Mucho Macho Man / Hedonism, by Curlin) Trainer: Rohan Crichton Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith
Breeder: Poe Racing Stable
CO-3YO COLT / GELDING Grand Mo the First KY (Uncle Mo / Lilies So Fair, by Giant’s Causeway) Trainer: Victor Barboza, Jr. Owner: Granpollo Stable Breeder: John D. Gunther 3YO FILLY
De Regreso KY (Audible / Texas Gem, by Tiznow) Trainer: Antonio Sano Owner: Cairoli Racing Stable and Magic Stables, Inc. Breeder: Baron Thoroughbreds OLDER HORSE or GELDING Comedy Town FL (Speightstown / Unbridled Humor, by Distorted Humor) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Owner: Ten Twenty Racing and Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Breeder: Live Oak Stud OLDER FILLY or MARE Soul of an Angel KY (Atreides / Factor One, by The Factor) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Owner: C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable, and Ken T. Reimer Breeder: Westbrook Stables TURF HORSE or GELDING Win for the Money KY (Mohaymen / Mayakoba, by War Chant) Trainer: Mark E. Casse Owner: Live Oak Plantation Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey TURF FILLY or MARE Charlie’s Wish FL (First Dude / Superior Sarah, by Werblin) Trainer: David Fawkes Owner: Royalight Racing Breeder: Three Gin Guys Stable OLDER TAPETA HORSE or GELDING K.C. Chief FL (Noble Bird / Ashley River, by Deputy Wild Cat) Trainer: Jose Francisco D’Angelo Owner: Leon King Stables Corp. and David Bernsen, LLC Breeder: J D Farms OLDER TAPETA FILLY or MARE Batucada KY (Union Rags / Lady Pamela, by Tapit) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Owner: Morgan L. Joseph and Carrie Brogden Breeder: Wygod Equine
HALLANDALE BEACH - The first day of racing in the new year at Gulfstream Park Wednesday will offer bettors an estimated pool in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 of $400,000. The Rainbow 6 will include two stakes races – the Fasig-Tipton Cash Run for 3-year-old fillies on the main track and the Dania Beach for 3-year-olds on the turf. The sequence will begin with Race 5 at approximately 2:19 ET and conclude with Race 10. Both are maiden claiming events on the Tapeta.
Ron Nicoletti and Samantha Perry Preview the Rainbow 6: Leg 1 (Race 5): 5 ½ furlongs Tapeta, $35,000 maiden claimer, 3-year-olds. An evenly matched field of eight is led by the 5-2 favorite Ayman, who finished fourth in his debut over the main track on Dec. 6 for trainer Joe Orseno. Iron Sword (7-2), an $85,000 son of City of Light, makes his debut for trainer Jose D’Angelo. Luis Saez is named to ride. Davola was beaten only a length in his debut at Delaware in October but finished eighth in his last here on Dec. 6. The gelding drops from maiden special weight company for trainer John Servis. Leg 2 (Race 6): 5 furlongs turf, $97,000 allowance optional claimer, 4-year-olds and up. There’s an 8-5 favorite in this nine-horse field in Capture the Lion, who comes out of a sixth-place finish on Nov. 23 over the Tapeta in the Extravagant Kid. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. stays aboard for trainer Mark Casse. Orseno saddles Horsepower, who has two wins and three seconds in six starts on the turf. Tyler Gaffalione rides. They might all have to catch High Limit Room, who has seven wins on the turf. Fourth in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, the 7-year-old will be saddled by Rohan Crichton. Leg 3 (Race 7): mile and 70 yards Tapeta, $25,000 claimer, 4-year-olds and up. From the rail out, there doesn’t seem to be much separating Space Launch (2-1) and Lights of Broadway (8-5). Ortiz Jr. gets the mount on D’Angelo’s Space Launch, while John Velazquez is on Lights of Broadway, who is 3-4-2 in 12 Tapeta starts. Peter Walder saddles Lights of Broadway and Thethrillofvictory with Luis Saez. Grand David has been on the front in his last three and he will likely be the one to run down. The 6-year-old is 4-3-4 in 15 Tapeta starts. Leg 4 (Race 8): one mile, $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run, 3-year-old fillies.
Paradise City, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Ortiz Jr., could go off the favorite. She finished fourth on Dec. 7 against the boys under allowance conditions at Gulfstream. Previously, the daughter of McKinzie was fourth at Keeneland after breaking her maiden here Sept. 6. Blinkers are off for the Cash Run. Five G leaves from the rail for trainer George Weaver and Velazquez. The Vekoma filly broke her maiden against New York-breds in November at Aqueduct before finishing second there on Nov. 17 in the Tepin. Both those races were on the turf. Yellow broke her maiden in her fourth attempt last time out for trainer Todd Pletcher. Andrea, another Joseph runner, won her debut and came back to win the Hallandale Beach. She has since finished sixth at Keeneland in the Myrtlewood and fifth in Tampa in the Sandpiper. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount. Leg 5 (Race 9): one mile turf, $165,000 Dania Beach, 3-year-olds. The key and possible single to the sequence could be Dream On, the 6-5 favorite for Casse and Ortiz Jr. The Not This Time filly makes her first start since finishing fifth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). She was previously third in the Summer (G1) and second in the Soaring Free, both at Woodbine. Casse also saddles Mi Bago, who led throughout when winning the Pulpit on Nov. 29 here on the turf by five lengths. Edwin Gonzalez rides. Joel Rosario is named on Bucaro. Trained by Michael Trombetta, the filly was third here in the Pulpit and second in the Display over Woodbine’s synthetic surface in October.
Leg 6 (Race 10): 1 1/16-mile Tapeta, $17,500 maiden claimer, 3-year-olds. Trainer Antonio Sano saddles two in Stone Cold Flex (3-1, Saez) and Flag Officer (10-1, Edgard Zayas). Stone Cold Flex drops from maiden $35,000 while Flag Officer drops from $25,000. Skull Honor, who has a second and two thirds from four starts, goes out first time off the claim for D’Angelo. Ortiz Jr. rides. Risen Sun, who was no factor in his debut in October, is a first-time gelding, trained by Nolan Ramsey. Otter Mischief drops from $50,000 company and gets Gaffalione for trainer Jeff Hiles.
Great Friends Stable and Mark Davis’ Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief – Violent Wave, by Violence) pressed the pace from the start of the $300,500 Malibu Stakes (G1), took charge in the stretch and eased away to score by 1-1/4 lengths.
It’s the third stakes win for the 3-year-old colt by Maximus Mischief, consigned by Randy Bradshaw, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, and sold for $75,000 after turning in Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 10-5-1-2 for trainer Doug O’Neill, he exits the race with $667,400 in earnings.
Purple Rein Racing’s J B Strikes Back (Goldencents – Allanah, by Scat Daddy) turned for home battling for the lead in the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2), took control a furlong from home and was best by a length and a quarter at the wire.
It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old son of OBS graduate Goldencents, trained by Doug O’Neill, now 9-4-0-0 with $191,660 in earnings. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2023 OBS March Sale, he was sold for $52,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet resumes Thursday, Dec. 26 with a 10-race program featuring two stakes and three turf races.
The program begins at approximately 12:20 ET with Race 1, a maiden special weight event at five furlongs on the turf for 11 2-year-old fillies. The race includes two fillies from the barn of Mark Casse in Wellness and Baby Lala, JR Ranch’s Thankfully, Snitch Dorada, a daughter of Maximus Mischief to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., and first-time starter Starship Impulsive from the barn of Steve Dwoskin. The $140,000 Rampart, for fillies and mares at a mile, will be run as Race 6 and feature a couple of Gr. 1 winners. Soul of an Angel makes her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint while Gr. I Alabama winner Power Squeeze makes her first start since September when finishing seventh behind Thorpedo Anna in the Gr. I Cotillion Sept. 21 at Parx. Fillies and mares go 1 3/8 miles in the Via Borghese in Race 8. Forever After All and Marksman Queen go out after finishing second and third, respectively, in Del Mar’s Gr. III Red Carpet. Avenue Niel goes out first time for trainer Michael Trombetta after finishing fourth in the Gr. III Waya and Gr. III Long Island. La Mehana, winner of the Waya and seventh in the Long Island, goes out first time for trainer Christophe Clement. Graham Motion has entered Three Priests and Marskman Queen, out of the multiple graded stakes-winner Sharp Susan. Via Borghese, a daughter of Seattle Dancer trained by Angel Penna Jr., won 11 of 22 starts and was a multiple graded stakes-winner on the turf. White Abarrio to Meet 11 in Gr. III Mr. Prospector White Abarrio, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2022 Florida Derby, will face a full field Saturday in the $165,000 Mr. Prospector at seven furlongs. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio worked a ‘bullet’ three furlongs Sunday :35.42. The field includes three-time Gr. III winner Super Chow and Gr. III Vosburgh winner Mufasa. Saturday’s 11-race program also includes the $115,000 Abundantia for fillies and mares at five furlongs on the turf, and the $100,000 St. Augustine at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta. The first of the weekend’s Tropical Turf Pick 3 wagers begins Friday with Race 1, a $25,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds going 7 ½ furlongs. Leading trainer Joseph saddles two in Salto Angel, seventh in his debut on Tapeta, and first-time starter Chill the J. Change At Jamaica gets blinkers and drops in company off a ninth-place finish in his debut for trainer Mark Casse. The second leg of the Tropical Turf Pick 3 is Race 6, a $35,000 claiming event for fillies and mares. Miss Taptress broke her maiden on the turf and was third over the green last time out at this level. Sassy Allie has a win and two seconds in four turf starts for trainer Robert Falcone Jr. The Pick 3 concludes with Race 9, a starter allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Sarah’s Dream, trained by Jose D’Angelo, is on a four-race winning streak, with one of those being over the turf. Silver Moonlight, trained by Joseph, is seeking her third consecutive victory over the green.
Stephen Rousseau’s Nic’s Style (Uncaptured – Sense When) tracked the leaders from the inside in the $100,000 City Of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes, battled to the lead a furlong out and was best by 2-1/2 lengths at the wire.
That’s two straight stakes wins for the 4-year-old Florida-bred graded stakes-placed daughter of Uncaptured, purchased by Stephen Rousseau for $25,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2021 October Yearling Sale. She’s trained by Bill Mott and is now 6-5-1-0 with $328,400 in earnings. Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith’s Big Martini (The Big Beast – Dirty Martini) scored his first stakes win with a frontrunning two length victory in in the $100,000 Marion County Florida Sire Stakes. Rohan Crichton trains the 4-year-old Florida-bred son of The Big Beast, now 18-4-6-2 with $268,308 in earnings.
He’s a two-time OBS graduate, sold first at the 2021 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $87,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at the 2022 June Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus – Mystic Blue) went to the front in Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes at Fair Grounds, was headed from the inside past the eighth pole, then came again to score by a head.
It’s the first stakes victory for the 2-year-old daughter of Aurelius Maximus, trained by Steve Asmussen, now 3-2-0-0 with $95,120 in earnings. She was purchased for $32,000 out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
HALLANDALE BEACH - St. Elias Stable’s Rated by Merit completed a sweep of the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday at Gulfstream Park, putting forth the dominating performance that was expected of him by those who sent him to post as the 1-5 favorite in the $300,000 In Reality.
“It’s been such an amazing trip with this horse,” said Monique Delk, executive director of racehorse development for Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable. “Mr. and Mrs. Viola let him have the time to develop on his own and he dances every dance. I couldn’t be more proud.” Rated by Merit exited the 1 1/16-mile final leg of the series for 2-year-old colts and geldings undefeated in four career start, providing jockey Jesus Rios with a sweep of the Florida Sire Stakes co-features on Saturday’s program. Earlier in the day, Rios guided Just For Fun Stable's My Denysse ($72.80) for an upset victory in the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile final for fillies. Making his first start around two turns, Rated by Merit broke alertly from his rail post position to quickly assume pacesetting duties heading into the first turn. The homebred son of Battalion Runner set comfortable fractions of :24.13 and :48.92 for the first half mile under a motionless Rios. As early stalkers Latch the Hatch and Roar of the Beast weakened, Classic of Course made a sweeping move on the turn to loom as the only danger, but Rated by Merit had yet to be asked. When Rios finally got to riding the Michael Yates-trained favorite, the Florida-bred colt responded, drawing away for a six-length victory. “At the beginning of the race I decided to put the horse in the best position possible. When I took the lead at the beginning I was expecting some pressure, but I didn’t get any. For that reason, I was very relaxed with the horse and in the final stretch he got wide a little bit but the horse was very strong in the last part of the race,” Rios said. “He is a very special horse. I feel very blessed to win this race and win the Triple Crown of the Florida Sire Stakes.” Rated by Merit became the 11th colt or gelding to sweep the series since its inception in 1982. He covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.71. Classic of Course finished second, nine lengths ahead of Just Relax. “It’s a hard thing to do. Only a handful of horses have done it. I feel quite honored to be honest with you to have a horse to do it with,” Yates said. Heading into the In Reality, Rated by Merit held the distinction of being the fastest 2-year-old in North America based on speed figures. He earned a 99 Beyer while winning the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the series on Oct. 19, by 3 ¾ lengths. Rated by Merit debuted on July 13 with a 9 ¾-length victory that earned a 92 Beyer that was the highest produced by all 2-year-olds at the time. He came right back in the Sept. 7 Dr. Fager, earning a 93 Beyer for his 6 ¼-length romp in the six-furlong first leg of the series. “We’ll freshen him and then map up a plan for the winter meet here,” Yates said.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Having split the first two legs of the Sire Stakes Series for 2-year-old fillies, Win N Your In and R Morning Brew will face a new challenger in stakes-winning shipper Stunner for their rubber match in Saturday’s $300,000 My Dear Girl at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl for juvenile fillies by accredited Florida stallions co-headlines an 11-race program with the $300,000 In Reality for 2-year-olds on opening weekend of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet. First race post time is 12:20 p.m. Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, winner of the open Sharp Susan sprinting six furlongs on Aug. 10, avenged her third-place finish in the opening leg of the FSS series, the Sept. 7 Desert Vixen, with an authoritative 4 ½-length triumph in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl on Oct. 19. While she won the Sharp Susan all the way on the lead, Win N Your In came from off the pace in the Susan’s Girl under regular rider Miguel Vasquez, who gets the return call from Post 6 at co-topweight of 122 pounds. They are rated second choice on the morning line at 3-1. “She’s rateable. She can go to the lead or she can stay back. I’m going to leave it up to Miguel,” trainer Carlos David said. “He came and breezed her [Sunday] morning and he thinks she feels awesome. We’re going to go into the race with confidence and hopefully we come through.” Win N Your In figures to lay off the speed of fellow stakes-winners R Morning Brew and Stunner, who takes a two-race win streak into the My Dear Girl for trainer Brad Cox. It will be the first time around two turns for all three horses.
“I think she’s going to stretch out pretty good,” David said. “Obviously, we have Brad Cox’s filly coming from out of town with huge numbers. But it’s like when we go to Churchill, we go out west. Horses, sometimes they don’t handle the traveling well and maybe they don’t like the track as much.
“My filly has won here three times, two stakes, and she’s going to love the two turns, I think. She’ll be OK,” he added. “She’s doing really, really good. Hopefully we’ll finish her 2-year-old campaign on top and I’ll be excited to see what she’s got as a 3-year-old.” LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Stunner is the 3-5 program favorite, and the Girvin filly drew the rail and will have Edgard Zayas in the irons. After finishing second in a six-furlong maiden special on Aug. 23 at Saratoga in her debut, she graduated in a similar spot going 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 26 at Aqueduct, where she cruised by 3 ½ lengths in the one-mile Tempted Nov. 2. Both wins came in front-running fashion.
Stunner will have company on the front end in Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew, winner of each of her first two career starts in impressive, wire-to-wire style – romping by 5 ½ lengths in the Desert Vixen – before finishing third as the favorite in the Susan’s Girl after encountering some early trouble. “Her first race was a bit of a surprise and her second race was awesome,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “The last time she didn’t fire for whatever reason, whether it be because she needs to get the lead or not. But we’re going to take care of that and try to put her on the lead and eliminate that excuse.” Joseph is coming off his 11th consecutive title at Gulfstream during the recently concluded Sunshine Meet, including the past three Championship Meet crowns. Sunshine Meet leading rider Edwin Gonzalez replaces Zayas aboard R Morning Brew, third choice on the morning line at 9-2. They will break from Post 5.
“She’s not the best breaker, but she got a perfect trip last time for a normal horse, you know? But, she failed to fire. That’s why if we’re going to lose we want to do it this time on the lead and we’re going to get there at all costs,” Joseph said. “Hopefully she breaks well and she gets there and if she gets beat, she gets beat. She ran disappointing last time. She’s going to have to come back to her best, and even if she comes back to the best it might not be good enough. Cox’s filly looks pretty tough in there,” he added. “We’re going to be on the lead. If we go far enough, we go far enough; if not, we accept getting beat that way.” “
Stephen Screnci homebred Fede is the only other horse in single-digit odds at 8-1. The bay daughter of Adios Charlie ran fourth behind R Morning Brew in her Aug. 9 unveiling, beaten 7 ¼ lengths, before overcoming an early bump to break her maiden by five lengths going seven furlongs on Nov. 10. Leonel Reyes rides from Post 7. Completing the field are Susan’s Girl runner-up Kip the Distance, also third in the open one-mile Hallandale Beach Sept. 14, and maidens My Denysse and Bee a Queen.
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company has announced that Andrew Fernung has been named to the position of Assistant Sales Coordinator. A lifelong Ocala resident, Fernung is continuing a family tradition of horsemanship. The son of the late renowned horseman John Fernung, Andrew joins OBS after spending eight years as assistant trainer for Eddie Woods Stable.
Prior to joining Angela and Eddie Woods, Fernung served as farm trainer at Journeyman Bloodstock from 2009-16 working alongside his aunt and uncle, Crystal and Brent Fernung. "Being around good horseman and businesspeople alike on a daily basis is something I’m proud of and I look forward to using the traits learned in future endeavors," the 35-year-old Fernung said. "To become a part of something so influential as OBS means the world to me. OBS has always been an integral part of me, and my family’s life and I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be a part of the team." "Andrew is a welcome addition to the OBS team," added OBS President Tom Ventura. "He is not only an excellent horseman but the experience that he gained working with Eddie Woods and Journeyman Bloodstock on the selling end at the sales brings a valuable perspective to his role at OBS. He can build on the relationships he has developed interacting with buyers from around the world. Horses are in his blood and his passion to gain a deeper knowledge of the horse business will benefit OBS for years to come."
HALLANDALE BEACH - Since his first domestic win more than 13 years ago, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has put together a career littered with the kind of accomplishments that will ultimately land him in thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame. He has more than 4,000 wins and nearly $336 million in purse earnings, the latter good for fourth all-time; a single-season record bankroll of $39,193,365 in 2023; 300 or more wins for nine consecutive years; 20 Breeders’ Cup race wins; five Eclipse Award championships and countless riding titles across the country, to name a few. A 32-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Ortiz can add another significant milestone to his resume by becoming the first rider to lead Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet jockey standings for a sixth season. Gulfstream’s 2024-2025 Championship Meet, the country’s premiere winter racing destination, opens its 85-day stand on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, offering a total of 66 stakes, 30 graded, worth $15.025 million in purses and highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) on Jan. 25, and $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 29. Ortiz is the two-time defending riding champion and has won five of the last six titles dating back to 2018-2019, his second full winter at Gulfstream. Since 1939 the only other jockey to lead the Championship Meet standings five times is Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who did it five straight years from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016. “I didn’t know that. That would be amazing,” Ortiz said. “It would be great if we could win another title. I love riding there. I love to win titles. I love to ride every kind of race when I’m there. It would be very special. I’m definitely going to try to make it happen. I’m going to work hard and hopefully everybody helps me to get it done.” Ortiz will get an early start to his winter campaign with six mounts on today’s program to kick off the final weekend of Gulfstream’s fall Sunshine Meet highlighted by the return of White Abarrio, who he rode to victory in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), in Race 7. He is also named in nine races both Saturday and Sunday. “I am excited to be back. I love to ride at Gulfstream. I can’t wait to get there. I’m probably going to ship for some races on big days, but I’m looking forward to the winter,” Ortiz said. “New York is home for me, but to be honest when I’m at Gulfstream there is no separation for me. It feels like home.” Except for 2021-2022, when he missed time with injury and suspension, Ortiz has won at least 101 races every winter at Gulfstream topped by a track-record 140 in 2020-2021. He has averaged 117 wins at the Championship Meet, putting him on track for yet another major achievement – 1,000 Gulfstream wins.
According to Equibase statistics, Ortiz has a record of 883-679-522 from 3,566 career starts at Gulfstream for purse earnings of $46,377,238. In graded stakes, he is 52-45-27 with $17.8 million earned from 225 starts.
Among Ortiz’s 119 Championship Meet-leading wins last winter were 13 stakes, including graded triumphs in the Inside Information (G2), Suwannee River (G3), William L. McKnight (G3), Sweetest Chant (G3), Canadian Turf (G3), Honey Fox (G3) and Orchid (G3). “I’ve been having huge support from everybody down there and I appreciate that. I’m getting big chances,” Ortiz said. “Trainers and owners trust me and they’ve been supporting me the last few years, and I enjoy it. It’s great racing, [and] the people at the racetrack are amazing.”
Represented by agent Steve Rushing, Ortiz has won the Pegasus World Cup (2020, 2022) and Florida Derby (2021, 2023) twice each and the Pegasus Turf four times (2019, 2021-23). He is the fifth and most recent jockey to win a track-record seven races on a single program, Feb. 3, 2023. Ortiz came to the U.S. in June of 2011 and has been primarily based on the New York circuit, where he won his fifth Saratoga riding title this summer. He had only ridden sparingly at Gulfstream with moderate success before a breakthrough convinced him to relocate for the winters.
“I always did the winters in New York but they have a break in December, like 10 days. I went to Puerto Rico one year and they canceled races for some reason and I told my agent to name me on some horses at Gulfstream,” Ortiz said. “I was on vacation, but I just wanted to ride. I went to Gulfstream for a week and I had a few quick wins. I told him, ‘Name me for the next week.’ I won some races again and I said, ‘I’m not going back.’ “I was like, ‘I love the weather, the people are supporting me and I love it. They’re showing me some love so I’m going to stay for the rest of the winter,’” he added. “I ended up winning a lot of races and I decided the next year I’m coming from Day 1. That’s how we did it. The next year I was there from Day 1 and we won the meet and rest is history. I keep coming there and they always show me the support, and it’s been great.” Ortiz is in the midst of another spectacular season, ranking first overall in wins (276) and second in purses earned ($30.96 million) behind Flavien Prat. He has led North America in wins and purse earnings every year since 2017 except 2021, when he was second in money won. In graded stakes this year, Ortiz ranks second with 33 wins and $13.446 million in purse earnings, with 55 overall stakes wins worth $17.2 million in purses. He has won six Grade 1 races with different horses – Howard Wolowitz in the Franklin-Simpson, Vahva in the Derby City Distaff, Leslie’s Rose in the Ashland, Chili Flag in the Just a Game, Cogburn in the Jaipur and Book’em Danno in the Woody Stephens. On Oct. 13, Ortiz earned his 4,000th career victory at Keeneland, where he led the rider standings for the first time during its spring meet. He also tied with Gulfstream regular and Davie, Fla. native Tyler Gaffalione for leading rider at Kentucky Downs’ summer turf meet. “It’s been a great year. We got the 4,000 wins, we tied for the lead at Kentucky Downs and I won the meet at Keeneland for the first time. It’s been amazing,” Ortiz said. “It’s been a great ride. The trainers and owners they support me and my agent does an amazing job. He does his job and I do mine. I try to do my best out there every time for sure. I love riding. I love riding no matter what kind of horse or race I have. I always try to give my best.”
Ocala Stud has set its 2025 stud fees for its roster of eight stallions for the upcoming breeding season, led by Florida’s leading first-crop sire Win Win Win, who will stand for $8,500. Roadster will stand for $7,500 and Colonel Liam will stand for $6,500. The roster is bolstered by the addition of Khozan—Florida’s leading sire each year since 2020—who will stand for $6,000. Win Win Win has been represented this year by Nooni, the $1.8 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales March sale topper and front-running winner of the Gr. III Sorrento at Del Mar. A TDN Rising Star campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, Nooni turned heads at the March Sale, breezing a co-record quarter mile in :20.20 at the under tack preview.
In addition to her stakes victory, Nooni finished a close second in the Gr. II Oak Leaf at Santa Anita. Win Win Win is also the sire of Win N Your In, winner of the $95,000 Sharp Susan and the $200,000 Florida Sire Stakes Susan’s Girl at Gulfstream Park. By Hat Trick, Win Win Win hails from a deep Live Oak Plantation family and is a descendant of the influential Halo sire line. Roadster, a son of perennial leading sire Quality Road, will have his first yearlings in 2025. An impressive winner of the $1 million Santa Anita Derby in 2019, Roadster defeated stablemate Game Winner—the previous year’s Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male champion. He also finished second to Omaha Beach in the Gr. I Malibu, second in the Gr. II San Carlos and runner-up to Gr. I winner Mucho Gusto in the Gr. III Affirmed. Roadster is out of the stakes-winning and stakes-producing Silver Ghost mare Ghost Dancing and is a half-brother to Gr. I winner and Keeneland track record-setter Ascend. Colonel Liam was a back-to-back winner of the $1 million Pegasus Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park. He also captured the $1 million Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, posting a 102 Beyer speed figure. Colonel Liam was a $1.2 million graduate of the OBS Spring Sale, where he was purchased by Jacob West on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low after breezing a quarter mile in an eye-catching :20.80.
A son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map, a half-brother to leading sire Not This Time, Colonel Liam is out of the Bernardini mare Amazement and hails from the family of multiple Gr. 1 winner Wonder Again, his second dam. Colonel Liam will have his first yearlings in 2025. Khozan, the leading Florida Sire again this year with progeny earnings nearing $5 million, is a son of Distorted Humor out of Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy. A half-brother to Gr. 1 winners Royal Delta, Crown Queen and Delta Prince, Khozan made just two career starts. He broke his maiden in sensational fashion in his Gulfstream Park debut, earning a 102 Beyer before trouncing allowance foes by nearly 13 lengths in his second start at one mile.
Khozan is represented this year by R Harper Rose ($377,230), winner of the Gr. III Forward Gal and second in the $102,000 Any Limit; Lure Him In ($521,233), winner of the $95,000 Sunshine Classic at Gulfstream Park; and graded stakes-placed Hot Peppers ($424,950), runner-up in the Gr. III Las Flores at Santa Anita.
Before the 1979-80 season opened at what was then called Florida Downs, track president Sam F. Davis hired the late veteran turf writer, David Goldman, as his advertising and marketing director. In those days, before the advent of simulcasting, the track in Oldsmar was averaging less than $300,000 a day in handle, and Davis sweetened the pot: he told David that if he could get the average up to $300,000, there would be a $10,000 bonus on closing day.
With two weeks remaining in the meeting, after Goldman had introduced many innovations, the track was averaging just under $310,000 and the bonus appeared to be a cinch - until fate intervened. The long line of cars heading north on I-75 each day as the snow-birds headed home killed the attendance, and the final average dropped to $297,000, give or take a few bucks. Sam's bonus turned out to be a hot dog and a drink.
Tampa Bay Downs opened its 2024-25 meeting yesterday and the Bay area bettors haven't done much in 44 years - attendance was just 2,430 and on-track handle a meager $153,659. However, while the '79-80 programs had races with purses like $2,800, the purses for yesterday's nine-race opener reached $239,500.
The early '90s addition of simulcasting changed everything. The upgrade of every facet of Tampa Bay Downs in the era of owner Stella F. Thayer, including exciting racing, a superior turf course, and a spate of graded stakes headed by the Tampa Bay Derby, brought new bettors from every state into the fold and the handle has exploded. Inter-state wagering (ISW) yesterday reached $2,601,681, and the total handle for the day was $2,848,598.
Samy Camacho, leading rider in Tampa for the past four years and five times in all, was the hero of the day, winning with Goddess Minerva ($6) in the first race, Feast ($4.80) in the third, Bounteous ($9) in the seventh, and Velocissima, who lit up the board at $60.60 in the eighth. Apprentice Sara Hess ($10.60) took the fifth with Singsational by 2 3/4 lengths.
With the slimmed down schedule for the early part of the meeting, they're off today and Friday and they'll do it again Saturday.
Racing returns to Tampa Bay Downs on Wednesday with a nine-race program and a first post of 12:40 p. m.
The jockey colony is a familiar one, which includes several of the leading riders from past years - Daniel Centeno, Antonio Gallardo and Samy Camacho - long-time veterans Vernon Bush and Jose Ferrer, plus Ademar Santos, Hubert Villa-Gomez, Pablo Morales, Joe Rocco Jr. and talented youngster Melissa Iorio.
Leading trainers Kathleen O'Connell and Gerald Bennett have runners in on opening day, as do Robert Smith, Greg Sacco, Ken Rice and Gary Contessa.
Ocala owners with Wednesday mounts are Smith, Rice, Don Ming and Team Equistaff, while breeders are represented by Jacks or Better Farm, Shadybrook Farm, Joe and Helen Barbazon (Pleasant Acres) Stonehedge Farm and Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck.
Florida's present and former top stallions have runners entered, including leading sire Khozan from Journeyman Stud, plus Adios Charlie, Cajun Breeze, Valiant Minister, St. Patrick's Day, Social Inclusion, The Big Beast, Noble Bird, Awesome of Course, and Pleasant Acres freshman Curlin's Honor.
There are two races on the card with purses of $53,000.
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.