KHK Racing’s Shahama pressed the pace in the early going of Sunday’s $245,000, Gr. III Monmouth Oaks, took command at the head of the stretch and drew away to score by 2 1/2 lengths. Fellow OBS graduate Shotgun Hottie (April ’21) closed to finish second. It’s the second graded stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of Munnings, consigned to the 2021 OBS April Sale by Eddie Woods, and purchased for $425,000 after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. The half-sister to champion Lookin At Lucky, now trained by Todd Pletcher, has compiled a 7-5-1-0 record and earned $435,984. R3 Racing LLC’s Sharp Aza Tack is two-for-two and a stakes-winner after an effortless 7 1/4-length frontrunning victory in Saturday’s $102,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park, with fellow OBS graduate Bart’s Dream (March ’22) checking in third. Shipped east by trainer Doug O’Neill after breaking his maiden at Santa Anita in June, the 2-year-old colt by OBS graduate Sharp Azteca has earned $100,200. He was purchased for $100,000 out of the RiceHorse Stable consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show.
Granpollo Stable’s Grand David tried stakes company for the first time in Saturday’s $75,000 Bear’s Den Stakes at Gulfstream, pressed the pace, took over in the stretch and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths, with fellow OBS graduate California Frolic (April ’21) rallying for second. It’s the third straight win for the 3-year-old colt by Tapiture, trained by Victor Barboza Jr., now 10-3-2-2 with $129,510 in earnings. He was sold for $70,000 by Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, Agent for Global Thoroughbreds, at the 2021 OBS April Sale after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat.
From New York and Florida in the east, through Ohio, Indiana and Iowa in the Midwest and out west to California, OBS graduates posted weekend stakes victories from coast to coast. Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso’s Hot Peppers fought a three-way battle for the lead in Saturday’s $145,500, Gr. III Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park, took charge in the stretch and held off a late challenge to score by three quarters of a length. It’s the second straight stakes victory for the 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by Khozan, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, now 7-5-1-0 with $277,950 in earnings. A two-time OBS graduate, she was sold at the 2020 October Selected Yearling Sale and then purchased for $16,000 out of the De Meric Sales consignment at the 2021 June Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Flurry Racing Stables’ Interstatedaydream scored her second straight graded stakes win in the $200,000, Gr. III Indiana Oaks on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The 3-year-old Gr. I stakes-placed daughter of Classic Empire pressed the pace, took the lead, was headed by another rival, regained the lead in the stretch and drew away to a 2 1/4-length victory. Purchased for $175,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, she’s now 6-4-1-1 for trainer Brad Cox, and has earned $468,825. HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s High Connection tracked the early lead in Saturday’s $125,000 Las Alamitos Derby, took the lead on the outside after turning for home and eased away late to win by a length and three quarters. Fellow OBS graduate Win the Day (April ’21) settled for third. It’s the first stakes victory for the lightly-raced 3-year-old graded stakes-placed colt by Connect, trained by Bob Baffert, now 4-2-2-0 with earnings of $149,000. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat at the 2021 OBS March Sale, he was purchased by Narvick International for $290,000 out of the Sequel Bloodstock consignment. OBS grads picked up a pair of stakes wins at Prairie Meadows.
Bradley Thoroughbreds, Cambron Equine, Zane Carruth and Brady Carruth’s Jilted Bride was rated off the pace in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff Stakes, circled horses to reach contention on the turn and was up in the final yards to score by a head. It’s the first stakes score for the 5-year-old graded stakes-placed Florida-bred mare by Wicked Strong, a two-time OBS graduate. After going through the ring at the 2018 October Selected Yearling Sale, she was purchased out of the de Meric Sales consignment for $150,000 after working n Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5. Trained by Steve Asmussen, she’s now 19-5-6-7 and has earned $470,922. William L. Heiligbrodt, Corrine Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm’ s Macron, rated in the early going of the $100,000 Iowa Sprint Stakes, moved to challenge for the lead on the turn, took command a furlong from home and drew away to a 2 3/4-length victory, with fellow OBS graduate Oil Money (June ‘18, October ’17) checking in third. It’s the first stakes win for the 4-year-old son of Frosted, also trained by Asmussen, now 13-4-4-1 with $340,973 in earnings. Consigned to the 2020 OBS March Sale by S B M Training and Sales, Agent, he went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Omar Aldabbagh, Todd Todd and Ty Leatherman’s Vegas Magic is 2-for-2 and a stakes-winner after closing with a rush in deep stretch to get up in the final jump and take the $76,800 Everett S. Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton by a nose. The 2-year-old daughter of Good Magic, trained by Doug O’Neill, has earned $85,200. She was purchased for $100,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Jason DaCosta and Calypso Stable’s unbeaten Lady Lottie got the ball rolling on Friday at Belterra Park with a wire-to- wire victory in the $75,000 Jim Morgan Memorial Tah Dah Stakes, holding off a late run by fellow OBS graduate Back to Ohio (April ’22) by a neck. Two for two for trainer Jason Dacosta, she has earned $65,340. The 2-year-old daughter of Tamarkuz was purchased for $5,500 out of the Thoroughstock consignment at the 2021 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
HALLANDALE BEACH - After a respectable sixth in the April 2 Curlin Florida Derby at 1 1/8-miles, Steal Sunshine successfully cut back to seven furlongs today at Gulfstream Park, rallying from last to score an upset victory in the $75,000 Carry Back, reminiscent of the racing style of the Hall of Fame Florida-bred who the race is named after. Owned by Carrie Brogden and Little Red Feather Racing, Steal Sunshine followed up a strong late-closing starter allowance victory at a mile last time out with an even more impressive eye-catching stretch surge in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds. The Bobby DiBona-trained son of Constitution took complete advantage of a blistering early pace set by King Cab, who set fractions of :21.79 and :43.84 seconds for the first half-mile with Octane, and Cattin and Reddington in hot pursuit. Last by several lengths along the backstretch and far turn under a patient Lionel Reyes, Steal Sunshine quickly caught up to the field entering the turn with a wide sweep into the stretch, where his fresh legs carried him past his tiring rivals to a 2 ¼-length victory. “I took a shot running him in the Florida Derby," DiBona said. "He ran very respectable and put on a good show against some of the better horses. We’ve been thinking in the barn, ‘Long, long, he’ll run all day.’ I know that but he’s been compromised by slow fractions at times. Today, I said, ‘They’re going to be smoking. Maybe this is what he’s been waiting for – something to run at.’ He showed it today.” Steal Sunshine ran seven furlongs in 1:22.77 to capture his first stakes race and his third victory in eight starts. He was so far back early even his No. 2 ‘chicklet’ wasn’t visible on the TV screen. “I saw the fractions, but I needed to see his head stick into the screen somewhere," DiBona said. "Then, I saw him on the screen on the move and then he angled out. I looked up and saw 43-and-change, and I said, ‘Oh, yeah, he’s coming." He destroyed the field today.” Strike Hard finished second, a half-length ahead of Clapton.
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed The multi-race wager went unsolved on the first day after a lucky bettor hit the jackpot for a $118,521 payoff. Sunday’s Rainbow sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a contentious 1 1/16-mile optional claiming starter allowance on Tapeta. Kathleen O’Connell’s all-weather specialist Uno Tiger will seek to regain his winning form. The 5-year-old son of Macho Uno was riding a three-race winning streak on Tapeta before stepping up to stakes company last time out and finishing a close third in the Soldier’s Dancer. Uno Tiger is slated to clash with Joe Orseno-trained Lamplighter Jack, who is riding a three-race winning streak of his own on Tapeta.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Octane has been away from the races for nine months, but the manner in which the Arindel homebred gelding dominated the 2021 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series has been hard to forget. The Carlos David-trained 3-year-old son of Brethren is scheduled for a long-awaited return to action Saturday in the $75,000 Carry Back at Gulfstream Park, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds. It will be his first start since his dominating victory in the $400,000 FSS In Reality last September. “He had a great year," David said. "He gave us much joy. We gave him some time off. He was kind of on the small side, so we wanted to give him some time off and let him grow and see what he can do as a 3-year-old. He’s grown. He’s bigger. He’s smarter. He’s done everything right. His last workout was a few days ago and it was awesome. This race has been in our sights for his return.” Octane set the pace in his June 18, 2021 debut before settling for second behind subsequent multiple-stakes winner Lightening Larry, who most recently won the Gr. III Chick Lang on the Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico. “He was green. He was still trying to figure it out, and after that race he was a different horse,” David said. The David trainee came right back to capture a five-furlong maiden special weight race a month later before scoring a front-running victory in the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series. Octane successfully stretched out around two turns in the In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile final leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series in which he encountered bumping at the start and stiff pace pressure before drawing away in the stretch. “He’s versatile. I think seven-eighths is perfect for him coming back,” David said. Arindel will also be represented in the Carry Back by Clapton, a homebred son of Brethren. The Juan Alvarado-trained colt finished off the board in the Curlin Florida Derby on March 26 before capturing an optional claiming allowance on June 11. Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Octane, while Edgar Zayas has been named to ride Clapton. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. is also represented by two horses in the Carry Back field – David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa’s King Cab and Glassman Racing LLC’s Klugman. King Cab, a gelded son of Noble Bird, was an easy front-running winner in the seven-furlong Sophomore Stakes for Florida-bred 3-year-olds at Tampa Bay Downs three starts back.
“He kind of ran them off their feet the first part and they couldn’t catch him,” Plesa said. King Cab has finished second behind older horses in his two most recent starts at Gulfstream. Last time out, he set the pace before having to settle for second in the Big Drama for Florida-breds behind Willy Boi, who came right back to win last Saturday’s Gr. III Smile Sprint. King Cab overcame a slow break to capture his Aug. 6 debut going away but finished far behind Octane in the FSS Affirmed in his second race following another slow start. The gelding was sent to the sidelines for five months and came back to register a front-running optional claiming allowance by more than seven lengths. Although he failed to carry his speed in his first and only attempt around two turns a month later, he rebounded with his front-running score at Tampa Bay Downs. “He’s a horse that’s got a lot of speed," Plesa said. "He’s still learning how to run. I’m working with him to try to get him to relax a little bit more. He’s had problems switching leads down the lane. He’s never learned to switch leads down the lane. I’m hopeful he might. He switches leads in the morning.” Klugman, who won two of his first four career starts in front-running fashion, is coming off a third-place finish in his Tapeta debut in the June 11 Not Surprising. “He’s a horse that’s an up and comer. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him,” Plesa said. “I ran him in the stake on the [all-weather] and he didn’t like it. He finished third but someone had to finish third, that’s how I look at it.” Prior to his stakes placing, the son of Practical Joke scored a four-length victory in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream. Kevin Krigger is scheduled to ride King Cab for the first time Saturday, while Edgar Perez has been named on Klugman. Miracle’s International Trading's Strike Hard is the most battle-tested entrant in the Carry Back. The son of Flashback has won three starts in 10-race career, in which he has run in three graded stakes, including the Curlin Florida Derby. After finishing seventh in Gulfstream’s premier Triple Crown prep, Strike Hard captured a mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream and finished fifth in the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park. Junior Alvarado has the call aboard the Matthew Williams trainee. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Spendthrift Farm’s Cattin enters the Carry Back off a mile starter allowance victory that followed a third-place finish behind King Cab in the Sophomore at Tampa. The Ralph Nicks-trained son of Neolithic finished fourth and third behind Octane in the Affirmed and In Reality, respectively, before closing out his juvenile campaign with a victory in the six-furlong Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs. Miguel Vasquez is scheduled to ride Cattin for the first time. Amy E. Dunne’s Reddington, who graduated by 10 ½ lengths in his fifth career start last time out; and Carrie Brogden and Little Red Feather Racing’s Steel Sunshine, a starter allowance winner in his most recent start; round out the field. Racing resumes Friday with a 2:55 p.m. first race post and a $125,000 gross jackpot carryover in the Rainbow 6.
Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing’s Lady Rocket went right to the lead in Saturday’s $200,000, Gr. III Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs and never looked back en route to a 2 3/4-length victory.
That’s two graded stakes wins for the 5-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat, trained by Brad Cox, now 14-7-3-2 with $699,588 in earnings. The two-time OBS graduate was sold by The Acorn at the 2018 October Selected Yearling Sale and then purchased for $420,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2019 Spring Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Three Diamonds Farm’s Army Wife pressed the pace in Thistledown’s $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes, took over turning for home and held on gamely for a three-quarter length victory. Fellow OBS graduate She’s Pure Silver (June ’21) settled for third. It’s the third stakes victory for the 4-year-old graded stakes-winning daughter of Declaration of War, consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales to the 2020 OBS Spring Sale, where she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before she was sold for $190,000. Now 14-5-1-5 for trainer Mike Maker, she has earned $786,272. Belladonna Racing’s Bout Time tried stakes company for the first time in Saturday’s $108,000 Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park, swung out for the drive after saving ground on the turn, ran past the leaders inside the eighth pole and scored by 2 1/4 lengths. It’s the second straight win for the 4-year-old daughter of Not This Time, trained by Cherie DeVaux, now 5-3-1-0 with earnings of $171,488. She was purchased for $200,000 out of the Harris Training Center consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5.
LAUREL, MD – Champion Maryland jockey Sheldon Russell is nearing a return to the races more than nine months after being hurt in a pre-race spill at Laurel Park. “He’s doing great,” Russell’s agent Marty Leonard said. “He’s been getting back on horses for a couple weeks now and feeling good. He’s really close to returning to riding.” The 34-year-old Russell was originally hurt last Sept. 9 when 2-year-old Maryland-bred filly Little Bit of That got spooked and reared heading to the track before what was to be her career debut. Russell was thrown and landed on his right foot, toes-first, and was diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury, involving both the bones and ligaments in the middle part of his foot. Russell underwent successful surgery to repair the injury and, following a long recovery and rehab, began getting on horses again in April but was back on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone during morning training.
“He was probably about a week away from returning when that happened, so it was another minor setback,” Leonard said. “It was about an eight to 10-week injury.” Russell is married to Brittany Russell, leading trainer this year during Laurel’s spring stand as well as the subsequent Preakness Meet at Pimlico Race Course. Ironically, it was Little Bit of That’s victory on Mother’s Day, May 8, that clinched the mom-of-two’s first meet championship. At the time of his injury last fall, Russell led all jockeys in Maryland in purses earned and was second in wins. He has won more than 1,500 races and $43 million in purses since 2007, overcoming several injuries during his career. “He’s gone through this a few times. He’s resilient and relentless, he really is,” Leonard said. “We’re just going day by day and we’re going to let him tell us when he’s ready to go. When he’s ready to go, I’m sure we’ll have a horse to get on.” Tiz No Clown All Business in Maiden Triumph Experience and a familiarity with the racing surface proved to be a winning combination for Tiz No Clown, who graduated in style with a 2 ½-length maiden special weight triumph, and became the first winner for Pleasant Acres Stallioons' freshman sire No Never No More. Owned and trained by Charles Town-based William Earl Atkins, Tiz No Clown ($9.80) won the six-furlong maiden special weight in :59.29 seconds over a fast main track with Yomar Ortiz aboard for the first time. The win came six weeks after the colt finished first by 1 ¼ lengths in a 4 ½-furlong maiden claiming event May on 12 at Pimlico Race Course, but was taken down and placed third for coming over from his outside post position out of the starting gate. “He got it back today, in a maiden special weight,” Atkins said. “That was a good deal.” Tiz No Clown broke sharply and raced alongside Ice Cold Frosty in the early stages before getting away to a clear lead leaving the backstretch. Tall Order, favored at 6-5, moved into a challenging position around the far turn but Tiz No Clown straightened for home in command and opened up through the lane. Ice Cold Frosty held second over Lacey Gaudet-trained stablemate Quincy Cafe, with Tall Order fourth. Bred in Maryland by Stephen Smith and Denise Jones, Tiz No Clown was the only horse in the field of six that had raced previously. After the last start, Atkins decided to regularly make the 90-minute trip from West Virginia to Maryland to further his education. “I’ve been bringing him here and working him every week and I’ve been working him at home. We live in Charles Town and we trailered him in here to work him over this surface, and I said, ‘OK, now he’s ready to go,’” Atkins said. “The first time I ran him here he wasn’t sure of the dirt and he was climbing real bad, so he did no good. The second time I ran him was when I ran him at Pimlico, and the dirt there is more like it is at Charles Town where he trains, and he won, but they set him down, I said what we needed to do was trailer him over to Laurel and work him over the surface and let him get used to it. So, that’s what we did. It worked out perfect.” In addition to regular gallops, Tiz No Clown had one timed breeze at Laurel prior to his breakthrough win, a three-furlong move in 36.80 seconds on June 15 which ranked second of 15 horses on the day. “He’s fast and the thing about it is, this horse can go all day. When I train him down here, this horse can go two laps at Laurel and comes back and doesn’t even break a sweat. He can go a mile, mile and a sixteenth; there isn’t a distance this horse can’t go,” Atkins said. “I sure do like him a lot. He’s so easy. When we ship in, he’s so quiet he never does anything wrong. Nothing. And he’s still a colt, too.”
The 37th Jim McKay Maryland Million on Oct. 22 at Laurel is a late-season goal for Tiz No Clown. “He’s Maryland Million nominated, so that’s where he’ll go,” Atkins said. “Now I can give him a little break because he won. It’ll be a little while before they write an allowance race for 2-year-olds, so I’ll just give him a break for a couple of months and just play with him and then bring him back.”
HALLANDALE BEACH - Edgard Zayas had spent quality time with his family during his six months on the sidelines, and wife Ashley and daughters Lilah (18 months) and Lillian (5) were the first to greet the 28-year-old jockey following his first race back at Gulfstream Park this afternoon. Following surgery on his left shoulder and a lengthy rehabilitation period, Zayas had three mounts on the program, including Flag Woman, who set the pace before fading to fifth in Race 3. “It feels good, getting back after six months,” Zayas said. “The shoulder felt great, no problem at all. I was hoping for better results but I’m happy to be back.” Zayas also rode Don’t Get Khozy, who finished fifth in Race 7, and Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Li Li Bear, who checked in eighth in Race 8. Zayas has ridden 1930 winners since venturing to South Florida to launch his career in late 2012, benefitting from early mentoring from Hall of Famers Angel Cordero and Edgar Prado. He was an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey in 2013 after riding more than 200 winners and notching a Grade 1 victory aboard Starship Truffles in the Princess Rooney at Calder. Zayas, who has gone on to ride more than 200 winners in six of nine complete years of his career, while winning numerous riding titles at Gulfstream and Gulfstream Park West.
Perez Rides Five Winners Edgar Perez continued a very solid Royal Palm Meet today, riding five winners on the 10-race program. Perez rode three straight winners – Alternate Rock ($9) in Race 3, Great Uncle ($5.40) in Race 4 and Laniakea Storm ($6.40) in Race 5 – before scoring back-to-back aboard Dignified ($41.60) in Race 8 and Sequin Lady ($6) in Race 9. “It’s been a great day, unbelievable,” Perez said. The Venezuela native, who had been a fixture on the Chicago circuit for years after riding his first U.S. race in South Florida in 2009, switched his tack to Gulfstream this spring and summer due to the closure of Arlington Park. “I’m thankful for the opportunities. My agent [Rene Douglas] told me I will do good here,” Perez said. “I like it here. I like the Tapeta, everything.” Three of Perez’s victories were on the all-weather surface. In Race 7, a seven-furlong starter allowance for fillies, jockey Franklin Gonzalez Jr. notched his first U.S. victory aboard Awesome Annmarie ($19.20). The Venezuela native had been winless in 32 races since making his U.S. debut April 28 at Gulfstream.
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed The Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $200,000 Saturday. The multi-race wager has gone unsolved for five racing days following a June 11 mandatory payout. The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 7-12, including the $75,000 Powder Break, a mile-and-70-yard stakes for fillies and mares on Tapeta, in Race 10. David Fawkes-trained Grand Ave Girl, who captured the Monroe Stakes on turf last time out, is rated at 7-5 in morning line.
LAUREL, MD – Having its own independent ambulance service, considered a rarity among U.S. thoroughbred racetracks, enabled the Maryland Jockey Club to quickly and effectively respond to a call for help from its elderly community. The MJC was among several companies that answered a request sent out by the Maryland State Office of Commercial Ambulances Licensing & Regulation in the early morning hours of June 14 following an explosion and resulting fire at the Larkin Chase Center senior care facility in Bowie, Md. Located about 35 minutes southeast of Laurel Park, where live racing is currently being conducted during a 37-day summer meet that began June 3, the Larkin Chase Center had 112 displaced residents that needed to be moved from an emergency holding area located in a city gymnasium across the street from the facility.
Ryan Allen, a licensed paramedic and the MJC’s Director of Health & Safety, and MJC emergency medical technician Tony Posinski staffed the ambulance that was dispatched and ultimately able to move three individuals to nearby facilities.
“Most tracks contract with AMR [American Medical Response] to provide ambulance service for them. We don’t contract with anybody. We run our own in-house ambulances. We own it, I operate it, and we’re registered with the state. We comply with all of the exact same rules as the commercial ambulance companies,” Allen said. “This call came out, and we had an ambulance available.” Allen said eight commercial ambulance companies from around the state, including the MJC, responded to the call. “The initial response was to get the residents out of that building, because they didn’t know how bad the damage to the building was,” Allen said. “It was really easy to move the residents into that gymnasium and hold them there, but obviously they can’t stay there very long. The call came out at about 7 a. m. and we had a unit there at about 10:30, which was pretty standard with all the responding units.” The MJC has an ambulance on the track during each of its live race days, which run Fridays through Sundays during the ongoing summer meet. The next live program is Friday, June 17. In his eighth year with the MJC, Allen said that Maryland is somewhat unique in that its ambulances are not regulated by the Department of Health as in most states, but report to a distinct governing body, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. “The idea was that we had the resources, we had the availability, and it was really fortunate that we were able to help get those people out and get them re-housed within about five hours,” he said. “We were able to provide some relief to them and their loved ones. We explained we were there to take care of them, get them re-housed to a temporary situation and get them safe and comfortable. I’m very glad that we were able to help them out with that. It was really easy for the MJC to be able to do it.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL –Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. made an unexpected visit to the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle Saturday. Not that Sister Lou Ann was a surprise winner of the $75,000 Martha Washington, but her trainer had planned on being at Belmont Park to saddle Skippylongstocking for a start in the Belmont Stakes. After experiencing flight delays and eventually a cancellation, Joseph decided to remain in South Florida to carry out his saddling duties at Gulfstream. The winner’s circle ceremony at Gulfstream turned out to be a memorable and emotional one following the Ken and Sarah Ramsey home-bred’s front-running victory in the mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf. Sister Lou Ann’s first stakes victory came less than two weeks after Sarah Ramsey’s passing. “To win for Mr. Ramsey after Mrs. Ramsey passed away, this is for her. This is a special win,” said Joseph, approximately two hours before the Belmont Stakes was scheduled to go to post. “Mr. Ramsey, the one thing he wants to do is to make sure to run as Ken and Sarah Ramsey, he told me. He was adamant about that happening. He wants to make sure to keep the tradition going on.”
Sister Lou Ann, the 2-1 favorite ridden by Leonel Reyes, went right to the front to set the pace before shaking off a mild challenge by Saturday Night Gal on the turn into the homestretch and drawing clear by 1 ¼ lengths. The daughter of Frosted ran the about 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:48.60 over a ‘good’ turf. Saturday’s victory was the first stakes success for Sister Lou Ann, who was making her first start since finishing a close second in the Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 3. Saturday Nite Girl held second, a neck in front of Jan’s Girl. The Joseph-trained Miss You Ella finished fourth after a troubled trip.
In the co-featured $75,000 Not Surprising, Julian De Mora Jr.’s California Frolic, who captured the English Channel on turf on May 7, came right back to win on Gulfstream’s Tapeta course. The 3-year-old son of California Chrome, who has won three of four starts since being claimed for $50,000, raced from well off the early pace before making moving to the lead at the top of the stretch and holding off Treasure King by a neck. California Frolic ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.59 under Edgar Perez. Joseph-trained Treasure King finished second, 5 ¼ lengths ahead of Klugman.
Ocala Stud Farm's Girvin has given Florida's freshman sires their first stakes-winner - Devious Dame - who followed up her sensational debut with a convincing victory yesterday in the $150,000 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park.
The 2-year-old filly bred by Ocala Stud, Joe O'Farrell 3rd, David O'Farrell et al, and trained by Norm Casse, came from off the pace in the 5 1/2-furlong race, looped the field on the turn, and powered past the pace-setter in mid-stretch. The $240,000 OBS March purchase by owner John Oxley drew off by 5 1/4 lengths and was eased at the end by rider Joel Rosario, paying $2.90.
Devious Dame earned a check for $82,500, and added to the $35,560 she collected for her 5-furlong maiden-breaker at Churchill Downs, which she won by 5 1/2 lengths, she now has a bank account of $118,060. The budding star has received Equibase 'E' speed figures of 87 and 86.
Of 39 first-year sires who have had at least one runner thus far, Girvin is in third place with $126,120 in the till.
Hip No. 1087, a son of Curlin consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Gus King for $370,000 to top the final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. The chestnut colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 3/5 at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is out of stakes placed Distracting, by Distorted Humor, a half sister to grade one stakes winner Streaming. Hip No. 983, a daughter of Collected consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, for $260,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is out of Hottalabamba, by Into Mischief, a daughter of graded stakes placed So Long Sonoma.
Hip No, 795, a daughter of Irish War Cry consigned by Thorostock LLC, Agent, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was the fastest work at of the sale the distance at Friday’s Under Tack session, went to Jebel Ali Stable for $250,000. The dark bay or brown filly is a half sister to stakes placed Jamaican Don out of D D Renegade, by Medalist, from the family of grade one stakes winner Lite Light.
Hip No. 994, a son of Pioneerof the Nile who breezed a quarter in :21 2/5 on Saturday, went to MyRacehorse for $250,000. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, the bay colt is out of graded stakes winner I’m a Looker by Henny Hughes, from the family of grade one stakes winner Dortmund.
Justin Casse, Agent, went to $250,000 for Hip No. 1090, a daughter of American Freedom consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an eighth in:10 1/5 on Saturday, is out of Honey Ride, by Candy Ride (ARG), a daughter of grade one stakes winner Tarlow.
Hip No. 970, a daughter of Ghostzapper consigned by All Dreams Equine, Agent, was sold to Shepherd Equine Advisors, Agent for Larry Hirsch, for $240,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Saturday, is out of High Authority, by Uncle Mo, a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS graduate Adios Charlie.
Hip No. 1109, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, was sold to Scott & Evan Dilworth LLC for $230,000. The dark bay or brown filly, whose Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5 was Saturday’s co-fastest, is a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Forewarned out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Fortune Play, by Five Star Day.
Randy Bradshaw paid $210,000 for Hip No. 972, a son of Accelerate consigned by Pike Racing, Agent. The chestnut colt, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is out of History Supreme, by Speightstown, a daughter of graded stakes placed Bahama Bound.
Hip No. 783, a daughter of Bee Jersey consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, was sold to NBS Stable / John Ballantyne for $200,000. The chestnut filly, whose quarter in :20 4/5 was co-fastest at the distance on Friday, is out of graded stakes placed Dance Secretary (IRE), by Danehill Dancer, a half sister to champion Perfect Soul (IRE).
Frank Alosa, Agent for Gentry Farm, went to $200,000 for Hip No. 947, a son of Girvin consigned by Dynasty Thoroughbreds. The dark bay or brown colt, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is out of stakes placed Grinch, by Salt Lake, from the family of stakes winner Miss Missile.
Hip No. 984, a daughter of Good Magic consigned by New Horizon Farm, Inc., Agent, was sold to Peter Miller, Agent, for $200,000. The bay filly is a half sister to grade one stakes placed Thirteen Squared out of graded stakes winner House of Fortune, by Free House.
For the session, 206 two-year-olds sold for a total of $9,594,900, compared with 166 grossing $8,397,450 at last year’s third session. The average was $46,577, compared with $50,587 a year ago, while the median price was $25,000, identical to 2021. The buyback percentage was 20.5%; it was 16.2% last year. Five older horses sold for $85,000, averaging $17,000 with a $13,000 median price. For the entire sale, 658 two-year-olds sold for a record $27,082,500, compared with 567 bringing 2021’s old mark of $24,626,450, The average was $41,159, compared to 2021’s $43,433, while the median price was a sale record $25,000 compared with $20,000 in 2021. The buyback percentage was 18.3%; it was 16.9% last year.
Hip No. 525, a daughter of Uncle Mo consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, Agent, went to Donato Lanni, Agent, for $725,000 to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat at Wednesday’s Under Tack session, is out of Ultralight Beam, by Giant’s Causeway, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner His Race to Win. Donato Lanni, Agent, went to $625,000 for Hip No. 560, a daughter of Flatter consigned by Julie Davies LLC, Agent, who worked Wednesday’s fastest eighth, clocked in :9 4/5. The gray or roan filly is out of Wicked Ride, by Candy Ride (ARG), a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winning OBS graduate Wickedly Perfect
Hip No. 544, a son of Munnings consigned by Dark Star Thoroughbreds (Stori Atchison) was purchased by Benjamin Gase for $300,000. The chestnut colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Wednesday, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Great Island out of Voyage, by Rahy.
Hip 695, a son of More Than Ready consigned by Kings Equine, Agent for Spendthrift Farm, was sold to Lane’s End Racing for $250,000. The dark bay or brown colt, whose Under Tack eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance on Thursday, is out of Brandy, by Unbridled’s Song, a daughter of stakes-winner Alienated.
Chris Coleman paid $230,000 for Hip No. 519, a daughter of Mshawish consigned by Blas Perez Stables, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Wednesday, is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed OBS grad Skippylongstocking, entered in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, as well as graded stakes-placed stakes-winning OBS graduate Moonlite Strike, out of Twinkling, by War Chant.
Hip 655, Luke the Legend, a son of Ride On Curlin consigned by Crystal Eclipse Stable, was purchased by Big Sky Racing for $230,000. The chestnut colt, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance on Thursday, is out of Awesome Sunrize, by Awesome Again, a half-sister to graded stakes-winning OBS graduate Stubbins.
Hip No. 541, a daughter of Hit It a Bomb consigned by Woodside Ranch, Agent, was sold to Sarah Kelly for $200,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Wednesday, is out of Voided Contract, by Zensational, from the family of champion Smarty Jones.
Hip No. 613, a daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to D. J. Stable LLC for $185,000. The gray or roan filly, who breezed an eighth on Thursday in :10 2/5, is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Copper Bullet out of Allegory, by Unbridled’s Song.
Hip No. 473, a daughter of Empire Maker consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, was sold to David Ingordo, Agent, for $160,000. The gray or roan filly, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 on Wednesday, is out of Tapital Gang, by Tapit, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Yearly Report.
Hip No. 550, a son of Tapiture consigned by CM Thoroughbreds, went to Mike Pender, Agent, for $150,000. The chestnut gelding, second in a maiden dash at Gulfstream prior to the sale, is out of War Angel, by Declaration of War, from the family of graded stakes-winner Slew of Pearls. For the session, 217 horses grossed $9,414,000, compared with 205 selling for a total of $8,472,600 at last year’s second session. The average was $43,382 compared with $41,330 a year ago, while the median price was $25,000, compared to $17,000 in 2021. The buyback percentage was 19.9%; it was 16.3% last year.
Hip No. 191, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to Greg & Caroline Bentley for $290,000 to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. The bay filly, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance at Tuesday’s Under Tack session, is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Top of Mind out of stakes-winner Over the Edge, by Thunder Gulch. Marette Farrell, Agent for Exline-Border Racing LLC, paid $240,000 for Hip No. 331, a daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) consigned by All Dreams Equine, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Tuesday, is out of Seaside Escape, by Bernardini, a full sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Cavorting.
Hip No. 116, a daughter of Adios Charlie consigned by Ocala Stud, went to Champion Equine LLC for $235,000. The bay filly, whose quarter in :21 flat was fastest at the distance at Monday’s Under Tack session, is out of stakes- placed Miss Melinda, by Malibu Moon, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Black Escort.
Hip No. 54, a son of Nyquist consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, was sold to Mike Maker for $220,000. The bay colt, who turned in an Under Tack eighth on Monday in :10 1/5, is out of graded stakes-winner Livin Lovin, by Birdstone.
Hip No. 236, a daughter of Liam’s Map consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Patrice Miller, EQB Inc, Agent, for $160,000. The bay filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 on Tuesday, is out of Pretty U, by Pomeroy, a full sister to graded stakes-winning OBS graduate Pomeroys Pistol.
Clay Scherer, Agent, went to $150,000 for Hip No. 123, a daughter of Redesdale consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, Agent. The chestnut filly, who breezed a quarter in :21 1/5 at the Under Tack Show on Monday, is out of Miz Midtown, by Exchange Rate, a daughter of stakes-winner Midtown Miss.
Hip 217, Picchero, a daughter of Bucchero consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds, was sold for $150,000 to Cherie DeVaux, Agent. The chestnut filly, whose eighth on Tuesday in :10 flat was the session’s co-fastest, is out of Pick the Double, by Double Honor, from the family of graded stakes-winner Accredit.
Hip No. 130, a daughter of Bayern consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, was purchased for $140,000 by Ryan Zabrowski. The dark bay or brown filly, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at Monday’s Under Tack session, is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Bishop’s Pond out of stakes-winner More for Me, by More Than Ready.
Mike Akers, Agent, went to $140,000 for Hip No. 246, a daughter of Square Eddie consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent. The bay filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :10 flat on Tuesday was the session’s co-fastest, is a full sister to stakes-placed Square Peggy out of Puff Pastry, by Momentum.
For the session, 184 horses grossed $7,107,500, compared with 196 selling for a total of $7,756,400 at last year’s first session. The average was $38,628 compared with $39,573 a year ago, while the median price was $25,500 compared to $20,000 in 2021. The buyback percentage was 33%; it was 18.3% last year.
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Today’s live racing card at Gulfstream Park has been canceled due to heavy rains from a tropical storm system making its way across South Florida. Ditto for Sunday's program. A tropical storm warning remained in effect early this morning by the National Weather Service. The Gulfstream Park facility will remain open for simulcast and casino wagering.
Live racing is scheduled to resume Thursday with a 1:05 post time and a $700,000 guaranteed Rainbow 6 jackpot.
Hip No, 795, a daughter of Irish War Cry consigned by Thorostock LLC, Agent, breezed an eighth in :9 4/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the fifth session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 June Sale of Two Year Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age. The dark bay or brown filly is a half sister to stakes placed Jamaican Don out of D D Renegade, by Medalist, from the family of grade one stakes winner Lite Light. Three horses shared honors for the session’s fastest quarter, clocked in :20 4/5. Hip No. 783, consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, is a chestnut filly by Bee Jersey out of graded stakes placed Dance Secretary (IRE), by Danehill Dancer, a half sister to champion Perfect Soul (IRE)
Hip No. 823, a dark bay or brown filly by Uncaptured consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, is out of E Built This City, by City Zip, a half sister to stakes placed Anyriderill Do.
Hip No. 860, consigned by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon & Ali Rice), is a dark bay or brown colt by Outwork out of Fade to Black, by Street Cry (IRE), from the family of champion OBS graduate Kitten’s Joy.
Hip No. 792, a son of Good Magic consigned by Bold Arrow Thoroughbreds breezed three eighths in :33 3/5. The bay colt is out of Dark Before Dawn, by Ghostzapper, a half sister to stakes winner Dashing Debby. Five horses turned in eighths in :10 flat. Hip 759, Goodmornincaptain, a bay colt by Army Mule consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, is a half brother to stakes winner Jurojin out of Copelan County, by Gibson County.
Hip 789, a chestnut filly by Rainbow Heir consigned by Randy Miles, Agent, is a half sister to stakes placed Distinction Bird out of Dare I Dream, by OBS graduate Delaware Township.
Hip 811, also consigned by Randy Miles, Agent, is a dark bay or brown colt by Mo Town out of Dixie Babe, by Dixie Union, a daughter of stakes winner Bluegrass Sara.
Hip 843, a chestnut filly by Bustin Stones consigned by Silvestre Chavez Thoroughbreds, Agent, is out of E. Queen, by E Dubai, from the family of graded stakes winner Kingpost.
Hip 861, consigned by Marcial Galan, Agent, is a dark bay or brown colt by Mark Valeski out of Faith Proof, by Idiot Proof, a half sister to stakes winner Centerofattention.
Hip No. 768, a son of Tiznow consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp., Agent, turned in the only quarter in :21 flat. The bay colt is out of Country Drive, by Shirocco (GER), a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Bodecream. A pair of youngsters breezed quarters in :21 1/5.
Hip No. 762, a gray or roan colt by Get Stormy consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, is a half brother to stakes placed Talkthetalk out of Cosmic Energy, by Unbridled Energy.
Hip No. 874, a bay filly by Palace consigned by Silvestre Chavez Thoroughbreds, Agent, is a half sister to graded stakes placed Surf and Turf out of First in Time, by Broken Vow, from the family of grade one stakes winner Changeintheweather,
Two horses turned in quarters in :21 2/5.
Hip No. 753, consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, is a gray or roan colt by Munnings out of Compulsion, by Pioneeruarters in :21 1/5.of the Nile, a half sister to stakes winner Justin Squared.
Hip No. 882, a dark bay or brown colt by Street Sense consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, is a half brother to graded stakes winning OBS graduate The Tabulator out of Fly to the Stars, by Giant’s Causeway.
Hip No. 634, a son of Constitution consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, worked three-eighths in :33 1/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the fourth session of the Under Tack Show for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 June Sale of Two Year Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age. The bay colt is out of Arana, by Hard Spun, from the family of graded stakes winner Clearing. Three horses shared honors for the session’s fastest quarter, stopping the timer in :21 flat. Hip No. 573, a dark bay or brown colt by Bal a Bali (BRZ) consigned by Cruzin’ Thoroughbreds, Agent, is out of Winged Fury, by War Chant, a daughter of champion Fiji (GB).
Hip No. 685, also consigned by Cruzin’ Thoroughbreds, Agent, is a bay colt by Blame out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Bling On the Music, by Too Much Bling.
Hip No. 741, Major Deal, consigned by Galvan Brothers Equine, is a bay gelding by Klimt out of Christiansted, by Artie Schiller, from the family of graded stakes winner Mad Flatter.
A trio of youngsters breezed quarters in :21 2/5. Hip No. 687, consigned by Britton Peak, Agent, is a bay colt by Blame out of stakes placed Blithely, by Exchange Rate, a half sister to graded stakes winner Merry Meadow.
Hip No. 702, a bay filly by Uncaptured consigned by Ocala Stud, is a full sister to stakes placed Bet On Mookie out of Brown Glaze, by War Front, from the family of graded stakes placed stakes winning OBS graduate Lucky Livi.
Hip No. 724, consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp., is a bay colt by Lord Nelson out of Cash Is Queen, by Unbridled’s Song, a half sister to graded stakes winner Name Changer.
Twelve horses tied for the session’s fastest eighth, clocked in :10 flat. Hip 599, Magnified, consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds, is a chestnut colt by Tunwoo out of Adios Ashley, by Adios Charlie, a daughter of stakes winner Ashley River.
Hip 606, Canela de Oro, a gray or roan filly by Majestic City consigned by Golden Noguez, Agent, is out of Agustina de Aragon, by Political Force, from the family of champion Leroidesanimaux (BRZ).
Hip 618, a dark bay or brown colt by Connect consigned by Champions of the Future, is out of champion Along Came Polly (SAF), by Judpot, from the family of champion Young Rake.
Hip 624, consigned by Goldencents Thoroughbreds, a dark bay or brown filly by Tapwrit, is out of Ammalu, by Boston Harbor, a half sister to graded stakes winner Sapphire N’ Silk.
Hip 652, a bay filly by Always Dreaming consigned by A Rebel Colt Consignment, is out of stakes winner Away We Go, by Tizway, from the family of grade one stakes winner Ogygian.
Hip 655, Luke the Legend, a chestnut colt by Ride On Curlin consigned by Crystal Eclipse Stable, is out of Awesome Sunrize, by Awesome Again, a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS graduate Stubbins.
Hip 670, consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by Munnings out of Beautiful Princess, by Giant’s Causeway, from the family of graded stakes winner Forest Music.
Hip 695, consigned by Kings Equine, Agent for Spendthrift Farm LLC, is a dark bay or brown colt by More Than Ready out of Brandy, by Unbridled’s Song, a daughter of stakes winner Alienated.
Hip 700, an Irish-bred bay colt by Caravaggio consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, is out of stakes placed Brioniya, by Pivotal, a daughter of graded stakes placed stakes winner Bahia Breeze.
Hip 706, consigned by Marcial Galan, Agent, is a chestnut colt by First Samurai out of stakes placed Button Girl, by Mizzen Mast, a half sister to graded stakes winner Coracle.
Hip 713, a bay colt by Quality Road consigned by Centofanti Thoroughbreds, Agent, is out of graded stakes winner Call Pat, by Lawyer Ron.
Hip 715, consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp, is a dark bay or brown colt by West Coast out of Canadian River, by Smart Strike, a half sister to graded stakes winner Montgomery’s Arch.
Hip No. 116, a daughter of Adios Charlie consigned by Ocala Stud, worked a quarter in :21 flat to post the fastest work at the distance at the opening session of the Under Tack Show for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 June Sale of Two Year Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age. The bay filly is out of stakes-placed Miss Melinda, by Malibu Moon, a daughter of graded stakes- placed stakes-winner Black Escort. Nine horses shared honors for the fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :10 flat. Hip 2, Gambito, a bay colt by Astern (AUS) consigned by Fast Horses, Agent, is a half brother to champion La Poetesa out of grade one stakes winner La Dalila (CHI), by Milt’s Overture.
Hip 9, a dark bay or brown colt by Army Mule consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of Lady Halite, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of graded stakes winning OBS graduate Buffalo Man.
Hip 23, consigned by Shooting Star Sales LLC, is a chestnut colt by Bucchero out of Law of Attraction, by Soldat, from the family of graded stakes winner Native Bombshell.
Hip 36, a bay colt by Astern (AUS) consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC, Agent, is out of Lexi Tap, by Pleasant Tap, a half sister to graded stakes winner Irish Jasper.
Hip 37, consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by Girvin out of Libbyris, by Algorithms, a half sister to champion Roy H.
Hip 82, a dark bay or brown filly by Candy Ride (ARG) consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, is out of Malhama, by Tiznow, from the family of champion Paradise Creek.
Hip 112, consigned by Centofanti Thoroughbreds, Agent, is a bay filly by Into Mischief out of stakes winner Miss Hollywood, by Malibu Moon, a daughter of grade one winner Hollywood Story.
Hip 130 a dark bay or brown filly by Bayern consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, is a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Bishop’s Pond out of stakes winner More for Me, by More Than Ready.
Hip 164, Roll On Big Joe, consigned by Gayle Woods, Agent, is a colt by Prospective out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop, from the family of grade one stakes winner Norway Boy.
There were two quarters in :21 1/5. Hip No. 123, consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, Agent, is a chestnut filly by Redesdale out of Miz Midtown, by Exchange Rate, a daughter of stakes winner Midtown Miss.
Hip No. 124, a gray or roan colt by Cinco Charlie consigned by L. G., Agent, is out of Mlle. Minuit, by Midnight Lute, from the family of graded stakes winner Yestday’s Kisses.
Three horses were clocked in :21 2/5. Hip No. 137, consigned by Davis Breaking and Training, Inc., Agent, is a gray or roan filly by Cross Traffic out of Mo Wicked, by Uncle Mo, from the family of grade one stakes winner Wickedly Perfect.
Hip No. 141, a bay colt by Jimmy Creed consigned by Goldencents Thoroughbreds, is out of Ms Giavonna, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of grade one winner Pampered Princess.
Hip No. 167, a bay colt by Always Dreaming consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, is a half brother to graded stakes winner Major General out of No Mo Lemons, by Uncle Mo.
One of the most bizarre stories in racing takes another step forward today in the first race at Monmouth Park.
The culprit is Gone Astray Kiss, an 8-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding by Pleasant Acres' stallion Gone Astray. What makes him so intriguing is that Gone Astray Kiss has raced 71 times, compiling an oh-no record of 2-2-12, with earnings of $119,716. His two victories came in the same season - at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 8 of 2017 and May 13 of 2017 at Monmouth Park. He paid $6.80 in the Tampa race competing for $16,000, and $20.20 at Monmouth competing for $7,500.
Gone Astray Kiss is now owned and trained by Anthony Foglia, who may just be having a good time with him. The last time Gone Astray Kiss finished in the top 3 was a third-place finish on July 3 of last year at Monmouth - he was 38-1 that day. It's possible there are bettors who want to own a souvenir ticket in case the gelding becomes a record-holder of some kind somewhere down the line.
GAK took a six-month vacation, returning at Monmouth on May 8 - amazingly - in a $75,000 allowance race. He finished eighth by 17 1/2 lengths at odds of 53-1. It appeared Foglia was just trying to get a race in him, thus the class he faced. However, he's in another $75,000 allowance today, and is 30-1 in the morning line. If the souvenir hunters don't show up to bet a few bucks, GAK could go off at 100-1.
LNJ Foxwoods’ OBS April Sale graduate Lighthouse was sold to Irish bloodstock agent Dermot Farrington for $1.7 million on Tuesday at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in Australia.
The 5-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast was a graded stakes-placed stakes-winner in the U.S. and a five-time stakes-winner in Australia, topped by her recent victory in the Gr. I ATC Coolmore Cup at Rose Hill Gardens. She ended her racing career with a 19-8-5-1 record and earnings of $1.4 million.
At the 2019 OBS April Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat and was purchased for $375,000 out of the Randy Miles consignment.
BALTIMORE – Pimlico Race Course will kick off Memorial Day weekend today with a live eight-race program featuring a carryover of $432,827 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6. Post time is 12:40 p.m. for the first of four programs that also mark the final weekend of the 12-day Preakness Meet, which began May 12 and runs through a special Memorial Day holiday card May 30. The Rainbow 6 carryover dates back to the last live racing day, when Early Voting captured the 147th Preakness Stakes May 21 to give Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stable and trainer Chad Brown their second victory in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown in six years. The Rainbow 6 carryover is the largest in Maryland since it reached a state-record $1,435,080.75 over 27 consecutive racing programs before a mandatory payout of $31,028.08 to multiple ticketholders July 4, 2021. Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico’s spring meet, the Rainbow 6 had a prior state record carryover of $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The Rainbow 6 sequence spans Races 3-8 and opens with a maiden special weight for fillies and mares age 3, 4 and 5 scheduled for five furlongs on the turf that drew a field of nine including Pray for the U S A, entered for main track only. The 7-5 program favorite is 3-year-old Visby, a second-time starter for trainer Justin Nixon that was beaten a length in an April 22 maiden special weight at Laurel by La Casa d’Oro, who came back to run sixth in the Miss Preakness May 20. Race 4 is a six-furlong claimer for fillies and mares 3 and up which have never won two races. Some Is Nine enters the race of a 2 ¾-length maiden claiming victory May 15 at Pimlico, her fourth start since being claimed for $10,000 by trainer Mario Serey Jr. Trainer Kieron Magee sends out Moon Biz, who has been third or better in four of eight lifetime starts including her lone victory at this level Feb. 27 at Laurel. Ten maiden fillies and mares age 3, 4 and 5 are entered to sprint six furlongs in a Race 5 claiming event. The Elkstone Group’s Maryland hombred Doomscroller, a 3-year-old daughter of Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist, is 7-5 on the morning line as she drops to the $16,000 level after finishing off the board in her first three starts, one in a maiden special weight and two with the waiver in maiden claimers.
Golden Can and Whiteknuckleflyer figure to vie for favoritism in Race 6, a $40,000 allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up scheduled for five furlongs on the grass. A four-time winner, Golden Can will be making just her second start since last October after finishing fifth in an off-the-turf optional claimer May 19 at Pimlico. Whiteknuckleflyer ran second in last September’s Small Wonder at Delaware Park and has not raced since finishing a troubled seventh in the Smart Halo Nov. 13 at Laurel. The feature comes in Race 7, an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs where both Hampden Lane and Hagler are entered for a $62,500 tag. Hagler ships in from New York for trainer Rudy Rodriguez after going 0-for-3 this year including fifths in the Jan. 1 Jerome and Feb. 6 Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct. The 7-5 program favorite is Rominski, who has a win and two seconds in three lifetime starts. Trained by Claudio Gonzalez, he was second by 1 ½ lengths as the favorite in a six-furlong optional claimer May 5 at Laurel, his first start in more than five months. Thursday’s card wraps up with a six-furlong claiming sprint for maidens age 3, 4 and 5 where Frightland is a 3-5 morning line favorite for trainer Brittany Russell off his first two starts, both this year at Laurel. The 4-year-old Munnings gelding was fourth in a six-furlong maiden special weight April 22 before finishing second in a 5 ½-furlong maiden claiming turf sprint 19 days later. Feargal Lynch, aboard for each race, returns to ride. NOTES: Russell, whose 2022 Laurel spring title made her just the fourth female to win a meet championship in Maryland, leads the Preakness Meet standings with five wins, one ahead of Mike Trombetta, Jamie Ness and Richard Sillaman … Jevian Toledo sits atop the jockey standings with 10 wins, four more than Victor Carrasco and Jaime Rodriguez.
BALTIMORE – Early Voting captured the 147th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course Saturday, providing Klaravich Stables Inc. and trainer Chad Brown with a second win in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown by following their game plan with 2017 victor Cloud Computing. Like Cloud Computing, Early Voting bypassed the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier and joined the Triple Crown campaign in the Preakness. Saturday’s Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown headlined a 14-race program featuring 10 stakes, including six graded races. The Preakness Day celebration included InfieldFest, an infield celebration featuring popular music and recording artists, Chainsmokers, Marshmello, Frank Walker and Moneybagg Yo. Klaravich Stable Inc.’s Seth Klarman, who grew up in Baltimore a few blocks from Pimlico, celebrated his 65th birthday in style while watching Early Voting’s thoroughly professional 1 ¼-length victory over 6-5 favorite Epicenter in the 1 3/16-mile spring classic for 3-year-olds. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Early Voting broke alertly to chase early pacesetter Armagnac in front of the grandstnd and around the first turn following a :24.32-second quarter of a mile. After the first half-mile was completed in :47.44, the $5.70-1 third-betting choice was still the closest pursuer of Armagnac along the backstretch and around the far turn. When Ortiz said, ‘Go,’ leaving the turn into the homestretch, the son of Gun Runner responded by opening up a 3 ½-length lead in mid-stretch. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter, who finished second behind 80-1 shot Rich Strike in the Kentucky Derby, had a less-than-ideal trip under Joel Rosario. Squeezed back between horses shortly after the start, Epicenter saved ground while racing eighth on the backstretch. The son of Not This Time staged an inside rally on the far turn and through the stretch but was no match for the fresh legs of Early Voting, settling for second again, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Creative Minister, who raced evenly for jockey Brian Hernandez. Briland Farm’s Secret Oath, the May 6 Kentucky Oaks winner who was the only filly and the 5-1 second betting choice in the nine-horse Preakness field, finished fourth for trainer D. Wayne Lukas after dropping back to last in early traffic. Skippylongstocking, Simplification, Armagnac, Happy Jack and Fenwick completed the order of finish. Early Voting, who ran 1 3 /16 miles in 1:54.54, got a late start in his racing career but showed a lot of promise while winning his Dec. 21 debut at Aqueduct by 1 ½ lengths at a mile. The $200,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September sale came right back to capture the Gr. III Withers by 4 ½ lengths on Feb. 5. He earned sufficient qualifying points to run in the Derby when he finished second, beaten a neck by Mo Donegal, in the April 9, Gr. II Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, but Brown opted to wait for the Preakness with the lightly-experienced colt. Cloud Computing finished third in the 2017 Wood in his third career start, and Brown chose to wait for the Preakness, which the son of Maclean’s Music won by a head over Classic Empire. The 2022 Triple Crown series concludes in the June 11 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, but Brown didn’t commit to the 1 ½-mile classic following Early Voting’s Preakness triumph. The winning trainer said: “I was really feeling pretty good. This horse, he's better with a target. I think when we ran him in the Wood, he was waiting on horses when he got to the lane. It's not because he can't go that far. So, I was hoping for a target, somebody would send. Given the way the track was playing all day, very speed favoring, I certainly wasn't going to take him out of his game. So, we were prepared to go to the lead. But when the other horse went to the front, Jose got a good position with a target in front of him. I felt very good on the backside. “You know how hard it is. When you're training horses, oftentimes plans don't work. Things happen. And when you have a wonderful partner and close friend in Seth [Klarman], we try to do things that make sense.” “I don't know about a mile and a half in three weeks, but we'll take a look at it. I can tell you he's going to go to Belmont, so we'll start there. But, to win this race on Seth's birthday, three blocks from Pimlico, where he grew up, he's one of my very best friends, to be able to deliver a gift like that to somebody, it's hard to explain to people. On a personal level, very gratifying for me.”
Said Ortiz on the NBC Broadcast: “It’s a huge race. It’s a dream come true. It’s amazing to share this moment with my family, my mom and dad. I know they’re watching, and my wife and kids are here. I’ve been on him since he was a baby. We always knew he was very talented, but we know he was going to be a late developer. He’s always been very nice. We’ve always been very high on him.” Trainer Steve Asmussen, Epicenter, 2nd: “Disappointed, you know what I mean? Where he was early, and they go 24-and-1. He just left him way too much to do. You’ve got to leave the gates. They go 24-and-1. If you don’t leave the gates, you get one option. First time by, and you saw where he was, he just had too much to overcome to be right at a length at the wire – giving too much away. I was past surprised. I was disappointed. You’ve got to leave the gates to have any position whatsoever. When they throw up 24-and-1, and you’re that far back with a horse that obviously has pace and just gave him too much to do.” (On pre-race instructions): “Try to be away from there cleanly and let them adjust around him. He didn’t get away cleanly, then he just buried him from there.” Early Voting is the winner of the Preakness and deserves all the credit for doing so, and nothing but. The silver lining on that is Gun Runner is probably the greatest sire of all time. He’s incredible.”
BALTIMORE – With trainer Steve Asmussen’s premier division spending the winter stabled in New Orleans and most of the rest of year in Louisville, favored Epicenter will play his first road game in Saturday’s 147th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Starting out at Churchill Downs, then going through Fair Grounds’ four-race series of Derby preps leading into the Kentucky Derby, Epicenter has raced only over the tracks where he’s been stabled. That changes with the 1 3/16-mile Preakness in Baltimore. “I like how he’s settled in and how he looked over the racetrack,” Asmussen said Thursday morning after the 6-5 morning-line Preakness favorite galloped. “That’s what we were concerned about coming in here, because of the fact that he’d been at Churchill, and he’d been at the Fair Grounds. Basically, he was home when he ran in all his previous races. This will be new as far as running.
“But from what we’ve seen from the two days that he’s been on the racetrack and his demeanor in the stall, he’s been consistent. His appetite has been the same. He’s cleaned up. He’s been very relaxed going to the track,” he added. “He’s looked very lively on the racetrack, and he’s cooled out very comfortably. So, I think he’s settled in extremely well. But that is a variable that we were concerned about coming in.” Another variable: temperatures expected to climb into the mid to upper 90s Saturday. “I’m as concerned as you can be, if you’ve never dealt with it or performed under it being that warm,” Asmussen said. “I mean, it’s just getting to that time of year. But it will also let us know how they will handle it going forward, since it won’t be the last time they’re faced with it. “… You handle what you have control over and put yourself in the best position possible, and try to eliminate as many variables that could get in the way of that,” he added. “I think the variable we’re not sure of is if it is actually 95, 96 degrees here, and we know it can get pretty sticky here in Baltimore. All of them are going to have to deal with that, but he’s a big horse turning back in 14 days. Make sure he’s drinking plenty of water and he’s hydrated, just like your kids." Off impressive triumphs in the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star in New Orleans, Epicenter also was sent off the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He settled into eighth – the farthest he’s been back in a race – under 2021 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario, before moving between horses on the far turn to get into striking position and taking the lead with a quarter of a mile to go. Epicenter kept the horse that seemed to be his main competition, Blue Grass winner Zandon, at bay in the stretch. But just when Epicenter seemed destined to give Asmussen and owner Ron Winchell their first Derby victory, 80-1 shot Rich Strike powered up the rail to win by three-quarters of a length after being last early behind a record pace. Of all the scenarios Asmussen had played through his mind, he admitted right after the Derby that the Rich Strike outcome was not one. “I believe it was the longest shot on the board that won the race, so you can’t count anybody out,” he said “… With us, we’re concerned about the things we have control over, the condition of our horse and getting another top-level performance out of him. From this year’s results in the Derby, you won’t take anybody for granted, and you’ll try to cover your bases as far as being prepared for everything." Asmussen acknowledged being disappointed that Rich Strike was kept out of the Preakness to await the Belmont Stakes. “I wanted another shot at it, maybe just me being ignorant. But you’re here to compete,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll meet up again down the road, hopefully.” Epicenter was scheduled to school in the paddock during Thursday’s fifth race at Pimlico. He will school at the starting gate Friday morning, Asmussen said. Jockey Joel Rosario will seek his first victory in the Preakness with 6-5 favorite Epicenter. Rosario has ridden in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course seven times, with a trio of seconds on relative long shots. He finished fourth in 2013 aboard his Kentucky Derby winner Orb. In a phone conversation with Preakness media, the reigning Eclipse Award-winning rider was asked mainly about the 2022 Derby, when Epicenter looked like the winner in deep stretch, only to be passed in the final strides by 80-1 shot Rich Strike. For Rosario, everything went right in the race except the outcome. “We had a great trip,” Rosario said. “How the race set up, we kind of had to move a little early. But he did really well. Turning for home it looked like we were going to win the race until that horse came in the last 50 yards and just blew by us. But he ran a great race. He did everything I asked him to do. It was a very good race for him. We expect a big race and see what he does. He’s a very good horse.” Rosario acknowledged it flashed through his mind that he was going to win his second Kentucky Derby. “It went through my mind. He looked really good,” he said. “Turning for home, he went on and took off. Yeah, I was very, very excited at that point. But what can I say? The horse ran really well. It would have been really great if we could have won it, but it doesn’t work out sometimes.” He said he didn’t see Rich Strike – who was four lengths back at the eighth-pole – moving on the inside until about the sixteenth pole. “It looked like everybody stayed off the rail that day,” Rosario said. “And my horse was running fast enough at that point that I never thought somebody was coming inside like he did.” Epicenter continued to establish his versatility in the Derby, settling into eighth and on the inside from his No. 3 post in the early stages. “He did everything well,” Rosario said. “He responded to everything I did. It seems like it doesn’t matter to him [where he is].” Rosario said he likes breaking from post #8 in the Preakness’ field of nine, as well as being outside of Early Voting, a likely candidate for setting the pace from Post #5. Santa Anita allowance winner Armagnac also figures to be right near the lead, having gone wire to wire in his two victories. Conventional wisdom suggests being outside the other speed gives Rosario a tactical advantage, especially with a horse that in his past two races has shown he is content to rate behind rivals. “It’s the sort of thing where we’ll see what the speed has to say,” Rosario said. “And we’ll play off of that. I’m going to ride him with a lot of confidence, and if we’re the best, we’ll win.”
BALTIMORE – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter was installed at 6-5 in the morning line for Saturday’s 147 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course following today’s post-position draw for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. The Steve Asmussen-trained colt, who finished second in the May 7 Kentucky Derby, drew Post #8 in a field of nine 3-year-olds during the official draw at nearby Citron Restaurant. Asmussen, a two-time Eclipse Award winner, has saddled a pair of Preakness winners during his Hall of Fame career: Curlin (2007) and the filly Rachel Alexandra (2009). Epicenter made a powerful move in the Derby to take the lead on the turn into the stretch but was unable to hold off Rich Strike, the 80-1 upsetter who is bypassing the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. Joel Rosario has the return mount aboard the son of Not This Time, who entered the Derby off impressive victories in the Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. Klaravich Stables Inc.’s Early Voting was rated second at 7-2 in the morning line after drawing Post #5. The Chad Brown trainee most recently finished second in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, losing by a neck to Mo Donegal after setting the pace. The son of Gun Runner, who will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, entered the Wood off a debut maiden score and a 4 ½-length triumph in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct in his first two career starts. Briland Farm’s Secret Oath, who captured the May 6 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs by two lengths, was rated third at 9-2 in the morning line after drawing Post #4 for her attempt to become the seventh filly to capture the Preakness. Secret Oath arrived at Pimlico shortly before 3:30 p.m. Monday following a van ride from Churchill, accompanied by her Hall of Fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, who reported that the Oaks winner handled the trip well. The daughter of Arrogate finished third against males in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn prior to impressing in the Oaks on Derby eve. Luis Saez, who was aboard for the Oaks, has been awarded the return call by Lukas, a six-time winner of the Preakness.
Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric’s Simplification, the Florida-bred who closed from 15th to fourth with a very wide rally in the Kentucky Derby, was set at 6-1 after drawing Post #1. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will seek his first Preakness success aboard the Antonio Sano-trained son of Not This Time, who captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) and finished third in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Fern Circle Stables and Back Racing LLC’s Creative Minister [Post #2; 10-1; Brian Hernandez Jr.], SF Racing and partners’ Armagnac [Post #7; 12-1; Irad Ortiz Jr.], Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking [Post #9; 20-1; Junior Alvarado], Calumet Farm’s Happy Jack [Post #6; 30-1; Tyler Gaffalione], and Villa Rosa Farm and Harlo Stable’s Fenwick [Post #3; 50-1; Florent Geroux] round out the field.
“I thought it was ideal," Asmussen said. "It’s a nine-horse field, plenty of run-up to the first turn. Several fresh horses and us coming back in two weeks, I think it’s absolutely ideal. Asmussen said. "You could say we’re half as nervous as the draw for the Derby, when you go from 20 runners to nine. I think that makes it that much more beneficial to everybody as far as post-position draw goes. With that being said, it’s exciting to run against Early Voting, me being a huge fan of Gun Runner (whom he trained). So I’m very excited to see him, but obviously anxious for Epicenter’s opportunity in the Preakness.” .
BALTIMORE – Another long-standing tradition has been restored to the Preakness Stakes festivities this year with the return of the Alibi Breakfast, a popular gathering of horsemen, media and celebrities alike in an informal yet informative preview of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. This year’s Alibi Breakfast will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 19 in the Terrace Dining Room on the second-floor clubhouse overlooking Pimlico Race Course. The 147th Preakness for 3-year-olds is set for Saturday, May 21. Tickets can be purchased at: Alibi Breakfast | Tickets at Your Computer or Mobile Device | Tixr at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore at Preakness | Tixr. WBAL’s Pete Gilbert and Scott Wykoff will host. Tradition holds that the Alibi Breakfast’s humble beginnings go back to a few trainers sipping coffee on the porch of Pimlico’s old clubhouse in the late 1930s, extolling the virtues of their horses and offering up excuses – or alibis – should their horse not win. It was late longtime publicity director David Woods who came up with the idea for the breakfast itself in the 1940s. Today it is a chance for the media to be recognized for excellence, for owners and trainers to trade often humorous stories regarding their own horses or their competitors, and to enjoy a buffet that includes Maryland crab cakes, fried chicken and waffles and smoked salmon as well as traditional breakfast fare.
For those brave enough, Black-Eyed Susans – the official drink of the Preakness – will also be served.
No horseman has enjoyed more time, or shared more entertaining stories, at the Alibi Breakfast than Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The 86-year-old Lukas has started a record 45 horses in 30 Preaknesses dating back to 1980, when Codex was his first of six winners.
Lukas also won with Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), Charismatic (1999) and Oxbow (2013). Thirteen times he has entered more than one horse, including three each in 1996 and 2013.
This year, Lukas is considering the Preakness for both the filly Secret Oath, winner of the May 6 Kentucky Oaks, and Ethereal Road, who was entered but scratched from the May 7 Kentucky Derby. “I think it’s noteworthy. I think it’s something that was enjoyed by many,” Lukas said of the Alibi Breakfast. “But, the main thing is that it brought in the public and let them see a different side of the jockeys and trainers a little bit [and] get up close and personal. It’s a really nice event.”
Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois, Jean-Etienne Dubois, Ecurie Hunter Valley, Haras d’Etreham, Ecurie Billon, Ecurie Elag, Fabrice Chappet & Hubert Guy’s Onesto (IRE) trailed into the straight of the Gr. II Prix Greffulhe at Saint Cloud on Sunday, but closed with a rush and ran past them all to score by 2 1/2 lengths. The lightly-raced 3-year-old colt by Frankel (GB) is now 4-2-1-0 and has earned $101,545 for trainer Fabrice Chappet/Frankreich. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, to the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $535,000 by Hubert Guy Bloodstock after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack show.
Little Red Feather Racing’s Elm Drive made her 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s $101,900 Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita, went to the lead shortly after the start and never looked back, cruising to victory by 2 1/2 lengths. That’s two stakes wins for the graded stakes-winning daughter of Mohaymen, trained by Philip D’Amato, now 5-3-0-0 with $195,640 in earnings. A two-time OBS graduate, she was purchased out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2020 October Yearling Sale then consigned to the 2021 March Sale by Paul Sharp, Agent, where she turned in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 and was sold for $165,000 to John Dowd on behalf of Little Red Feather Racing.
Three Diamonds Farm and Deuce Greathouse’s Stolen Base stayed off the pace in Churchill’s $500,000, Gr. II American Turf Stakes on Saturday’s Derby undercard, rallied to reach the lead between horses after straightening away in the stretch and eased away in the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter. It’s the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old son of Bodemeister, purchased for $45,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at the 2021 Spring Sale after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5. Now 9-2-3-1 for trainer Mike Maker, he has earned $468,700. Julian J. De Mora Jr.’s California Frolic tried stakes company for the first time in the $75,000 English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and the 3-year-old colt by California Chrome rallied on the outside down the stretch and was up in the final yards to win by a neck. Now 6-3-1-1 for trainer Armando De La Cerda, he has earned $108,950. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 4/5 at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $32,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment. Soldi Stable LLC and Ohana Racing LLC’s Ocean Safari tracked the leaders in Gulfstream's $75,000 Honey Ryder Stakes, swung out for the drive and was up in deep stretch to win by half a length, with fellow OBS graduate Love Her Lots (March ’21) checking in third. Consigned to the 2021 OBS March Sale by Six K’s Training & Sales LLC, she was sold for $42,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Trained by Gilberto Zerpa, the 3-year-old daughter of Temple City is now 6-2-2-1 and has earned $106,190.
BALTIMORE – Two weeks after Rich Strike’s shocking 80-1 upset victory in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, his trainer is scheduled to saddle his first starter at Pimlico Race Course during his 37-year career. Eric Reed, who lived every trainer’s dream when Rich Strike won the Run for the Roses following a 15th-to-first stretch surge, will be on unfamiliar ground when he saddles Richard Dawson’s colt for a start in the 147th Preakness Stakes (on May 21. However, the 58-year-old trainer does have a family connection to Pimlico and the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. Although W. E. ‘Smiley’ Adams saddled Master Derby for a victory in the 1975 Preakness, it was Reed’s father, Herbert, who was involved in the early training and development of the son of Dust Commander. “My dad was orphaned, and he was raised by Mack Miller, the Hall of Fame trainer. My dad, when he got married, had me at 16. He was an exercise rider and became a trainer. He was a very good horseman. He was working for Golden Chance Farm – Mrs. (Verna) Lehmann. He developed all kinds of big horses. He would not travel to the races. She would beg him every year, ‘Take them to Florida. You’ve done all the work,’” Reed said Monday morning from his Mercury Equine Center near Lexington. “My dad would not leave the family behind,” he added. “He turned down the opportunity most trainers live for – fame, fortune, etcetera – to take care of his family. This Derby that happened to me, having my dad there, was better than winning the race, in all honesty.” Meanwhile, Rich Strike has returned to Mercury Equine Center for a few days of R & R before resuming training for the Preakness “He’s just had a couple days off, walking, grazing, getting bathed, just getting over the race, getting his mind right. He’s seemed to come out of the race really good. We’ll have him on the track in the morning,” Reed said. “If things go well this week in the next couple days, I’ll go back to Churchill, gallop him a few days and maybe give him a little workout Monday or Tuesday to stretch his legs. Then, if all goes well, we’ll head to Pimlico.” Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric’s Simplification, who finished a late-closing fourth in the Derby, is scheduled to run back in Preakness 147. The Fountain of Youth winner was expected to arrive at Pimlico between 4-5 a.m. today following a van ride from Churchill Downs. Simplification will be the second Preakness starter for trainer Antonio Sano, who saddled Gunnevera for a fifth-place finish in 2017. Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking is scheduled to breeze at Gulfstream Park Friday or Saturday before shipping to Pimlico the next day for a start in the Preakness, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. reported Monday. The son of 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator most recently finished third in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Forced to bypass the Derby because of a minor but untimely foot bruise, Un Ojo’s team believes the gelding will be ready to put his best hoof forward in the Preakness. Un Ojo jogged twice around Churchill Downs’ mile track Monday morning under Clay Courville, assistant to his dad, Louisiana-based trainer Ricky Courville, while also serving as exercise rider, groom and hotwalker when their stable star is on the road. “He’s doing good. He’s been training good, been back to the track three times now,” Clay Courville said. “He’s on the right track, moving forward. He wanted to gallop. I decided to give him another day of jogging and I’ll gallop him (Tuesday) morning. The foot seems good. He’s hitting the ground well, traveling well. We’ll gallop tomorrow and see how he is.” The one-eyed Un Ojo was withdrawn from the Derby the morning that entries were taken, five days before the Churchill Downs classic. “It was tough,” Clay Courville said. “It was hard to do, but it was the right thing for the horse. If everything goes well, we’ll be on to the Preakness. He’s scheduled to work on Saturday morning. We’ll see how he is after that and decide what to do.” Courville said his dad has never raced a horse at Pimlico but that he came to Old Hilltop when trainer Eric Guillot asked him to help out with Laoban, who finished sixth in the 2016 Preakness. “I was working for my dad when Mr. Eric called me and gave me the opportunity to travel and come up with him and get on the horse for the Preakness,” he said. “I took advantage of it and went. It was just cool to be up there and experience new things as a young kid.” Clay Courville, now 25, can appreciate Rich Strike’s victory at 80-1 odds after drawing into the field at literally the last minute to carry the banner for the “little guy.” Rich Strike is only the second graded stakes-winner for trainer Reed, in a career that began in 1985 and includes 1,445 victories through Sunday. Un Ojo won Oaklawn Park’s $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 75-1 to give Ricky Courville his first graded score. “I was extremely happy for their connections,” Clay Courville said of the Rich Strike team. “I feel people like that deserve it, people who work hard and don’t have a lot of horses like that, like most people don’t. They take pride in their work, and I like seeing people like that win.” Still, Clay Courville acknowledged of the Derby, “It kind of sucked watching it, because I was like, ‘Man, it set up perfect for our type of horse: the hot pace and all the closers came running.’ You never know.” Trainer Steve Asmussen said that Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Derby runner-up Epicenter came out of race in good order, with the Preakness decision coming after the colt resumes training. “All systems look great right now,” North America’s all-time winningest trainer said. “He’ll catch another walk day and go back to the track Wednesday morning, and we’ll see where we’re at there.” Epicenter, with Joel Rosario aboard, appeared headed to the Derby winner’s circle until literally the last few strides when passed on the inside by Rich Strike. Asmussen won the 2007 Preakness Stakes with 2007-2008 Horse of the Year Curlin and in 2009 with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said no Preakness decision has been made yet on Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath or Rebel Stakes runner-up Ethereal Road, whose Friday morning scratch made it possible for Rich Strike to run in the Kentucky Derby. “We’re justgoing to give it a little time,” said Lukas, a six-time Preakness winner, most recently with Oxbow in 2013.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said Creative Minister, Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll are under consideration for the Preakness, a stakes the trainer won in 2020 with the filly Swiss Skydiver. He added that Smile Happy, eighth in the Derby, and Rattle N Roll, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, will not compete against each other, with both owned by Lucky 7 Stable. Rattle N Roll was entered in the Derby but did not get in off the also-eligible list.
Creative Minister, who would have to be supplemented for $150,000, closed to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the Derby undercard by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:42.37, his last sixteenth-mile in under six seconds. “We were impressed, and we’re talking about taking him,” McPeek said at Churchill Downs. “I’ve got several that I can consider that we’ll watch all this week.”
Tiz the Bomb will go back to the turf after finishing ninth in the Derby, the trainer said. Tiz the Bomb easily handled Rich Strike twice at Turfway Park while winning the John Battaglia Memorial and the $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks.
“I think the Derby winner just loved Churchill,” McPeek said of Rich Strike, whose only prior victory came by 17 lengths in the Churchill Downs $30,000 maiden-claiming race from which trainer Eric Reed claimed him for owner Rick Dawson. “He’s run two huge races here. There are horses like that.”
Trainer Kelly Breen said Monday that his graded stakes-placed colt In Due Time is not a candidate for the Preakness Stakes. The son of Not This Time was second to Simplification in the Fountain of Youth on March 5 at Gulfstream Park. In is most recent start, he was third as the 8-5 favorite in the Lexington on April 16 at Keeneland. Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, 12th as the Derby second choice, is out of Preakness consideration. Trainer Tim Yakteen said via text that Taiba and stablemate Messier (15th in the Derby) would head back to California. “They came back in good shape. We will regroup and come up with a campaign,” he said. Joe and Blackadder, colts who earned automatic entry berths with victories earlier this year, will not run in the Preakness. Trainer Michael Trombetta said Monday that Joe, the Elkstone Group’s homebred, will be nominated for the James W. Murphy Stakes on the Preakness Day program. Joe, a Maryland-bred son of Declaration of War, won the Federico Tesio on April 16 at Laurel for his fourth victory in six career starts. Blackadder, winner of the ‘Win and In’ El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 12 at Golden Gate Fields, was sold after his ninth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 9. His new trainer, Christophe Clement, said the Quality Road colt is not being considered for the Preakness.
BALTIMORE – Rich Strike, winner of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at 80-1 odds, will run in the147th Preakness at Pimlico Race Course as long as the colt is doing well, trainer Eric Reed said this morning. The Lexington-based Reed spoke with the media a little more than 12 hours after RED TR-Racing LLC’s Rich Strike and Ohio-based jockey Sonny Leon ran down favored Epicenter to triumph by three-quarters of a length. It was the second-biggest upset in the Derby’s 148 runnings, the $163.60 payoff topped only by Donerail’s $184.90 in 1913. Rich Strike also became only the second horse to win the Derby out of Post 20 since the utilization of the starting gate in 1930, the first being Big Brown in 2008. “If Richie is ready to go and I think it’s the right thing for him, we’re going to go,” Reed said of the May 21 Preakness. “I want to go; that’s naturally what we want to do. But I have to do what I’ve done from Day One with this horse, and that’s manage him and take care of him. Because he’ll take care of the rest if I do.” So far, so good. Reed reported that Rich Strike ate up all his post-race meal. “By 10 o’clock last night, he was wanting more,” he said. “He’s walking sound. His legs look great. No issues, no bumps, no bruises that we can see right now. I don’t think he’s dropped much weight either. He came out of the race in really good shape, thank the Lord.” Rich Strike was scheduled to van later this morning to Reed’s Mercury Training Center near Lexington, where he’ll resume training. Reed said he could ship to Baltimore “probably toward the weekend.” “He’s a real good shipper,” he said. “He takes everything in stride. He’s very calm and relaxed about his training, so we won’t do a whole lot of anything. Go up there, give him a few days on the track, maybe give him a strong gallop. I’ve never been hard on him. I space my workouts 10, 12 days instead of seven. I don’t like to run him [back] quick. This will be the first time we’ve had to do that, if this is where it goes. That’s why he’s been so fresh and getting better each race. We haven’t pushed on him. “I don’t get these horses 10, 12 a year like him. I get one in a lifetime,” he added, “so I’ve got to protect him. I’d like him to be here a couple of years.” Reed said he has about 100 horses at Mercury Equine Center, where he has a private training track, with about 20 horses in Ohio and some more at Keeneland. But he said he’s never run at horse at Pimlico. “I’ve raced at every track in New York, California, Florida,but I’ve never been to Pimlico,” he said. A lot of things had to happen for Rich Strike to win the Derby, starting with getting into the overflow field. It wasn’t until late Friday morning that Kentucky chief state steward Barbara Borden called Reed to say that there had been a scratch [Ethereal Road] and Rich Strike could draw in off the also-eligible list if they wanted. The late-runner also was aided by a torrid early pace, including the fastest first quarter-mile [:21.78 seconds] in Derby history. Reed, who returned to Lexington Saturday night and then came back to Churchill Downs Sunday morning, said he didn’t sleep all night. “It’s sinking in now,” he said of his second career graded-stakes victory coming in to the Kentucky Derby. “I’m so proud of this horse and all of my guys, my jockey. It was a team effort from a long time ago. We were just trying to get here.” It’s rare enough for a Derby winner to have been in a claiming race earlier in his career, but the fact that Rich Strike was taken out of a $30,000 maiden claiming race in his second start could be unprecedented. Reed said he liked Rich Strike’s works at Ellis Park leading up to the colt’s debut in a mile turf race. He said he was undeterred when Rich Strike finished 10th, figuring he didn’t like the turf. Rich Strike won by 17 lengths the day he was claimed at Churchill Downs last September. That was his only victory until the Derby, though he ran respectably in four of five prior races for Reed and owner Rick Dawson of Oklahoma, accumulating a trio of thirds and a fourth. His only poor effort came in the Gun Runner Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds, when Epicenter beat him by 14 lengths. The start that got Rich Strike into the Derby was his third-place finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over Turfway Park’s Tapeta surface. “When he got back on the dirt from the Tapeta [following three races at Turfway], his stride got better,” Reed said. “His started getting stronger. He was getting more cocky … I knew he’d show them he belonged. I never dreamed he’d be able to pass all the horses.” Reed said he did not see the finish of the Derby until watching a replay. “When I saw that move at the quarter pole, I told my dad that might get us on the board,” he said, referring to former trainer Herbert Reed. “Then, I don’t really remember what happened except my back gave out on me. I ended up on the ground before the horse even crossed the wire. All my friends and family just piled on top of me. They were shaking me and screaming, ‘You won the Derby! You won the Derby!’ When they got me back on my feet – a couple of guys knew my back was bad, they helped me get up gently. They patted me on the back, wanting to carry me down the tunnel. I said, ‘I can walk now. Just get me back up.’” Reed said he’d had such media attention only once before, in the wake of a tragic barn fire that killed 23 of his horses in 2016. “It wasn’t under these good circumstances,” said the 57-year-old. “I’m so happy to be here with a bright sunny day and everybody happy. When I started training at 18, I never thought I’d be in the Derby. I watched it every year. I was never envious or jealous. I rooted for all the local guys that tried to win it, that I grew up with training. We were all the same age, and they all got here [to the Derby] and had horses run well. I was so happy for those guys. “Just getting into the Derby, to me, was like a win. I can’t put into words how it feels. “But, I was so happy for my wife [Kay], my crew and to have my dad beside me. That was the best part for me,” he added. “… I truthfully thought the day after the fire that all the stuff I had done over the years – and I’d been very successful for what we had started with – that maybe it was time to take a break, or telling me maybe it wasn’t meant to be anymore. I had some big-time trainers – the guys who get talked to [by the media] every day – send me texts and kind words, and offer money, clients and horses to keep me in this. There’s one – I’m not going to mention the name, but he’s in California – who said, ‘Do not let this take you out.’ Between that and the kindness from everybody and my help – who the day after that tragedy, cleaned the stalls and fed the horses and went back to the track with the horses that needed to train – that let me know that I wasn’t going to go out that way. That I would go out on my own terms.” Trainer Steve Asmussen said he couldn’t comment on Epicenter’s status until conferring with owner Ron Winchell, saying, “I need to hear from the boss.” Asmussen is a two-time Preakness winner with Curlin in 2007 and the filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009, and has heavily supported the entire stakes program that on Preakness weekend. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a six-time Preakness winner, said Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath and Ethereal Road will be considered for the 1 3/16-mile classic, with a decision to be made later in the week. “I’m going to wait a couple of days and study this whole thing, look at it,” he said. “I was just talking to Steve, [saying] if I don’t scratch, he wins it.” Chad Brown, who trained 2017 Preakness winner Cloud Computing, plans to run Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Early Voting in the second leg of the Triple Crown. “He’s in New York right now and been working super up there,” Brown said. “We feel pretty good about that decision [to skip the Derby], especially the way the pace worked out.”
The Brown-trained Zandon, winner of Keeneland’s Blue Grass (G1), made a run at Epicenter before finishing another three-quarters of a length back in third. “I felt really good turning for home,” Brown said. “He drew outside of [Epicenter] but could never get by him.” Of the Preakness, Brown said, “I’m going to think about it, talk to the owner and take a look at him.” Trainer Antonio Sano was pleased this morning with the manner in which Simplification exited his fourth-place effort, in which he rallied from 15th while racing extremely wide. “I’m very happy with the race. With less traffic, the horse could have won the race,” said Sano, whose Fountain of Youth (G2) winner finished 3 ½ lengths behind Rich Strike. Maryland Jockey Club officials expect Simplification to be on the grounds Tuesday. Trainer Saffie Joseph reported that White Abarrio came out of his 16th-place Derby finish “very well.” The Florida Derby (G1) winner, who had a very wide trip throughout the Derby, will not run in the Preakness, but Joseph said Skippylongstocking, who finished third in the Wood Memorial last time out, is being pointed to the Middle Jewel. Trainer Kenny McPeek said via text that Creative Minister is possible for the Preakness after his impressive victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the Derby undercard. McPeek, who won the COVID-delayed 2020 Preakness with the filly Swiss Skydiver, said he’d watch Derby eighth-place finisher Smile Happy this week before making a decision. Gr. 1 winner Rattle N Roll, who was on the Derby also-eligible list, is also under consideration. Tiz the Bomb, who beat Rich Strike in both the John Battaglia Memorial and the Jeff Ruby Steaks, will not run in the Preakness, he said. Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, who finished 12th in only his third career start, could run back in the Preakness. “That decision will be made in the next 48 hours,” said trainer Tim Yakteen. Non-Derby starters In Due Time, Morello, Fenwick and Un Ojo are also under Preakness consideration.
Gary Barber, Terry Hamilton and Brian Lynch’s Tobys Heart relaxed off the pace in the early going of the $199,835 Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, came wide into the stretch, rallied to catch fellow OBS graduate Change of Control (October ’17) in the final strides and was best by a neck at the wire.
It’s the fourth stakes win for the 4-year-old graded stakes-placed daughter of OBS graduate Jack Milton, consigned by Bold Arrow Thoroughbreds to the 2020 OBS March Sale, and sold for $45,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Trained by Brian Lynch, she’s now 12-5-1-2 and has earned $647,495 to date. FIRST WINNER FOR GIRVIN - John C. Oxley’s Devious Dame tracked the pace in her debut for trainer Norm Casse on Wednesday in a $71,943 Maiden Special test at Churchill Downs, took command a furlong from home and drew away to score by 5 1/2 lengths. The first winner for her sire, Girvin, and the first winner for any Florida freshman sire in 2022, the 2-year-old Florida-bred filly earned a check for $35,560. She was purchased for $240,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after breezing a quarter in :20 4/5 at the Under Tack Show.
C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio carries the OBS banner into the 148th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The colt by Race Day, trained by Saffie A. Joseph Jr., will break from post 15 and be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, aboard for his wins in Gulfstream’s Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull Stakes (G3).
He’ll be right at home at Churchill Downs, where he was third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) after winning his first two starts at Gulfstream Park. He was a 4 1/2 length winner of the Holy Bull in his 3-year-old debut, and comes into the Derby off a length and a quarter score in the Florida Derby. Now 5-4-0-1, he has earned $823,650. A two-time OBS graduate, he 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 turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Four OBS graduates have been first in the Kentucky Derby: Lil E. Tee (1992), Silver Charm (1997), I’ll Have Another (2012) and Medina Spirit (2021). Five OBS graduate fillies will go to the post in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks, looking to join previous OBS Oaks winners Blind Luck (2010) and Plum Pretty (2011). Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection sports a victory over the Churchill Downs surface, having captured the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) last September, and comes into the Oaks off a nose loss to champion Echo Zulu in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). Reylu Gutierrez has the mount for trainer Bret Calhoun, and the daughter of Connect will break from post three. Now 5-2-1-0, she has earned $399,525. She’s a two-time OBS graduate, going through the ring at the 2021 Spring Sale, then purchased for $85,000 out of the Coastal Equine consignment at the 2021 June Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5. H & E Ranch’s Desert Dawn comes into the Oaks off a victory in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in April. She’ll be saddled by trainer Philip D’Amato, and be ridden by Umberto Rispoli from post nine. The daughter of Cupid, third in Santa Anita’s Chandelier Stakes (G2) at two, has compiled a 7-2-0-2 record and has earned $378,400. Consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent for H & E Ranch, she went through the ring at the 2020 OBS October Selected Yearling Sale.
Winngate Stables’ unbeaten Kathleen O. will break from post 10 and be ridden by Javier Castellano, who has been aboard in all of her starts. The daughter of Upstart comes into the Oaks off a 2 3/4-length victory in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) after winning Gulfstream’s Davona Dale (G2) in her graded stakes debut. She’s four-for-four for trainer Shug McGaughey, seeking his second Oaks victory, and has earned $379,730. A two-time OBS graduate, she was sold by Stuart Morris at the 2020 October Selected Yearling Sale, then purchased for $275,000 out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at the 2021 Spring Sale after working an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. Trainer Kenny McPeek sends out Dixiana Farms LLC’s Cocktail Moments, second to Oaks favorite Nest in Keeneland’s Ashland Stakes (G1) in her last start and third in Gulfstream’s Davona Dale (G2) in March. Corey Lanerie rides the daughter of Uncle Mo, who will start from post 11. Now 4-1-1-2 with $214,560 in earnings, she was consigned to the 2021 OBS March Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, where she went through the ring after breezing a quarter in :21 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. KHK Racing’s unbeaten Shahama makes her first start in her native country after four wins in as many starts at Meydan, the last a two- length score in the UAE Oaks (G3). The daughter of Munnings, a half-sister to champion Lookin At Lucky, has earned $223,484. Now trained by Todd Pletcher, she will break from post 13 with Flavien Prat in the irons. Consigned to the 2021 OBS April Sale by Eddie Woods, she was purchased for $425,000 after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat.
George Krikorian’s OBS June Sale graduate, War Like Goddess, on furlough since a sharp third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall, returned to the races with a flourish on Friday, going over the million-dollar mark in earnings with a 1 3/4-length victory in Keeneland’s $300,000, Gr. III Bewitch Stakes.
Restrained and steadied behind a dawdling pace in the early going, the 5-year-old daughter of English Channel found room between horses to take charge after turning for home and was going away at the finish. It’s her fifth graded stakes victory, and leaves her with a 9-7-0-1 career record and $1,079,684 in earnings for trainer Bill Mott. Consigned to the 2019 OBS June Sale by Hemingway Racing and Training Stables, she was sold for $30,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5.
LAUREL, MD – Carl Hess Jr.’s 2-year-old Putthepastbehind made an auspicious start to his racing career today, getting loose in the post parade before settling down and edging clear to a three-quarter-length victory over Riccio at Laurel Park. Putthepastbehind ($17.80) was one of nine first-time starters in the 4 ½-furlong maiden special, the second juvenile race of the season in Maryland following Alexis’s Storm’s triumph in Saturday’s race for fillies. The winning time was 52.90 seconds over a fast main track. “He needed a warmup and he got it. He definitely got what he needed,” winning trainer Brian Brooks said. “We definitely had some belief in this horse and he definitely showed us he can do exactly what we want him to do without a problem.” Shipping in from Hawthorne Race Course, Putthepastbehind ran off with seven-pound apprentice Jeiron Barbosa – the leading rider at Laurel’s spring meet – for about three furlongs prior to the race. After having expended some nervous energy, the gray or roan son of Gone Astray loaded in the gate without incident and raced professionally, sitting off pacesetting Pompous Prince through a quarter-mile in :23.15 seconds, launching his bid once straightened for home and taking over inside the sixteenth pole. “I thought he was going to run right on by the pony again, but he just needed to warm up and he got exactly what he needed. He did everything we asked him to do,” Brooks said. “When we work, we always work in pairs. One day we make them fight for it and we give them the lead the next time, and they try to learn from that. “That’s what we do. We change them up every time we train them. Every time we work them it’s a different routine in case something like that is to happen,” he added. “If you’ve got no lane, the horse has to make his own. The jockeys can’t always do it.” Out of the Exchange Rate mare White Hands, Putthepastbehind is a half-brother to Puro Blanco, herself a 2-year-old debut winner in 2017. Putthepastbehind had his first timed works in March at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, before leaving for Hawthorne last month. Though based in the midwest, Brooks is a native of Dundalk, Md., less than nine miles southeast of downtown Baltimore. Putthepastbehind was his first starter of the year and gave him his second win in Maryland, the other coming with Justicehasbeendone last September during the Maryland State Fair meet in Timonium. “I’ve lived here my whole life, 32 years. My uncle, Gerald Brooks, he trains horses and I go where he goes,” Brooks said. “I’d like to stay here. It’s my uncle’s business. I just go where he goes. I don’t make any calls, I just go and do it.” Gone Astray, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, was a multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire owned and trained by the Phipps Stable and trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. He has produced 21 2-year-old debut winners from 191 starters (10 percent). It was the seventh career win from 27 starters for Brooks, who hadn’t run a horse since Hess’ Concrete Glory won an allowance race on Oct. 12, 2021 at Thistledown. “I’m new to this horse. He’s just coming in, so I really don’t know too much about him. I know the pedigree a little bit. I listened to what the owner had to say and the trainer, and especially what the groom told me,” Brooks said. “I told the jockey exactly what I was told and the horse did it. We ask them to do it, and they do it. That’s all we can ask. It’s not us, it’s the horses.”
WHAT ARE THE ODDS - PART 1: In today's second race at Gulfstream there was one scratch, leaving a field of five. The order of finish was No. 1: Gitana, first; No. 2: Simplify, second; No. 3: Sheza Happy Girl, third; No. 4: Bargainaire, fourth; No. 5: Code Name Lise, fifth. A 1-2-3-4-5 finish - 200-1?
WHAT ARE THE ODDS - PART II - JOSE, CAN YOU SEE?: In the first race at Belmont Park on Saturday, the winner, Blake B, was ridden by Jose Gomez; the runner-up, Majestic Tiger, was ridden by Jose Ortiz; third place, Corkman, was ridden by Jose Lezcano. Almost made it to fourth, Roman Empire, who was ridden by Jorge Vargas.
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Diane Morici has always had a way with older horses – blessed with the knack of helping under-achieving racehorses reach their full potential. The South Florida-based trainer’s most high-profile successes came with Eldaafer, whom she saddled for an upset win in the 2010, Gr. III Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Churchill Downs, as well as a victory in the 2009, Gr. II Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont. Mastic Beach Racing’s Tune In is Morici’s latest success story. The 6-year-old gelding will seek to add to that success in today’s Race 5, a one-turn-mile starter allowance for horses that have raced for a claiming price of $20,000 or less. The son of Country Day has won five of his last six races at the one-mile distance, his only loss coming in a third-place finish at Churchill Downs in which he lost by just half-length. “I think that’s his specialty, and I love his [outside] post position,” Morici said. “The last few times he’s been breaking from the inside and they’ve been breathing on him. I think this time he’s on the outside and he can breathe on them if he has to.” Tune In, who will break from the No. 7 post in a field of seven older horses, will be ridden by Leonel Reyes after a one-race absence. “He always gives me 120 percent. He always gives me a chance to win,” Morici said. Reyes, who escaped injury in a spill in Thursday’s opening race, didn’t make the trip to Tampa Bay Downs on March 12 for Tune In’s subpar showing at 1 1/16 miles while stepping up to graded stakes company in the two-turn Gr. III Challenger on March 22. “That last race, everybody got humbled a little bit, but we gave him a shot,” Morici said. Success didn’t come easy for Tune In, who had won two of his first seven starts, including a debut victory at Keeneland in a $20,000 maiden claimer in April 2019. He was transferred to Morici in February 2020 very much in need of time and attention. “I got him in February, and he didn’t run until October. I got to tell you it was rough the first couple months. He had his foot issues, but I gave him the time,” Morici said. “He tells you when he’s ready.” After racing competitively in his first three starts for Morici, Tune In went on to win his next four starts, including two scores on turf. His only subpar showings have come around two turns in the Challenger and the 1 1/8-mile Claiming Crown Jewel, in which he was coming off only three-weeks between races
Rainbow 6 Jackpot Hit The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool was hit for a $182,098 payoff Thursday. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for five days following a $220,289 jackpot hit on April 16. The single ticket sold had the winning combination of 9-3-6-1-4-10.
It's been quite a while since we checked on how Florida's racinos are faring, so here goes:
A. Who is handling the most money? Figures are from July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, through Feb. 28, the latest info available from the Dept. of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Figures are known as 'credits in.'
1. Flagler Dog Track (Magic City Casino): $1,303,062,095.
2. Hialeah Park: $1,083,492,585.
3. Miami Jai-Alai: $1,031,340,915.
4. Calder Casino: $961,072,133.
5. Pompano Park (Isle Casino): $959,547,701.
6. Gulfstream Park: $579,223,817.
7. Dania Jai-Alai: $$468,199,056.
8. Hollywood Dog Track (Big Easy Casino): $447,809,587.
B. Whose net slot revenue is the highest? Order is not the same as above since each entity has a different takeout. The takeout is listed after the revenue number, followed by the state tax, which reduces net revenue by that amount.
1. Flagler Dog Track (Magic City Casino): $80,448,475 (6.58%). $28,156,966.
2. Pompano Park: $79,659,587 (9.42%). $27,880,855.
3. Calder: $65,100,885 (8.68%). $22,785,310.
4. Miami Jai-Alai: $64,045,615 (7.73%). $22,415,965.
5. Hialeah Park: $63,811,064 (6.50%). $22,333,872.
6. Gulfstream Park: $34,909,263 (8.26%). $12,218,242.
7. Dania: $28,856,420 (8.18%). $10,099,747.
8. Hollywood: $27,198,589 (7.86%). $9,519,506.
The total amount of dollars bet as a group comes to $6,833,747,890 (that's billion). The total slot revenue comes to $444,029,897, and the state fares by far the best, collecting $155,410,464 in taxes. Remember, only two-thirds of the fiscal year has been reported - four months to go.
Hip No. 1174, a daughter of Munnings consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, went to OXO Equine LLC for $1.6-million to top the fourth and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s record breaking 2022 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The chestnut filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at the distance at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is out of stakes winner Tensas Harbor, by Private Vow, a half sister to stakes placed OBS graduate Harbor Pilot. Hip No. 1139, a daughter of Justify consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold for $800,000 to Chad Schumer, Agent. The gray or roan filly, who breezed an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 at Saturday’s Under Tack session, is a half sister to graded stakes winner Family Way, winner of Gulfstream’s recent Orchid Stakes (G3), out of Susie’s Baby, by Giant’s Causeway.
Hip No. 1017, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, went to Ben Gase for $650,000. The bay filly, whose eighth on Friday in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest at the distance, is out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Scorpio Queen (AUS), by Choisir, from the family of grade one stakes winner Toledo.
Hip No. 1091, a daughter of Connect consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Hooties Racing LLC for $550,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat on Saturday, is a half sister to stakes placed OBS graduate Momameamaria out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Special Dream, by Officer.
Hip No. 1097, a daughter of Into Mischief consigned by Gene Recio, Agent, was sold to Kent Sweezey, Agent for R. S. Evans, for $525,000. The bay filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest on Saturday, is out of Squeeze, by Lemon Drop Kid, a half sister to graded stakes winning OBS Spring Sale graduate Ocho Ocho Ocho.
Hip No. 1230, a daughter of Malibu Moon consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $475,000. The bay filly, who turned in a Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 on Saturday, is out of Two Step Song, by Unbridled’s Song, a half sister to graded stakes winner Informed.
Hip No. 984, a daughter of Liam’s Map consigned by Mayberry Farm, Agent, was sold for $420,000 to Lael Stable. The gray or roan filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth on Friday in :10 flat, is out of Rooms, by Giant’s Causeway, a half sister to stakes winner Congo Kaye.
Hip No. 1052, a daughter of Goldencents consigned by Dynasty Thoroughbreds, was purchased by Alex & JoAnn Lieblong for $400,000. The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Friday, is out of Shore Thing, by Majesticperfection, a daughter of stakes winning OBS graduate Conway Two Step.
Kerri Radcliffe / Omnihorse went to $400,000 for Hip No. 1107, a daughter of Arrogate consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Agent. The gray or roan filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 2/5 on Saturday, is out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Stiffed, by Stephen Got Even, from the family of graded stakes winning OBS graduate Full and Fancy.
Vince J. Foglia paid $385,000 for Hip No. 1048, a daughter of Midshipman consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent. The chestnut filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at Friday’s Under Tack session, is out of stakes winner Sheza Runaway Star, by Pride of Burkaan, a half sister to stakes winning millionaire OBS graduate Rivers Run Deep.
Hip No. 1043, a son of Collected consigned by Gene Recio, Agent, was sold to Rafter C Ranch for $360,000. The chestnut colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 2/5 on Friday, is out of She’ll Do It, by Badge of Silver, a half sister to stakes winner Amiable Grace.
Hip No. 961, a daughter of Bernardini consigned by Mayberry Farm, Agent, was purchased by Steven W. Young, Agent, for $350,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Friday, is out of stakes winner Redstart, by Blame, a half sister to graded stakes winner California Nectar.
For the day, 159 horses brought a total of $18,775,000 compared with 167 selling for a total of $19,063,000 last year. The average price was $118,082, compared to $114,150 in 2021, while the median price was $60,000 compared to $65,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 20.5%; it was 14.4% in 2021. For the entire sale, 710 horses sold for a Spring Sale record total of $92,070,000 compared with the previous record 724 horses bringing $73,874,900 in 2021. The average price was a sale record $129,676, (surpassing 2019’s record $108,227) compared with $102,037 a year ago. The median was $65,000, compared to last year’s $50,000 and surpassing 2019’s previous $60,000 record. The buyback percentage was 15.2%; it was 13.1% last year.
Hip No. 885, a son of Tapit consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold for $1.7 million to Lane’s End Racing & West Point TB, L.E.B., Agent, to top the third session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The gray or roan colt, who breezed a quarter in :20 4/5 at Friday’s Under Tack session, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Annual Report out of Pension, by Seeking the Gold. Hip No. 844, Hazing, a son of Into Mischief consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to C H P Racing for $870,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Thursday’s Under Tack session, is out of No Curfew, by Curlin, from the family of grade one stakes winner To Honor and Serve.
Cherie DeVaux, Agent, paid $685,000 for Hip No. 895, a son of City of Light consigned by Mayberry Farm, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Friday, is out of stakes placed Pleasant Mine, by Mineshaft, from the family of graded stakes winner Tap Dance.
Hip No. 899, a son of Bolt d’Oro consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, went to Ellman, Plesa, Glassman, E. Plesa, Agent, for $675,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to graded stakes winner Harpers First Ride out of Polyester, by Tiz Wonderful.
Hip No. 709, a son of Medaglia d’Oro consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to BBA Ireland Limited for $650,000. The gray or roan colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Thursday, is out of Mahasen, by Tapit, a half sister to graded stakes winner Shagaf.
Hip No. 904, an Irish-bred daughter of Kingman consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was purchased for $650,000 by Lauren Carlisle, Agent. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Post Perfection, by Majesticperfection, a half sister to graded stakes winner Hello Liberty.
Talla Racing & Rockingham Ranch, Sweetwater, Agent, went to $575,000 for Hip No. 839, a daughter of Cairo Prince consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent. The gray or roan filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at Thursday’s Under Tack session, is a half sister to graded stakes winner Gibberish out of Nippy, by Pulpit.
Hip No. 717, a daughter of Army Mule consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Lael Stable for $450,000. The bay filly, who worked an eighth in :10 1/5 on Thursday, is out of Mandolin, by Midnight Lute, a daughter of graded stakes winner War Thief.
Mike Ryan, Agent, went to $450,000 for Hip No. 762, a daughter of Justify consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent. The bay filly, who worked an eighth in :10 1/5, is a half sister to graded stakes placed Carried Interest out of Missamerica Bertie, by Quiet American, a full sister to graded stakes winner Allamerican Bertie.
Hip No. 851, a son of Tapwrit consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to West Point TB’s/Mike Talla Racing, L.E.B., Agent for $450,000. The gray or roan colt, whose Under Tack quarter in :21 flat was co-fastest on Thursday, is out of Oh Kay See, by Notional, a half sister to grade one stakes winner So Many Ways.
Hip No. 641, a daughter of Twirling Candy consigned by Julie Davies LLC, Agent, was sold to Ben Gase for $400,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Wednesday, is out of Laid Back Lady, by Hold Me Back, a half sister to grade one stakes winner The Groom Is Red.
com / Dan Agnew paid $400,000 for Hip No. 661, a son of Good Magic consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5 on Wednesday, is a half brother to graded stakes winner Soldat out of Le Relais, by Coronado’s Quest.
Hip No. 747, a daughter of Curlin who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 on Thursday, was purchased by Solis / Litt Bloodstock for $400,000. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, the dark bay or brown filly is out of grade one stakes winner Midnight Lucky, by Midnight Lute, from the family of grade one stakes winner Hookedonthefeelin.
For the day, 173 horses brought a total of $ 23,658,000, compared with 167 selling for $14,834,500 at last year’s third session. The average price was $136,751, up 54% compared to $88,829 in 2021 while the median price was $65,000, compared with $45,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 16.0%; it was 12.6% last year.
The Spring Sale continues Friday at 10:30 a.m. Hip No.’s 925 – 1231 will be offered for sale.
Hip No. 401, a son of Medaglia d’Oro consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, went to Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal LLC for $1,750,000 to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at Tuesday’s Under Tack session, is a half-brother to champion Drefong out of Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper, from the family of champion Action This Day. Hip No. 490, a son of Mendelssohn consigned by Scanlon Training & Sales, Agent, was purchased by Mitsu Nakauchida for $1,300,000. The chestnut colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Tuesday, is out of Grace Is Gone, by Malibu Moon, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Plenty of Grace.
Mitsu Nakauchida also went to $825,000 for Hip No. 466, a son of Into Mischief consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat on Tuesday, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Isotherm out of stakes-placed Game for More, by More Than Ready.
Hip No. 503, a son of Curlin also consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Michael Lund Petersen, for $800,000. The gray or roan colt, who worked an eighth on Tuesday in :10 flat, is out of Gr. I stakes-winner Hard Not to Like, by Hard Spun, a daughter of stakes-winner Like a Gem.
J. Stable LLC went to $700,000 for Hip No. 506, a daughter of Nyquist who worked an eighth in :10 flat on Tuesday. Consigned by Eisaman Equine, Agent, the gray or roan filly is out of Hasilah, by Hard Spun, a daughter of Gr. I stakes-winner Sierra Madre (FR).
Hip No. 602, a daughter of Curlin consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to Spry Family Farm for $600,000. The chestnut filly, who turned in a bullet :20 4/5 on Saturday, is out of stakes-placed Jumby Bay, by City Zip, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Royal Obsession.
Ben McElroy, Agent for M. V. Magnier, paid $600,000 for Hip No. 611, a daughter of Street Sense consigned by Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan), Agent. The bay filly, who’s Under Tack eighth in 9: 4/5 was co-fastest on Wednesday, is out of Katie’s Keepsake, by Medaglia d’Oro, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Salty Strike.
Hip No. 546, a son of Goldencents consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Chad Schumer, Agent, for $535,000. The bay colt, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was Wednesday’s co-fastest at the distance, is a half-brother to recent Gr. I Madison Stakes winner Just One Time, out of Ida Clark, by Speightstown.
Steve Rothblum, Agent for Mark Davis, paid $485,000 for Hip No. 558, a son of Gun Runner consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5 on Wednesday, is out of Incentive, by Mr. Greeley, a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Winchester.
Hip No. 373, a son of Race Day consigned by Longoria Training & Sales, Agent, was purchased by Maverick Racing/Siena Farms/ CMNWLTH for $475,000. The bay colt, who worked a quarter in :21 flat on Tuesday, is out of Divine Friends, by Divine Park, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Cash Included.
Oliver St. Lawrence Bloodstock paid $475,000 for Hip No. 575, a son of Into Mischief consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who worked an eighth on Wednesday in :10 1/5, is out of Gr. I stakes-winning millionaire Iotapa, by Afleet Alex.
Hip No. 576, a daughter of More Than Ready consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, went to Ace Racing for $475,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Ireland’s Call, by Medaglia d’Oro, a daughter of Gr. I stakes-winner Magnificent Song.
For the day, 178 horses brought $25,855,000, compared with 196 selling for $21,614,500 at last year’s second session. The average price was $145,253, up 31.8% compared to $110,278 in 2021 while the median price was $78,500, compared with $45,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 18.7%; it was 11.7% last year.
Hip No. 206, a son of Uncle Mo consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, went to Gary Young, Agent for Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., for $2.3-million to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5 at Monday’s Under Tack session, is out of Borealis Night, by Astrology, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Kinsley Kisses. Hip No. 199, Bold Design, a daughter of Violence consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to Carolyn Wilson for $635,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who worked a quarter in :20 2/5 on Monday, is a half-sister to graded stakes- placed Bold Quality out of graded stakes-winner Bold Union, by Dixie Union.
Hip No. 11, a son of Triple Crown winner Justify consigned by Hidden Brook, went to Gary Young, Agent for Zedan Racing Stables, for $600,000. The chestnut colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat at Sunday’s Under Tack session, is out of stakes-placed Unbound, by Distorted Humor, from the family of champion Personal Ensign.
Hip No. 306, a daughter of Union Rags consigned by Centofanti Thoroughbreds, Agent, was sold to Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal for $525,000. The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show, is out of graded stakes-placed Corderosa, by Aldebaran, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Celtic Melody.
Mayberry Farm went to $510,000 for Hip No. 66, a son of Curlin consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Sunday, is out of graded stakes-winner Winding Way, by Malibu Moon, a full sister to graded stakes-winner Kauai Katie.
Hip No. 141, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent, was sold to Oliver St. Lawrence Bloodstock for $450,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Sunday, is a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Bolo out of Aspen Mountain, by Chief Seattle.
NBS Stable/John Ballantyne went to $450,000 for Hip No. 181, a son of Tapwrit consigned by All Dreams Equine, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Monday, is out of Bern Obsession, by Bernstein, a full sister to graded stakes -winner Proceed Bee.
Hip No. 274, a son of City of Light consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to Don Rachel for $450,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Chuckling, by Indian Charlie, a daughter of Gr. I stakes-winner Pleasant Home.
Hip No. 189, a daughter of Uncle Mo consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to Grace Diamond for $425,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who worked an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Birdy Num, by Tapit, a daughter of Gr. I winner Believe You Can.
Woodslane Farm went to $400,000 for Hip No. 230, a daughter of Mendelssohn consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent. The bay filly, who worked an Under Tack quarter in:21 flat, is out of graded stakes-placed Cana (AUS), by Fastnet Rock, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Wanted.
Hip No. 205, a daughter of Hard Spun who worked an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show, was purchased by Lauren Carlisle, Agent, for $390,000. Consigned by Randy Miles, Agent, the bay filly is out of stakes-placed Boreale, by Makfi, from the family of graded stakes-winner Interactif.
Hip No. 135, Vance C., a son of Upstart consigned by Two Oaks Equine, Agent, was sold for $385,000 to Cherie DeVaux, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show, is out of A Rosefor Isabelle, by Hard Spun, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Water White.
Hip No. 186, a son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was purchased for $340,000 by Kanayama Holdings Co. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, is out of Big Meesh (IRE), by High Chaparral (IRE), a daughter of Gr. I winner Noble Pearl.
Hip No. 213, a son of Nyquist consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, was sold to George Papaprodromou for $325,000. The chestnut colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of Broken Blues, by Broken Vow, a daughter of stakes-placed Storm City Blues.
Hip No. 112, a son of Girvin consigned by Ocala Stud, went to Champion Equine for $300,000. The bay colt, who sped a quarter in :21 flat at the Under Tack Show, is out of Alotofappeal, by Trippi, and is a half-brother to OBS graduate King Cab, winner of the recent Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Maverick Racing & Siena Farms paid $300,000 for Hip No. 161, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Gayle Woods, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Sunday, is out of Bama Belle, by Giant’s Causeway, a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Funny Moon.
Hip No. 227, a daughter of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds, Agent, for $300,000. The bay filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in:10 1/5, is out of stakes-winner Cali Thirty Seven, by Eskendereya, a half sister to graded stakes-winner Southern Honey.
For the day, 161 horses brought $22,149,000 compared with 194 selling for $18,362,900 at last year’s opening session. The average price was $137,571, up 45% compared to $94,464 in 2021 while the median price was $75,000, compared with $50,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 24.1%; it was 13.8% last year.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to make an Easter Sunday visit to Gulfstream Park, where he is named on five horses on the 10-race program. Ortiz is named to ride Rohan Crichton-trained Forest Survivor, 5-2 in the morning line in a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming starter allowance on Tapeta in Race 2; Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Ticket to Heaven, rated at 9-2 in a mile $35,000 maiden claimer for 3-year-old fillies on turf in Race 5; Todd Pletcher-trained In the Union, rated second at 5-2 in a mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds on turf in Race 6; Daniel Pita-trained Famous Gent, rated at 4-1 in a 5 ½-furlong allowance for state-bred on Tapeta in Race 9; and Joseph-trained Ken Loves Kitten, a first-time starter rated at 7-2 in a mile maiden claiming race on turf in Race 10.
The 29-year-old superstar entered today’s program at Keeneland with 97 wins in 2022, one behind Luis Saez’s leading total of 98. He has a clear lead in purses won with more than $7 million. Ortiz, who had captured three-straight Championship Meet titles before finishing second behind Saez at the recently-concluded Gulfstream winter meet, edged Saez in the purses-won standings, $5.05 million to $4.99 million, after riding Life Is Good to victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational.
Rainbow 6 Jackpot Hit The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool was hit for a $220,289 payoff today. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for six days. A single ticket with the winning combination of 2-2-9-2-11-5 was sold. . The Rainbow 6 will start anew on Sunday, when the six-racing sequence will span Races 5-10, featuring a mile optional claiming allowance on turf in Race 6 and a 5 ½-furlong allowance for Florida-breds on Tapeta in Race 9. Danny Gargan-trained Riot House, who came off a nine-month layoff to break his maiden March 12, is rated at the 2-1 in the morning line in Race 6, in which Todd Pletcher-trainee In the Union is scheduled to slated to make his turf debut. Owner/trainer Louis Roussel III sends out Heals the Soul, his first starter of the Spring/Summer Meet, in Race 9. The 4-year-old son of Maclean’s Music recently came off a five-month layoff to win a five-furlong turf sprint at Fair Grounds last time out. Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Nerve is set to make his first start since finishing second in the Hollywood Beach at five furlongs on turf last September.
Hip No. 1004, a son of Girvin consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, worked a quarter in :20 3/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the sixth session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two Year Olds in Training. The bay colt is a half-brother to stakes-winning OBS graduate Tiger Blood out of two-time OBS graduate Sarah Cataldo, by Smarty Jones. Five horses shared honors for the session’s fastest eighth, clocked in :9 4/5. Hip No. 901, consigned by Kings Equine, Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by Candy Ride (ARG) out of graded stakes-placed Poof Too, by Distorted Humor.
Hip No. 939, a chestnut filly by Jimmy Creed consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC, Agent, is out of stakes-winner Quite a Ruckus, by Richter Scale, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Excaper.
Hip No. 1006, consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, is a dark bay or brown colt by Honor Code out of Saranda, by Smart Strike, from the family of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Pink Poppy.
Hip No. 1017, a bay filly by Bolt d’Oro consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, is out of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Scorpio Queen (AUS), by Choisir, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Toledo.
Hip No. 1048, consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, is a chestnut filly by Midshipman out of stakes-placed Sheza Runaway Star, by Pride of Burkaan, a half-sister to millionaire stakes-winning OBS graduate Rivers Run Deep.
Four youngsters turned in quarters in :20 4/5. Hip No. 885, a gray or roan colt by Tapit consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Annual Report out of Pension, by Seeking the Gold.
Hip No. 922, consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, is a dark bay or brown colt by Shackleford out of Queenameina, by Read the Footnotes, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Bella Madame (CHI).
Hip No. 1002, a chestnut filly by Army Mule consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of stakes-placed Saoirse Cat, by Storm Cat, a daughter of champion Saoirse.
Hip No. 1054, a dark bay or brown filly consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of Shysheisnot, by Tribal Rule, a half-sister to stakes-winner Mongolian Shopper.
There were four quarters clocked in :21 flat. Hip No. 887, a bay colt by Munnings consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent, is a full brother to stakes-placed Key Light out of stakes-winner Perfectly Candid, by Pleasantly Perfect.
Hip No. 894, consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is a chestnut colt by Gormley out of Pleasant Harbor, by Rockport Harbor, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Boston Bull.
Hip No. 954, a chestnut filly by Bee Jersey consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of Ready for Gold, by More Than Ready, from the family of champion Perfect Soul (IRE).
Hip No. 992, consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by Speightstown out of Runninwiththewind, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Jersey Girl.
A filly by Mizzen Mast and colts by Distorted Humor and Lord Nelson breezed quarters in :20 3/5, posting the fastest works at the distance at the fourth session of the Under Tack Show for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two Year Olds in Training.
• Hip No. 543, consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is a chestnut filly by Mizzen Mast out of stakes-winner Hurricane Bernie, by Sea of Secrets, and is a three-quarter sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Mizdirection.
• Hip No. 548, a dark bay or brown colt by Lord Nelson consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, is a half-brother to stakes-placed OBS Spring Sale graduate Macho Miah out of I Know You Know, by Officer.
• Hip No. 671, consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent, is a bay colt by Distorted Humor out of Life Force, by Sky Mesa, from the family of graded stakes-winner Supah Blitz. Five youngsters shared honors for the session’s fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :9 4/5.
• Hip No. 537, a bay filly by Uncle Mo consigned by Clary Bloodstock, is out of graded stakes-winner House Rules, by Distorted Humor.
• Hip No. 546, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, is a bay colt by Goldencents, a half-brother to last Saturday’s Gr. I Madison Stakes winner Just One Time out of Ida Clark, by Speightstown.
• Hip No. 611, a bay filly by Street Sense consigned by Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan), Agent, is out of Katie’s Keepsake, by Medaglia d’Oro, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Salty Strike.
• Hip No. 674, a gray or roan colt by Macho Uno consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales, Agent, is out of Lil Miss Richie, by Half Ours, and is a three-quarter sister to graded stakes-winner Macho Macho from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Fantastic Look.
• Hip No. 687, consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, is a bay filly by Mo Town out of Longride to Wisdom, by Harlan’s Holiday, a daughter of stakes-winner Clever Idea. A pair of horses worked quarters in :20 4/5.
• Hip No. 549, a dark bay or brown filly by Twirling Candy consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of Illicit Affair, by Midnight Lute, a daughter of champion Silverbulletday.
• Hip No. 661, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, a dark bay or brown colt by Good Magic, is a half--brother to graded stakes-winner Soldat out of Le Relais, by Coronado’s Quest. There were three quarters in :21 flat.
• Hip No. 618, consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, Agent, is a bay filly by Twirling Candy out of Key d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Key Phrase.
• Hip No. 688, a chestnut colt by Justify consigned by Whitman Sales, Agent, is a half-brother to stakes-winner Kind of Magic (IRE) out of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Look At Me (IRE), by Danehill Dancer.
• Hip No. 701, Antony Gioffry, consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is a gray or roan colt by Frosted out of Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon, a half- sier to Gr. I stakes-winner Gabby’s Golden Gal.
Colts by Tapwrit and Mor Spirit breezed quarters in :20 3/5 to post the fastest works at the distance at the third session of the Under Tack Show for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two Year Olds in Training. Hip No. 384, a gray or roan colt by Tapwrit consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent, is out of Dulce Arabe (CHI), by Speightstown, from the family of Gr. I winner Fontanella Borghese (CHI).
Hip No. 410, a dark bay or brown colt by Mor Spirit consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, is out of Midnight Chocolate, by Midnight Lute, a daughter of stakes-winner Unbridled Danz.
A pair of youngsters shared honors for the session’s fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :9 4/5.
Hip No. 441, a chestnut filly by Army Mule consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, is out of First Fed Biz, by Fed Biz, a half-sister to stakes-winning OBS Spring graduate Haengbok Wangja.
Hip No. 461, consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, is a bay filly by Accelerate out of Full Moon Frolic, by Vindication, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Frolicing.
A pair of horses worked quarters in :20 4/5. Hip No. 423, a chestnut filly by Will Take Charge consigned by Ocala Stud, is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Courteous out of Famous, by Vindication.
Hip No. 498, consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, is a bay filly by Classic Empire out of stakes-winner Greed and Fear, by Bob and John, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner For Certain Doc.
A trio of youngsters turned in quarters in :20 3/5 to share honors for the fastest works at the distance at the opening session of the Under Tack Show for Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2022 Spring Sale of Two Year Olds in Training. Hip No. 150, consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, is a bay filly by Bolt d’Oro out of Avendesora, by Majesticperfection, a daughter of graded stakes-winner You’renotlistening.
Hip No. 163, a chestnut colt by Mendelssohn consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, is out of stakes-winner Banker’s Buy, by Distorted Humor.
Hip No. 176, Miss Bellimbusto, a bay filly by Bucchero consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, is out of Bellimbusto, by First Dude, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Storm Flag. Six horses shared honors for the fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :9 4/5. Hip No. 87, consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC, Agent, is a bay filly by Tapiture out of Youngnflashy, by Flashy Bull, a half- sister to stakes-winner Endymion.
Hip No. 121, a chestnut filly by Speightster consigned by Randy Miles, Agent, is out of Anfield Rose, by Wilburn, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Sheer Flattery
Hip No. 129, consigned by Kings Equine, Agent for Spendthrift Farm LLC, is a chestnut filly by Mor Spirit out of Appealing Katie, by Summer Bird, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Regally Appealing.
Hip No. 137, consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, Agent, is a bay filly by Lord Nelson out of Asana, by Arch, from the family of graded stakes-winner Wandering Star.
Hip No. 138, Havnameltdown, a bay colt by Uncaptured consigned by Blas Perez Stables, is out of Ashley’s Babe, by Put It Back, a half- sister to stakes-winner Jay’s Way.
Hip No. 148, consigned by Best A Luck Farm LLC, Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by More Than Ready out of Autonomic, by Hard Spun, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner His Race to Win.
One horse worked a quarter in :20 4/5. Hip No. 88, consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent, is a gray or roan filly by Cross Traffic out of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Your Flame in Me, by Boundary.
A pair of horses worked quarters in :21 flat. Hip No. 7, consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is a bay filly by Into Mischief out of Unanimous, by Animal Kingdom, a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Laverock.
Hip No. 112, a bay colt by Girvin consigned by Ocala Stud, is a half-brother to 3-year-old King Cab, winner of the recent OBS Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
OLDSMAR - When she arrived at Tampa Bay Downs before the current meet, apprentice jockey Madeline Rowland hoped to ride a few winners while picking up lessons she needed to advance her career. Where she was going to find the time to accomplish those goals, she wasn’t quite sure.
“When I came here, I thought I was going to have to find a salaried job, because I didn’t know what I was doing in a race,” Rowland, 18, said. “I kind of knew, but I didn’t have a lot of experience. Everybody was saying ‘You’re a girl and you’re an apprentice, and you’re not going to do good in Tampa.’ ” It was a nice story when Rowland gained her first victory in her first start at Tampa Bay Downs (and ninth overall) on Dec. 10 aboard 4-year-old gelding Sancocho for owner-trainer Juan Arriagada. It got better on Jan. 28 when she scored her fifth victory on Arriagada’s 5-year-old Ride Em, a milestone that reduced Rowland’s apprentice weight allowance for a race from 10 to 7 pounds.
A couple of weeks after that, the floodgates opened. Since Feb. 13, Rowland has ridden 15 winners, punctuating that run of success with the first three-victory day of her career on Wednesday. The impressive display earned her the Salt Rock Tavern Jockey of the Month Award. She had earlier earned the first 'Track Times Today' award. “I’m delighted with how it’s turning out,” Rowland said, a couple of hours before notching her 20th victory on 4-year-old gelding Lemon Creek Louie in Wednesday’s ninth race for owner-trainer Mike Dini. “Two weeks ago, I was thinking it would be amazing if I could finish the meet with 20 wins.” Don’t get the idea Rowland is short on confidence. She acknowledges entertaining visions of being a star in the sport one day, capable of competing against top riders in some of the biggest races. All that will take time, of course – something she has plenty of, now that she doesn’t have to work a side job. Rowland keeps a journal in which she tracks her accomplishments and her plans to keep improving. She realizes 20 victories, even as a teenager, is a drop in a very large bucket compared to most of her rivals. And, truth be told, there is not a single aspect of her game that doesn’t need work, save for her natural enthusiasm that effervesces each time she wins. “I journal about what I want to accomplish every week and about my career goals and my life goals,” said Rowland, the daughter of the late steeplechase-racing trainer Paul Rowland and Jodi Rowland, a Registered Nurse Case Manager who lives in Landenberg, Pa. “I journal about some things I’m proud of, things that I can be even prouder of eventually if I keep working. “I’m always thinking of how I can be better, in this sport and as a person. As a jockey, how I look, my decision-making in a race, getting stronger. I want my career to last and I want it to be the best it can be.” Fellow jockey Skyler Spanabel, her roommate, says Rowland is advanced beyond other riders with her relative lack of experience in her ability to strategize a race and carry her plan through. “She’s smart. She’s really smart,” Spanabel said. “A lot of apprentices don’t take the time to think in a race. They come out of the gate looking good, but they don’t really know where to position a horse to get its best run or how to think the race through. She is kind of the opposite, which is the best way to do it. You want to be smart first, and everything else can fall into place later.” Case in point: Wednesday’s second race, a 5 ½-furlong, $16,000 claiming race for fillies and mares who had never won three races. The distance suggested that Rowland’s mount, the speedy 5-year-old mare Jara, would be best used by breaking on top and daring the other five horses to catch her. Instead, Rowland let the race come to her, sensing quickly that the opening fractions set by duelers Lady Noy and Pretty Princess of :21.86 for the first quarter-mile and :45.52 for the half were too fast to sustain. Approaching the turn, Rowland sent Jara zooming up the rail, and they were 7 ¾ lengths clear of runner-up Lady Noy at the wire. Rowland says several Oldsmar jockeys have been eager to mentor her, foremost among them Spanabel, Hector Rafael Diaz Jr., and Jose Ferrer, the 2018 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award winner. All might be fans under other circumstances, rooting for a young woman with dreams as big as Secretariat’s heart. With Maddie, what you see is what you get. She works hard and practices skills and techniques to get better, but nothing is staged. “The first thing I can say about her is that she is willing to listen and learn. She is willing to listen to everybody,” said multiple graded stakes-winning jockey Diaz. “And she pays a lot of attention when she is not riding. I know that what I tell her she puts into practice, because I see it happen. She has a long way ahead, of course, and the pounds (the apprentice weight allowance) are helping her. But the more she rides, the more she is going to learn and improve. And horses run for her. That’s partly the hands – I think most of the women jockeys, they aren’t trying to manhandle a horse, and they are able to work together because the horse is comfortable. “Plus, she has been around horses her whole life, and she loves her job. You can see how happy she is when she’s atop a horse.” So, Rowland – who finished fifth in Saturday’s third race on a horse named And the Oscar Goes – would like to thank Skyler, and Hector and Mr. Ferrer, and the horsemen and fans for helping her win the Salt Rock Tavern Jockey of the Month award. And, oh yeah, Mom too. “She’s the one I don’t think I’ve given enough credit to, because she has completely been there for me and my brother (Hayden, 15),” Rowland said. “I would not be here if she had not given me the constructive criticism, the love and support and everything you want from a mother, times 10.”
OLDSMAR - Apprentice jockey Madeline Rowland notched the first three-victory day of her fledgling career today, capping her performance with an 11 ¾-length victory aboard 4-year-old gelding Lemon Creek Louie in the ninth and final race. Rowland, 18, began by winning the second and third races. Her first victory came on Jara ($8.80), a 5-year-old mare owned by Bruno Schickedanz and trained by Richard M. Davis. Rowland captured the third on I Kickn $5.40), a 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Debra M. Smith and trained by Gary House. I Kickn was claimed from the race for $5,000 by trainer Chandradat Goberdhan for new owner Karina McDonald, marking the third consecutive race and fifth time in his last six starts I Kickn has changed barns. Rowland’s victory aboard Lemon Creek Louie ($5.60) gives her 20 victories from 110 mounts at the meet. Owned and trained by Mike Dini, Lemon Creek Louie was claimed from the race for $10,000 by trainer Douglas Nunn for new owner Winner Circle Stables. She also finished second aboard Magic Mikaela, a 12-1 shot by Handsome Mike, in the fourth. BLUE GRASS COMING UP - Seven horses that have competed at Tampa Bay Downs this season are among the 12-horse field set to chase valuable “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points in Saturday’s Gr. I, $1-million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington. The Oldsmar veterans who will tackle the mile-and-an-eighth distance of the Blue Grass include Grantham, the runner-up in the Gr. II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby; Volcanic, third in the Gr. III Sam F. Davis Stakes; Golden Glider, fourth in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby and fifth in the Sam F. Davis, and an allowance/optional claiming winner here on Jan. 7; Trademark, unplaced in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby and Sam F. Davis; Emmanuel, winner of an allowance/optional claiming race here on Jan. 30; Fenwick, winner of a maiden special weight race on March 12; and Commandperformance, runner-up to Fenwick in his most recent start. The Blue Grass will be the ninth race on an 11-race card, with first-race post time of 12:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Nest, a 3-year-old filly who won the Suncoast Stakes here on Feb. 12 by six lengths in stakes-record time of 1:39.30 for the mile-and-40-yard distance, attempts to score at the Gr. I level Friday on Keeneland’s opening-day card in the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes, a mile-and-a-sixteenth prep race for the $1.25-million Longines Kentucky Oaks on May 6 at Churchill Downs. Nest, who is owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House and trained by Todd Pletcher, is 2-1 on the morning line in the eight-horse field. She will break from the No. 4 post under Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Nest in the Suncoast and in her victory on Dec. 4 in the Gr. II Demoiselle at Aqueduct. The Ashland is the ninth race on a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Both the Friday and Saturday cards will be simulcast in their entirety at Tampa Bay Downs. Pablo Morales rode two winners today. Morales won the first race on U Know I B Lion, a 6-year-old mare owned by Pirate Racing and trained by Christos Gatis. He added the fifth race aboard Mystic Link, a 6-year-old gelding owned by Patrick Mogauro Jr., and trained by John Rigattieri.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Fresh off saddling White Abarrio for a victory in Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was able to celebrate his first Championship Meet Title at Gulfstream Park today. Joseph closed out the 2021-2022 Championship Meet with 58 winners, 12 victories ahead of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the defending 18-time titlist. “Most definitely the Florida Derby was the icing on the cake. The Championship Meet title also means a lot. I grew up watching Todd my while life. He’s dominated for 18 years now. I’m 35 now. To take over from him after 18 years, I can’t put into words what it means,” Joseph said. “I would just watch Todd win and dominate. He’s a role model for any trainer who wants to look up to someone.” Luis Saez reclaimed the Championship Meet title that had been held by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the past three years. Saez won back-to-back titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. Saez won 122 races during the 2021-2022 Championship Meet, 28 wins more than Tyler Gaffalione, whose winning mount aboard White Abarrio was one of five victories on Saturday’s card.
“It’s something very big for us. Florida is like home. It’s the first place we came to,” said the 29-year-old Panamanian. “The third time is very special to us.”
Gulfstream Park’s Spring/Summer Royal Palm Meet will get underway Thursday with an eight-race program with a 1:05 p.m. first-race post time. Rainbow 6 Mandatory Payout Yields $1,008 Payoffs The last day of the Championship Meet meant a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6. Tickets with the winners of the last six races were rewarded with $1,008. There was $5,211,212 of new money wagered into the pool and a carryover of $701,438.
C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio relaxed just off the pace in the early going of the Gr. I, $1,000,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream, rallied on the turn to reach contention in the stretch, took command a furlong out and held off a late run to score by a length and a quarter.
It’s the second straight graded stakes victory for the 3-year-old colt, a two-time OBS graduate. The son of Race Day 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 turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Now 5-4-0-1 for trainer Saffie A. Joseph Jr., he has now earned $823,650.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Miguel Vasquez, perhaps the most under-rated rider in North America, notched three victories in consecutive races at Gulfstream Park Thursday, putting the finishing touches on another rock-solid Championship Meet. The under-the-radar jockey, who rides year-round at Gulfstream, ran his Championship Meet total to 45 wins while scoring aboard Starship Nugget ($4.60) in Race 4, Amani’s Eagle ($15.60) in Race 5, and Protonic Power ($7.20) in Race 6. Vasquez ranks seventh in wins. The 27-year-old jockey, who ventured from Panama to South Florida in 2014, ranked eighth last season with 46 victories. Vasquez inched closer to the 1,000 victory milestone while pushing his U. S. total to 975 with Thursday’s effort. Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $650,000 The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $650,000 today after going unsolved for the 11th day since it was hit for a $342,836 payoff. Today’s sequence will span Races 4-9, including a highly competitive featured optional claiming allowance in Race 8, a five-furlong turf dash for older horses. Trainer Christophe Clement’s Shekky Shebaz will seek a long overdue victory after a pair of close-up finishes during the Championship Meet. Mark Casse-trained Jack and Noah, a multiple stakes-winner who is rated at 2-1 in the morning line, will return from an eight-month layoff. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Chasing Artie, who has won two stakes in his last three starts, will also return from a long layoff since winning the My Frenchman at Monmouth July 11. Who’s Hot: Trainer Fausto Gutierrez saddled Amani’s Eagle ($15.60) and Protonic Power ($7.20) for back-to-back victories in Races 5-6. Leading rider Luis Saez doubled aboard Hard to Capture ($17.40) in Race 2 and Brasstown ($5.80) in Race 7. Irad Ortiz Jr. also rode a pair of winners, scoring aboard Dem a Wonder ($4.80) in Race 3 and Winter Princess ($5.60) in Race 8.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd.’s multiple stakes-winning mare Beautiful Lover, who earned graded status in the La Prevoyante (G3) to kick off her 6-year-old season, will head to the breeding shed after making her final start in Saturday’s $150,000, Gr. III Orchid at Gulfstream Park.
The 58th running of the 1 3/8-mile Orchid for fillies and mares 4 and up on turf is part of a blockbuster program that includes 10 stakes, six graded, worth $2.2 million anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, one of the country’s premier Triple Crown preps. Post time for the first of 14 races is 11:30 a.m. Unraced at 2, Beautiful Lover won the 2019 Boiling Springs as a 3-year-old in her stakes debut and went on to place in six other stakes including the 2020, Gr. II Matchmaker before becoming a graded winner in the 1 ½-mile La Prevoyante Jan. 29 at Gulfstream. Most recently, she ran fourth after setting the pace in the 1 3/8-mile, Gr. III The Very One last out.
“She won a Grade 3 and came back a bit below form last time out. I still think she’s training well,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “It will be her last race before she’s being retired. The idea is to run her there and then become a broodmare.” Beautiful Lover was uncharacteristically on the lead in her most recent start, one where the half-mile went in :50.86 seconds. It was not unlike the La Prevoyante, which had a :50.50 half and the Arch mare was able to rally from her stalking trip to edge stablemate Sorrel by a neck. “It was a touch of a paceless trip last time,” Clement’s son and assistant, Miguel, said. “She found herself in the front, which may not have been where she wanted to be that day. Her start two back was very impressive, and I think she’s going to run that sort of race again because she’s going into this race quite well.” Beautiful Lover has had a pair of five-furlong works, each in 1:02, following her latest start, and will have newly-minted Eclipse Award winner Joel Rosario back aboard for the third straight race as starting topweight of 123 pounds. “She showed a good turn of foot [in the La Prevoyante],” Miguel Clement said. “She’s training very well at the moment. She’s eating great and training great, and I’m actually very excited to see her run. I would be very disappointed if she doesn’t provide a good account of herself.” Trainer Graham Motion entered the pair of Harajuku and Sister Otoole in the Orchid. Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.’s Harajuku was third, beaten 1 ½ lengths, in the March 5 The Very One. In her prior effort, the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly was second by a nose to Always Shopping in the 1 3/8-mile Via Borghese Dec. 31 at Gulfstream. “I thought she ran very well last time. I thought the form kind of held up from her previous start,” Motion said. “She was only beaten a length and a half and I thought it was a good effort. She beat the fillies that she beat in the Via Borghese and then some of those fillies came back and ran well in the race on Pegasus Day. “She wasn’t beaten by much and she’s done really well since. I do question how far she really wants to go,” he added. “I kind of skipped the race on Pegasus Day because I’m not convinced she wants to go a mile and a half, but she obviously likes Gulfstream so I think it makes sense to give her a shot in here.” Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Sister Otoole ran fifth in back-to-back starts just seven days apart, the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf, contested at a mile and 70 yards on Gulfstream’s Tapeta course, and the La Prevoyante. Motion has given her plenty of time since.
“I ran her back very quickly the last time,” Motion said. “I kind of really backed off her after that to give her a little bit of an easy time. This wasn’t necessarily on our agenda, but it figured to be a shorter field so why not take a shot.”
Peachtree Stable’s Champagne Ivy is set to make her graded debut out of a front-running 2 ¼-length optional claiming allowance going 1 ½ miles Feb. 10 at Gulfstream. Each of her last three races have come on Gulfstream’s all-weather surface, but she has finished worse than third only once in eight career tries on turf with a win in a conditioned 1 1/16-mile allowance last June at Belmont Park. “We think she’s gotten better with distance. Now we’re going to try her on the turf,” Championship Meet-leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “We think she’s better on the turf, but obviously the class check is going to be the big question mark, if she can run with these kind of horses. But she’ll definitely like the mile and a half, and we’ll give her a chance.” Hunter Valley Farm, Debra O’Connor and Marc Detampel’s Family Way, second in the The Very One; Calumet Farm homebred Scarabea, fourth by a half-length in the La Prevoyante last out; and Augustin Stable homebred Song of Innocence, runner-up in a Feb. 10 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream, round out the field.
OLDSMAR - Bright sunshine, temperatures in the mid-70s and light-to-moderate breezes greeted horsemen, horsewomen and their charges to the 19th annual Florida Cup, a collection of six $110,000 stakes races for registered Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs. While Treasure King (Equistaff Sophomore Turf) and Shifty She (Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf) lived up to their status as betting favorites, the other races produced longer shots of varying degrees in one of the most wide-open Florida Cup cards in the event’s history. Here is a race-by-race recap of today’s action. $110,000 OCALA BREEDERS’ SALES SOPHOMORE The connections of King Cab didn’t think it would be this easy. Not with such proven entities in the field as stakes-winners Cattin and Lightening Larry and Gr. III-placed Dean Delivers. But after breaking on top from the gate and getting King Cab to relax, jockey Emisael Jaramillo had no worries to the finish line. The Edward Plesa Jr.-trained gelding kept striding out to the wire, winning by 4 ¾ lengths from Lightening Larry in 1:22.25 for the seven furlongs, .12 seconds off the stakes record. It was King Cab’s first stakes triumph. “This horse is very, very fast,” said Jaramillo, who rode him for the first time. “Six furlongs, seven, he’s very strong. When I got to the 3/8-mile pole, I knew it was over. He’s so easy to ride.” King Cab was bred in partnership by Ocala Stud, veterinarian Edward Wiest and former jockey William J. Terrill and is owned by David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa, the trainer’s wife. The victory is the seventh in Florida Cup competition for Plesa, second all-time, and his record fourth in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore. King Cab paid $9.60 to win as the third wagering choice in the six-horse field after improving to 3-for-5. Cattin, who won the Inaugural Stakes here on Dec. 4, finished third, a half-length behind Lightening Larry. “He’s an exceptionally talented horse who does things his way,” trainer Plesa said of the winner. “We tried him a distance of ground last time just to see if we could kind of get him to rate a little bit. That didn’t work, so I’m not going to do anything to mess him up. I’m just going to let him do what he likes to do. “He didn’t switch leads down the lane, but it didn’t hinder him. In the mornings he does, but in the afternoons. … two races ago he did switch leads, but very late. Does it make any difference? Not all horses switch leads. That’s the only critique I can say about him. But when he wins like that, it doesn’t make any difference.” The winner’s share of $70,000 raised King Cab’s career earnings to $141,940. $110,000 EQUISTAFF SOPHOMORE TURF Maturity. That is one of the trademarks of 3-year-old colt Treasure King, who wore down pace-setter Tapthespeedofsound in late stretch under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano for a ¾-length victory in only his second career start.
Treasure King, now 2-for-2, posted a time for the mile-and-a-sixteenth on the firm turf course of 1:42.19, less than a second off the stakes record. He paid $4.40 to win as the heavy favorite. Merlin finished third. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher conditions Treasure King. “I really like this horse,” Castellano said. “He’s by a Galileo horse (Treasure Beach), so I thought he would like the turf. Everything he did, he did the right way. I had a lot of confidence to win the race.” Maybe so, but Live Oak Plantation homebred Tapthespeedofsound was dogged in defeat, putting forth a solid effort throughout under jockey Edwin Gonzalez. Treasure King was bred by Patricia Generazio and is owned by Mathis Stable. The colt is out of Wave of Glory, by Midshipman. Mark Casse was pleased with runner-up Tapthespeedofsound’s performance. The colt is a Live Oak Plantation homebred by Tapit out of Onepointhreekarats. “He ran well, and then Todd’s horse came and beat us at the end,” Casse said. “Our horse fought back. This was only his third start, and we hope he has a big future.” But it was Treasure King who delivered best on pre-race expectations. “He showed good promise at Gulfstream, and he impressed us today,” said Pletcher assistant Sophie Green. “He looked like a horse with promise in his maiden win, so we were quite hopeful.” $110,000 STONEHEDGE FARM SOUTH SOPHOMORE FILLIES Midnight Stroll’s maiden victory on Feb. 26 at Tampa Bay Downs stamped her as a filly with plenty of promise. Her potential seems even greater after her gate-to-wire victory in the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies under jockey Pablo Morales. Never threatened at any point of the 7-furlong race, Midnight Stroll posted a 3 ¼-length victory over Rapturous, with betting favorite Outfoxed finishing a distant third. The winner paid $16.80 after completing the distance in 1:23.12, .37 seconds off the stakes record. A daughter of Not This Time out of Midnight Magic, by Midnight Lute, Midnight Stroll was bred by Dr. Carolin Von Rosenberg DVM and is owned by Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Steven Schoenfeld. John P. Terranova, II is the winning trainer. Midnight Stroll improved to 2-for-4 with the victory. “We got her started (last summer) at Saratoga and it took a while to get her going,” Terranova said. “So we kind of regrouped and brought her down here and stretched her out (to a mile-and-40-yards) to break her maiden. We had this race in mind even before then. She has shown a lot of quality and we really like her. Pablo knows her well. He’s been breezing her in the mornings and I told him if she breaks well, go on with it.” Morales sees an excellent future for Midnight Stroll. “She does it so effortlessly – every time I’ve been on her, since this meet started, she has shown so much class,” he said. “We loved her the day of her maiden win, but after that she got even better. She came in real sharp today and when the gate opened, she was gone. She is a very classy horse.” $110,000 GREY GOOSE TURF CLASSIC When 5-year-old gelding Drama Chorus broke on top and was able to dictate the fractions in the mile-and-an-eighth race, his connections realized it was a dream scenario. The 11-1 shot had enough left through the stretch to hold off a determined rally from Max K. O. by a neck, earning Drama Chorus his first career stakes victory. Lure Him In finished third and the heavy favorite, Shamrocket, was a non-threatening fourth. “It’s great. Walk the dog early, then he outran some good horses,” said winning trainer Tim Padilla. “It was perfect. He finished strong and he battled back when (Max K. O.) came to him.” Drama Chorus, now 5-for-21 with five seconds, is a homebred racing for breeder-owner Peter D. Mattson. He is a son of Big Drama out of Missmollybygolly, by Scat Daddy. Padilla’s go-to rider, Alonso Quinonez, was aboard, and the jockey’s winning smile afterward was probably there at several points of the race as the others waited to make their moves, only to succumb to the distance and the determination of the winner. Drama Chorus paid $25 to win. His time was 1:48.58. “The way he ran last time (second to Chez Pierre in a 1-mile turf allowance here on March 9), I think he got beat by a very nice horse,” Quinonez said. “I was just hoping for a nice clean break, and when (Freedom Matters) didn’t break as well as I thought he might, the rest was history. The fractions were perfect and I had a lot of horse turning for home.” Quinonez was confident Drama Chorus could hold off Max K. O.’s charge from the outside. “He (Max K. O.) had to work to get to where I was, and I hadn’t moved yet,” he said. $110,000 PLEASANT ACRES STALLIONS DISTAFF TURF With almost 1,600 career victories, former Tampa Bay Downs jockey Edwin Gonzalez is putting together an excellent career. And with a few more horses to ride such as 6-year-old mare Shifty She, it probably won’t be long before Gonzalez’s reputation takes off like the winner of the Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf did through the stretch. The lightly-raced daughter of Gone Astray-Perilous Hope, by Strong Hope, improved to 7-for-13, easily turning back a stretch bid from runner-up Our Flash Drive and third-place finisher Mona Stella. Bettors caught on beforehand, reducing Shifty She’s odds to 3-5 at post time. Shifty She finished the mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass in 1:41.43, about a second off the stakes record. She is trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. In an odd twist, Gone Astray stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions. Chris Pallas bred Shifty She in partnership with George Klein. Pallas and Harvey Rothenberg are co-owners under their Pedigree Partners, LLC banner. The victory was the fourth in stakes company for Shifty She, who won the Gr. III Noble Damsel Stakes last fall at Belmont under Gonzalez and finished second and third in a pair of Gr. III events at Gulfstream Park with Gonzalez aboard before coming to Oldsmar. “She is a very nice (mare). She always breaks running, and when she breaks I let her do what she wants to be comfortable,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t want to be fighting her because I know wherever I put her, she is going to give me her best.” Gonzalez and Shifty She controlled the pace throughout, and when he asked her to guarantee the victory in the stretch, she responded. "She won wire-to-wire and was in front the whole way, so it was a nice performance,” Joseph said. “Before the owners sent her to us she had an issue and they gave her the time off she needed. It was almost two years. She came to us a good filly, and since she's been with us we've just tried to do as good of a job as the previous trainer. She's just class.” Joseph said he hopes to try Shifty She, a career earner of $453,495, in Gr. I company, perhaps in the Gr. I Longines Just a Game on June 11 at Belmont. “That was the idea, to run in this race and hopefully, cut her back to the one-turn mile and see if we can get a Gr. 1 placing in her and hopefully, win a Grade 1 with her,” the conditioner said. $110,000 NYRABETS SPRINT Co-owner and trainer Elizabeth L. Dobles claimed Pudding last July for $25,000 from an allowance/optional claiming victory at Gulfstream Park. So it was hard to express her pride in the 7-year-old gelding after his thrilling victory from last year’s NYRABETS Sprint winner Tap It to Win in today’s Florida Cup finale. “He’s a dream to train. He’s one of my favorites,” Dobles said after Pudding won his first career stakes under jockey Javier Castellano. “I guess almost every horse I train turns out to be one of my favorites, but he is definitely one of my heart horses.” Pudding sped the 6-furlong distance in 1:09.01, only .34 seconds off It’s Me Mom’s stakes and track record. Cajun Casanova finished third in the six-horse field. Pudding paid $9.60 to win as the third choice in the wagering. A son of Two Step Salsa out of Jozi’s Turn, by Johannesburg, Pudding is owned by Dobles in partnership with John Guarnere’s Imaginary Stables. He was bred by JSL Thoroughbreds. He improved to 9-for-33 with the victory, with career earnings of $323,840. Three horses were scratched from the race, and the defection of Gatsby gave Castellano an opportunity to change strategy and put Pudding on the lead early. “Thank God, Elizabeth gave me the green light to make my own decision. Sometimes it doesn’t work and sometimes it does, but it did this time. This horse never gives up.” Indeed, 5-year-old Tap It to Win appeared to stick his head in front in deep stretch, but his older rival fought back gamely to send his backers into tapioca heaven.
LAUREL, MD – As first impressions go, it doesn’t get any better than what Jeiron Barbosa did today at Laurel Park. A 10-pound apprentice from San Juan, Puerto Rico who has been in the U. S. for all of two days, the 18-year-old Barbosa made an immediate splash on the American racing scene by winning with each of his first two domestic mounts. Aboard Magic Stable’s Heliacal Rising ($6.60), Barbosa raced in mid-pack before sweeping to the lead on the far outside at the top of the stretch and passing Claudio Gonzalez-trained stablemate Chica Rabiosa to capture the opener, a one-mile claimer for 3-year-old fillies, by 6 ½ lengths. In Race 3, a claimer for 4-year-olds and up going about 1 1/16 miles, Barbosa and Abuelitas Racing Stable’s 5-year-old gelding Ludicrous Mode ($6.60) found themselves last coming off the far turn but were able to navigate between horses, drop down to the rail and rally past Flatexcel for a one-length triumph. Ludicrous Mode is trained by Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon. “It feels really good,” Barbosa said through family friend and fellow Maryland-based jockey Angel Cruz, who rode Chica Rabiosa. “It is a dream of mine to ride in the United States. To win my first two races right away helps to take away some of the pressure.” Barbosa attended the Escuela Hipica Vocacional in Puerto Rico for two years. According to Equibase statistics, he began riding professionally on Jan. 1 at Camarero Racetrack, winning his first race the following day aboard Queque, and had three wins, 10 seconds and 12 thirds from 72 mounts.
“They wanted me to take him a few months ago, but I told them with the cold weather up here and the shorter fields to stay down there and ride more horses and get some experience and when the weather breaks, I’ll bring him up here,” Barbosa’s agent, Tom Stift, said. “He looks like a little kid, but he looks good on a horse.” Barbosa wound up in Maryland thanks to his relationship with Cruz, whose wife is related to Barbosa’s mother and is best friends with Barbosa’s sister. He was inspired to become a jockey by his late grandmother.
“She loved the horses and horse racing, and when she passed away I wanted to become a jockey as a tribute to her,” Barbosa said. “It was my goal to become a jockey and everybody was telling me I could do it.” Stift said Barbosa has been getting on horses for trainers Gonzalez, Sanchez-Salomon and Jose Corrales since his arrival. He is named aboard Glorious Weekend for trainer Marco Salazar in Race 1 Sunday, closing day of Laurel’s 2022 winter meet. “They all said he has good hands on a horse. Being that small, you can’t outmuscle them. You have to have good hands,” Stift said. The agent also represented fellow Puerto Rico native Victor Carrasco upon his arrival in the U.S. Carrasco, still based in Maryland, went on to win the 2013 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice. “I’ve had bugs in the past, like Victor Carrasco. When I brought him up here, Victor didn’t speak any English either, but within two months he was speaking English,” Stift said. “You can just tell when they want to learn, and that’s what Jeiron reminds me of.” “His goal is to stay here in Maryland and keep riding,” Cruz said. “I’ve known him since he was 10 years old. He listens, he works hard and he’s a good kid.”
HALLANDALE BEACH - West Paces Racing, Flying P Stable and Peter J. Callahan’s Missy Greer, a half-sister to Gronkowski, graduated in style today at Gulfstream Park, scoring a front-running 5 ¼-length victory in Race 5. The Danny Gargan trainee graduated in her fourth start. After racing twice on turf, the daughter of Nyquist-Four Sugars finished a late-fading third on a muddy track Feb. 13. Gronkowski finished second in the 2018 Belmont and second in the 2019 Dubai World Cup. Missy Greer ($3.60) ran a mile in 1:37.63 while always being in full control under Luis Saez. “Her first two races were on turf and she got a little tired in her last race – it was a fast pace that day. We always thought she was going to improve,” Saez said. “Today, she ran a big race.” Missy Greer is the 115th winner of the 2021-2022 Championship Meet for Saez, giving him a 36-win lead over Tyler Gaffalione in his quest to win his third Gulfstream Park title. “I’m very blessed,” Saez said. “I have to thank all the people, the owners and trainers and my agent [Kiaran McLaughlin].” Saez had won more than 100 races twice while winning back-to-back Championship Meet titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.
Saez was scheduled to leave for Dubai tonight and will ride four horses on Saturday’s Dubai World Cup program. Although he doesn’t have a mount in the $12 million, Gr. I Dubai World Cup, which he won last year aboard Mystic Guide, he will ride Casa Creed in the Gr. I Dubai Turf , Wondrwherecraigis in the Gr. I Golden Shaheen, Gilded Age in the Gr. II UAE Derby, and Snapper Sinclair in the Gr. II Godolphin Mile. Irad Ortiz Jr., who is the defending three-time Championship Meet titlist, and Jose Ortiz were also scheduled to venture to Dubai tonight. Irad is scheduled to ride Pegasus World Cup Invitational champion Life is Good in the Dubai World Cup, in which brother Jose is slated to ride Bourbon War. Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $350,000 Thursday after going unsolved for the sixth day in a row since the jackpot was hit for a $342,836 payoff. Who’s Hot: Irad Ortiz Jr. and his brother both enjoyed multi-win days to day before heading off to Dubai. Irad tripled aboard No Man Left Behind ($12) in Race 1, Dominate Themoment ($9) in Race 6, and Chica Boom ($4.40) in Race 8. Jose doubled aboard Queen Calypso ($4.80) in Race 2 and Cagua ($8) in Race 4.