Track Times Today

Bernie's Blog

Friday, March 15, 2024
Service has returned . . .

    OLDSMAR - The tote shutdown following Saturday’s 10th race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade III Florida Oaks, occurred because of a communications outage between AmTote International and Roberts Communication Network (RCN), according to officials with both companies.

    AmTote, which is owned by 1/ST Racing, is a technology and services provider to numerous tracks, while RCN provides the communication link between AmTote and the racetracks.

    1/ST Racing president Aidan Butler said that while AmTote remained operative late Saturday afternoon, both the primary and secondary links to the affected tracks went down. The crash led to wagering disruptions at numerous tracks and guest locations (simulcast facilities) through AmTote’s mid-Atlantic hub, which includes Tampa Bay Downs.

    Service was returned to normal Sunday. An investigation is ongoing.

    The outage led to a half-hour delay before the 11th race, the Grade III Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, and resulted in it being declared a non-wagering race. The scheduled 12th and final race, an allowance for fillies and mares, was cancelled by Tampa Bay Downs track management due to approaching darkness.

    “The loss of our tote system resulted from circumstances entirely out of our control,” said Peter Berube, the Oldsmar oval’s Vice President & General Manager. “During the delay, we remained hopeful that service could be restored, and the horses for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby were taken to the paddock to prepare to go on the racetrack.

    “As the delay grew in length, the skies turned overcast, leading to concerns about running the 12th race in near-darkness. For the safety of those horses and jockeys, we knew the only prudent decision was to cancel the race.”

    Berube said the conditions surrounding the delay of the track’s showcase race and the subsequent race cancellation were unprecedented in his experience.

    “Customer satisfaction and trust are at the foundation of our business, and anything that erodes that needs to be addressed,” Berube said. “We knew Saturday that most of our patrons were totally unaware of the circumstances that led to our decisions – they wanted to know why they couldn’t cash their tickets from the 10th and why they couldn’t bet on the last two races.

    “The situation was surreal, to say the least, and for it to happen on our biggest racing day of the meet was nightmarish. Fortunately, we had a fair and exciting running of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, producing a deserving winner in Domestic Product.”

    Many bettors have questioned why winning tickets purchased earlier Saturday on the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby could not be cashed by establishing pools based on monies already wagered, rather than having their wagers refunded. Berube replied that despite the early wagering that went on, the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby did not have anywhere near a full set of mutuel pools and wagers. Further, patrons could not wager on the race after the Florida Oaks had been run, nor could they cancel wagers made earlier.

    “Basically, the integrity of those pools would have been nonexistent,” he said.

    With hundreds of sites not being able to transmit wagers, calculate and receive updated odds information or stop betting, the decision to issue refunds on those wagers already made was deemed fairest for all involved.

     “When the shutdown took place, the pools for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby became compromised,” Berube said. “We sympathize with those bettors who would have won, but it’s conceivable the payoffs based on much-reduced pools could have caused bad feelings, also.”

    He added that the decision to pay off on multi-race wagers, such as Pick 3s, Pick 4s and Daily Doubles, by stipulating “ALL” winners of the 11th and 12th races was made in accordance with Florida parimutuel statutes, which are similar to nationwide standard rules whereby “no contest” or “no race” designations dictate awarding “ALL” runners as the “winners” for such legs.

    Berube said he hopes transparency in dealing with the questions posed by Saturday’s incredible events will placate the majority of patrons who may have left Tampa Bay Downs with a sour taste in their mouths. Even though the track was not responsible for the tote shutdown, he will continue to push officials to determine the cause.

    “For us as a racetrack, the timing could not have been any worse,” he said. “But we want our customers to know we value their business and their input, and we plan to work even harder to satisfy them moving forward.

Thursday, March 14, 2024
Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo . . .

Hip No. 533, a son of Not This Time consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Agent was sold to Pro Racing Stable LLC, Agent, for $1.5-million to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, is a half brother to stakes placed Pammy’s Ready out of Pammy Whammy, by War Front, from the family of stakes winner My Mogul.

    Hip No. 494, a son of Flatter consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, went to Marquee Bloodstock for $1.3-million. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5, is out of Napier, by OBS champion graduate Midnight Lute, a half sister to grade one stakes winner Obligatory.

    Hip No. 304, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, went to Justin Casse, Agent, for $750,000. The chestnut filly is out of High Heeled Girl, by Malibu Moon, a daughter of grade one stakes placed stakes winner High Heeled Hope.

    Joey Platts paid $750,000 for Hip No. 529, a son of Tiz the Law also consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds. The bay colt, whose eighth in :9 3/5 was the day’s co-fastest, is out of graded stakes placed Our Majesty, by OBS graduate Majesticperfection, a half sister to stakes winner Overvalued.

    Hip No. 445, a son of champion OBS graduate Mitole consigned Eddie Woods, Agent, went to Speedway Stables, LLC for $725,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who worked an eighth in :9 4/5, is a half brother to graded stakes wining OBS graduate Midnight Stroll out of Midnight Magic, by champion OBS graduate Midnight Lute.  

    Hip 526, a son of Gun Runner consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to Spendthrift Farm LLC & Frank Fletcher Racing for $725,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to graded stakes winner Sister OToole out of O’Toole, by Distorted Humor.

    Hip No. 539, a son of Justify consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent, went to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing for $700,000. The bay colt, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was the day’s co-fastest, is out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Pauseforthecause, by Giant’s Causeway, a daughter of graded stakes placed stakes winner Sprightly.

    Hip No. 421, a son of graded stakes winning OBS graduate Shancelot, consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was purchased by Bill Childs for $650,000. The dark bay or brown colt, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest, is out of Magnolias in Bloom, by Flatter, a half sister to stakes winner Quinoa Tifah.

     Mitsu Nakauchida went to $600,000 for Hip No. 378, a son of Tapit consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds LLC (Steven Venosa), Agent. The chestnut colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of L’ Age d’Or, by Medaglia d’Oro, a daughter of grade one stakes winner Mona de Momma, dam of grade one stakes winner Vekoma.

    Jet Horse LLC, Peter Miller, Agent, went to $600,000 for Hip No. 499, a daughter of Twirling Candy consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half sister to Thanks Mr. Eidson out of Nest Egg, by Eskendereya.

    Hip No. 482, a daughter of Twirling Candy also consigned by Wavertree, was purchased for $575,000 by Saints or Sinners LLC. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5, is out of My Day, by Uncle Mo, from the family of graded stakes winner Declaration of War.

    Hip No. 348, a son of Twirling Candy consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold for $550,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. The bay colt, who worked an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of Jotown, by Speightstown, a daughter of graded stakes winner Jojo Warrior.

    Hip No. 370, a daughter of American Pharoah who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, was sold to Resolute Bloodstock for $525,000. The bay filly is a half sister to graded stakes winner Bellavais out of graded stakes winner La Cloche, by Ghostzapper.

    Hip No. 554, a son of Laoban, who worked an eighth in :9 4/5, was purchased by  Arthur Hoyeau, Agent, for $525,000 . The bay colt, consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent , is out of Princess Aspen, by Birdstone, a half sister to grade ones stakes winner Zazu.

    Boardshorts Stables, LLC, paid $510,000 for Hip No. 386, a daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) who worked an eighth in :10 1/5. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, the dark bay or brown filly is a half sister to graded stakes winner Three Witches, recent winner of the Santa Monica Stakes (G2), out of Layreebelle, by Tale of the Cat.

    Hip No. 453, Racing Withthemoon, a daughter of Munnings consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent for Peter J. Mirabelli, was sold to Resolute Bloodstock for $500,000. The dark bay or brown filly, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was the session’s co-fastest at the distance, is out of Miss Majestic, by Majestic Warrior, a daughter of graded stakes winner Cassidy.

    Hip No. 325, a son of Improbable consigned by Majestic, Agent, went to James Divito, Agent for $475,000. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in a co-fastest :9 4/5, is out of stakes placed Inaugurate, by Empire Maker, from the family of graded stakes winner Top Rung.

    Hip No. 290, a daughter of City of Light consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, was sold to Patricia’s Hope LLC for $435,000. The bay filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest, is out of Hassler (IRE), by War Front, a daughter of grade one stakes winning millionaire OBS graduate Turbulent Descent.

Thursday, March 14, 2024
Colt is consigned by Tom McCrocklin . . .

    Hip No. 173, a son of Tapit consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent for the Complete Dispersal for Lothenbach Stables, Inc., went to West Point Thoroughbreds /D J Stable /C J, LEB Agent, for $1,200,000 to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The gray or roan colt, who galloped at the Under Tack Show, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner She Can’t Sing out of Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor.

    Katsumi Yoshida went to $850,000 for Hip No. 183, consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Agent, a son of Not This Time who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. The dark bay or brown colt is out of Dos Vinos, by Twirling Candy, a half-sister to stakes-winner China Grove. 

    Hip No. 89, a son of McKinzie consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to Bill Childs for $750,000. The bay colt, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the session’s co-fastest at the distance, is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Merveilleux out of Breech Inlet, by Holy Bull.

    Hip No. 106, a son of Uncle Mo consigned by Pick View, Agent, was purchased for $750,00 by B S W / Crow Colts Group & Spendthrift Farm. The bay colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 is out of Canteen, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Lady Melisi.

    Woodford Thoroughbreds went to $700,000 for Hip No. 26, a daughter of Munnings consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent. The bay filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was the day’s co-fastest, is a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Denman’s Call, out of Ansaam by Bernardini.

    Hip No. 202, a son of OBS graduate Into Mischief consigned by Old South Farm, Agent, was sold to Muir Hut Stables for $700,000. The bay colt, who turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of graded stakes-winner Electric Forest, by Curlin, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Forest Music.

    Hip No. 267, a son of Curlin consigned by Pick View, Agent, went to On The Run Racing for $500,000. The bay colt, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5, is a half-brother to Gr. I stakes-winning OBS March graduate My Conquestadory out of stakes-placed Golden Artemis, by Malibu Moon.

    Hip No. 17 a son of McKinzie consigned by Kings Equine, Agent, was sold for $450,000 to Jones / Everett, for Belmar Racing, RA Hill & Gargan Racing. The dark bay or brown colt, who turned in a co-fastest Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5, is out of stakes-winner Altamura, by Artie Schiller, from the family of graded stakes-winner Private Creed.

    C H P Racing paid $450,000 for Hip No. 222, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Fierce Scarlett, by Scat Daddy, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Thank U Philippe.

    Hip No. 30, a daughter of Bernardini consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, was sold to Simon Callaghan, Agent, for $400,000. The bay filly is out of Arbanne, by Midshipman, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Condo Commando.

    Hip No. 45, a son of Nyquist consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was purchased for $380,000 by Bradley Thoroughbreds for Rodeo Creek Racing. The chestnut colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Bashful, by Orb, a half- sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Left a Message.

    Hip No. 14, a son of Omaha Beach consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $350,000, The bay colt, who worked an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show, is out of All Dressed Up, by Super Saver, a daughter of stakes-winner Dress the Part.

    Whitehorse Stables went to $350,000 for Hip No. 191, a son of Global Campaign consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Absolute One out of Driving Rain, by Storm Cat.

    For the session, 153 horses sold for $20,844,000, compared with 149 horses grossing $21,110,500 at last year’s first session. The average price was $136,235, compared with $141,681 a year ago, while the median price was $72,000 compared with $70,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 26.4 %; it was 22.8% in 2023.

 

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Meeting will have fewer race days per week . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The overnight purses during Gulfstream Park’s upcoming Spring/Summer Meet will receive significant increases from top to bottom over a season ago. Come April, upon the conclusion of the 2023-2024 Championship Meet, purses will be boosted in all categories from open handicaps to $6,250 claiming races with conditions.

    Gulfstream will race four days a week in April, May and June and three days from July through November. There will be turf racing throughout the spring and summer.


    The new and historic workers compensation plan will offer significant savings. The workers compensation program provides all state coverage with the exception of New York, California, Ohio, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.


    “We expect the increase in purses, the new workers compensation program, and year-round turf racing will continue to strengthen Gulfstream’s overall program,” said Bill Badgett, Executive Director of Florida Racing Operations for Gulfstream Park.  

“With the increased purses, grass racing and our workers compensation program, Gulfstream is now the summer place to be,” said FTHA President Joe Orseno. “We are able to offer better purses and we hope this will encourage trainers and owners to keep horses at Gulfstream Park through the non-championship meet. A big thank you to 1/ST management and the FTHA purse committee for negotiating this competitive purse structure.”

     Open handicaps, which were contested for $60,000 last season, will offer purses worth $74,000. The purse for a $6,250 claiming race with conditions will be increased from $17,000 to $20,000.

    Open allowance races will offer purses $10,000 higher than 2023 levels, ranging from $61,000 to $63,000. Entry-level allowance races for Florida-breds will see a $5,000 increase from $43,000 to $48,000.

    Starter allowance purses will be increased from3,000 to $9,000, ranging from $25,000 to $49,000. Maiden special weight races will also be increased by $10,000 to $60,000. Maiden special weight races for Florida-breds will see increases from $40,000 to $48,000. A maiden race for $12,500 claiming horses will get a boost of $6,000 to $25,000. The purse for a $50,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds will be increased by $9,000 to $44,000. 

Saturday, March 9, 2024
Pletcher has won Derby 6 times . . .
    OLDSMAR - Thoroughbred trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown will seek to extend their dominance of two of the premier stakes races on the Tampa Bay Downs calendar today.

    Pletcher is gunning for his seventh victory in the Gr. III, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-olds with Heartened, who broke his maiden here in his fourth career start on the Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard on Feb. 10. Heartened’s 94 speed figure for the mile-and-40-yard distance matched the number earned later that day in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Sam F. Davis by winner No More Time, the 7-5 morning-line favorite. 

    The Tampa Bay Derby is the 11th race on a 12-race Festival Day 44 program beginning at 11:55 a.m. Admission is $15, and each patron receives a “Mystery Mutuel Voucher” worth between $5-$1,000.

    Pletcher’s previous winners in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Oldsmar showcase include Limehouse (2004), Verrazano (2013), Carpe Diem (2015), Destin (2016), Tapwrit (2017) and Tapit Trice (2023). No other trainer has won the race more than twice.

    Heartened will break from the No. 1 post in the 10-horse field under jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode him in last month’s victory.

    While Pletcher’s record in the Tampa Bay Derby is staggering, Brown’s preeminence in the Gr. II, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward is otherworldly. He has sent out the winner in six of the last 12 runnings of the mile-and-an-eighth turf event: Zagora (2012), Stephanie’s Kitten (2015), Fourstar Crook (2018), Rymska (2019), Bleecker Street (2022) and Shantisara (2023).

    Pletcher, with four victories, is the only other trainer to win the Hillsborough more than twice, most recently in 2013 with Old Tune.

    Today, Brown will send out two horses in the eight-horse field: Fluffy Socks and Marketsegmentation, who will break from the Nos. 1 and 2 posts under brothers Irad Ortiz, Jr., and Jose Ortiz, respectively. Marketsegmentation is the 5-2 morning-line favorite, followed by Fluffy Socks at 3-1. The Hillsborough is the ninth race.

    Pletcher does not have a horse in the Hillsborough. His only other stakes entrant on the card is Dynamic One, a 6-year-old who will compete in the Gr. III, $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes, scheduled as the sixth race.

    Brown, by contrast, trains seven of today’s 46 stakes entrants. In addition to Fluffy Socks and Marketsegmentation, he has two horses in the Tampa Bay Derby, two in the Gr. III, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf and one in the $75,000, 1-mile Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf.

    Brown has had only three previous starters in the Tampa Bay Derby, with none finishing better than sixth. Both of his horses in this year’s race – Good Money, who will break from the No. 4 post under Irad Ortiz Jr., and Domestic Product, who will start from the No. 5 post under Tyler Gaffalione – appear to be heading in the right direction with even bigger 3-year-old races on the near horizon.

     Good Money broke his maiden here on Jan. 26 going 7 furlongs in his lone career start. Domestic Product, who is the 8-5 second choice on the morning line, is the more highly regarded of the Brown runners, having finished a solid second with blinkers off in the Gr. III, mile-and-a-sixteenth Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park to unbeaten Hades.

    Domestic Product broke his maiden as a 2-year-old on Oct. 27 at the Belmont At Aqueduct meet going a mile-and-an-eighth.

    Brown has two horses in the Florida Oaks, a race he has won three times – with Dolce Zel in 2022, Domain Expertise in 2021 and Testa Rossi in 2014. Brown is tied with Bill Mott and Neil J. Howard for the most winners in race history.

    Brown’s Weigh the Risks will break from the No. 10 post in a 12-horse field under Irad Ortiz, directly inside 7-2 morning-line favorite Dynamic Pricing and Jose Ortiz.

    Weigh the Risks will make her first start since breaking her maiden on Sept. 3 at Saratoga in a mile-and-a-sixteenth turf race, also with Irad aboard. Dynamic Pricing is also 1-for-2 and finished third on Feb. 3 in the Gr. III Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream, a neck behind runner-up Style Points, another Florida Oaks contender trained by Christophe Clement.

    Brown’s remaining stakes entry on the card (he has four others entered) is Move to Gold, a stakes-winner who will be ridden by Irad in the Columbia. Move to Gold is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.





Monday, March 4, 2024
Multiple winners take advantage of mandatory payout . . .

  HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool yielded multiple payoffs of $35,544 Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

    The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for 17 days following a Feb. 8 jackpot hit, leaving a pool carryover of $834,368 heading into Sunday’s wagering. A total of $5,110,271 was bet on the sequence that spanned Races 6-11. The winning combination was
4-6-8-6-12-12.

    On mandatory-payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence. The carryover jackpot is usually only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winner, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot poo
l.

    The Rainbow 6 will start anew Wednesday.

    Who’s Hot: Paco Lopez notched a three-win day, doubling aboard Macuto ($18.80) in Race 2 and St. Pat’s Day ($21.20) in Race 8 before scoring aboard American Diamond ($22) in Race 10.  Jose Ortiz made two trips to the winner’s circle aboard Movin’ On Top ($4.60) in Race 5 and Sedona ($5.40) in Race 7.


Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won three races, connecting with Speed Control ($5.60) in Race 1, Movin’ On Up ($4.60) in Race 5, and American Diamond ($22) in Race 10.

Sunday, March 3, 2024
Had won Pasco Stakes at Tampa by 12 1/2 lengths . . .
    OLDSMAR – After arriving back in Florida from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday, trainer Derek Ryan decided to unwind by taking his 18-year-old son Christopher to Palm Beach Gardens for yesterday’s third round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches golf tournament at PGA National Resort.

    While enjoying the shot-making by many of the world’s best golfers, Ryan sounded no worse for wear after the whirlwind events of a week ago, which saw his 3-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding Book’em Danno get nipped at the wire by unbeaten Japanese star Forever Young in the $1.5-million Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

    Ryan put Book’em Danno on a van for the airport Thursday, headed for Chicago and a mandatory one-week quarantine imposed on all of the U.S. horses that competed in the Saudi Cup Day races.

    “He was great after the race, no problem,” Ryan said of Book’em Danno, who had won the Pasco Stakes here on Jan. 13 by 12 ½ lengths to earn an invitation to the Saudi Derby. “I had to gallop him over there two days after the race. He’s a tough little horse. Like they say, he’s hickory.” The  gelding is by Bucchero, formerly at Ocala's Pleasant Acres Stallions and recently relocated to New York. 

    Speculation abounded afterward that Book’em Danno might have lost focus late in the race, and that neither horse nor rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., were fully aware of Forever Young’s rally as the Japanese horse charged home for all he was worth on the far outside of the track under jockey Ryusei Sakai to improve to 4-for-4.

    “I think if (Forever Young) came up right beside him, he doesn’t get beat,” said Ryan, who trains Book’em Danno for Atlantic Six Racing. “It’s a long stretch there, and we ended up in front a little sooner than we wanted.”

    Forever Young was timed in 1:36.17 for the one-turn, 1,600-meter race (about a mile) as both horses shattered the track record for the distance. Book’em Danno is 4-for-6 with three stakes victories and two seconds to his credit, and the $300,000 second-place prize raised his career earnings to $560,625.


    While Forever Young is expected to compete next in the United Arab Emirates Derby on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai as his connections seek a possible date in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 4, Ryan has other targets in mind for Book’em Danno. For now, though, he’s keeping his cards close to the vest.

 
 Ryan, who picked out the Saudi Derby last fall for Book’em Danno, said he has numerous options for the horse’s late spring and summer campaigns. The Gr. I, $500,000 Woody Stephens on June 8, Belmont Stakes Day, seems a logical possibility, as it is for 3-year-olds going 7 furlongs (the Belmont Stakes card will be conducted this year at Saratoga).

   But for now, Ryan doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself. He has one of the most exciting 3-year-olds in training, even if he isn’t a Triple Crown candidate, and the worldwide publicity he and Book’em Danno garnered for their courageous effort and the conditioner’s sportsmanship after the heart-rending setback are good things.


And, Ryan pointed out between golf shots as his Irish countryman Shane Lowry dueled for the lead, Tampa Bay Downs received its fair share of positive exposure from the experience, too.

    “There are a lot of Saudi Arabians going around with Tampa Bay Downs hats,” he said. “I think I brought eight or 10 with me, but I should have brought a bunch more.”
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Mage's full brother scores at 1/5 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Dornoch, a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, made a significant step along the Road to the Triple Crown Saturday at Gulfstream Park, scoring a commanding victory in the $400,000, Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park as the 1-5 favorite.

    The 78th running of the Fountain of Youth, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds that serves as a key prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby on March 30, headlined a spectacular 14-race program that featured nine stakes, eight graded.

    Dornoch has earned 60 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby after collecting 50 in the Fountain of Youth.

    “We could run in the Florida Derby or the Blue Grass (at Keeneland April 6),” trainer Danny Gargan said. “We’re lucky enough now where we can pick our spot. Sixty points usually gets you in, so now we’re on cruise control. We’ll figure out where we want to go next and try to enjoy this for a minute.”

    The Fountain of Youth field was reduced to five when Speak Easy was scratched after unseating jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and running off directly following the post parade. The field had already lost Merit, who finished second behind Conquest Warrior in a Friday optional claiming allowance, as well as Locked, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, and Victory Avenue, who finished second behind Speak Easy in his debut, both of whom were withdrawn Saturday morning.

    Owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables, Dornoch took advantage of the scratch of Speak Easy, who showed brilliant speed in a highly promising debut victory on Jan. 27. The son of Good Magic rounded the first turn outside 25-1shot Le Dom Bro, before taking the lead for good at the top of the backstretch under Luis Saez. Real Macho was kept in relatively close pursuit by Tyler Gaffalione as Dornoch set fractions of :24.39 and :48.14 for the first half-mile
.

    As Real Macho dropped back, Le Dom Bro tried to make a race of it again leaving the turn into the stretch under Edwin Gonzalez, but Dornoch remained strong in the stretch run to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

    “We didn’t want to be on the lead but when [Speak Easy] scratched, he gets out there and he kind of plays around. You can see him with his ears kind of goofing off. I told Luis, ‘Just go ahead and go,” Gargan said. “We had no choice. We really wanted to stalk today, it just didn’t work out that way. He won fine enough. Surely it won’t be his fastest race. We didn’t expect to win today. It just kind of played out that way. I don’t think he ran very hard. He was just kind of playing around out there.”

    Dornoch, who ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.64, was making his 2024 debut after capturing the Dec. 2, Gr. II Remsen at Aqueduct, fighting back to score a nose decision over Sierra Leone, who won the Gr. II Risen Star at Fair Grounds in his 3-year-old debut.

    “I was very confident. I had a lot of horse,” Saez said. “I knew he was going to give me another gear. He always does. He’s just a good horse. I’m very happy.”

    Co-owner R. A. Hill went into the Fountain of Youth with confidence in Dornoch.

     “I wasn’t that worried to be honest. We got lucky with the scratches, but I was pretty confident all along. I think this horse is the real deal,” Hill said. “He won today, Luis stood up about halfway down the stretch. We get the two scratches, which of course was lucky, but you got to run against who’s in the game. We’ll probably run in the Florida Derby or the Blue Grass. It’s up to Danny.”


Le Dom Bro, a son of Mucho Macho Man who had finished second in the seven-furlong Swale on Feb. 3 after he finished ninth behind Dornoch in the Remsen, held second, a neck in front of Frankie’s Empire, the Swale winner who chased the top two throughout the race.

    “I’m really happy. The horse ran good,” Le Dom Bro’s trainer Eniel Cordero said. “I talked to Edwin, and I said to get some position and then go. He’s a good horse. The more distance the better for him. I’ll talk to the owner and see what’s next. We have a good horse.”


Thursday, February 29, 2024
Gr. II, $400,000 race goes on March 9 . . .
    OLDSMAR - The top two finishers in the Gr. III Sam F. Davis Stakes, No More Time and Agate Road, and two of the top-10 horses in the Daily Racing Form “Derby Watch” rankings, are among 40 3-year-olds nominated for the 44th running of the Gr. III, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs.

    The Tampa Bay Derby, contested at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main dirt track, awards 50 “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points to the winner toward qualifying for the 150th Run for the Roses on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

    The Tampa Bay Derby is one of five stakes races worth a combined $1 million in purse money on the Festival Day 44 card. The others are the Gr. II, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes, for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward at a mile-and-an-eighth on the turf course; the Gr. III, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-a-sixteenth, also on the turf; the Gr. III, $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes, for horses 4-and-upward at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track; and the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on the
turf.

    Tickets for Festival Day 44 are $15 and are available online at www.tampabaydowns.com or at the
 gate on March 9 (cash only). Each patron will receive a “Mystery Mutuel Voucher” worth between $5-$1,000. The gates will open at about 10:30 a.m.

    In addition to No More Time, the No. 16-ranked “Derby Watch” colt who won the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 10 in gate-to-wire fashion under jockey Paco Lopez for owner Morplay Racing and trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo, and Agate Road, who closed with good energy under jockey Jose Ortiz for trainer Todd Pletcher, the No. 3-ranked horse on the “Derby Watch” rankings, Pletcher’s colt Locked, is among the nominees. He has not raced since running third in last year’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

    Agate Road and Locked are among seven Pletcher 3-year-olds nominated to the Tampa Bay Derby. Rival trainer Chad Brown has four nominees, including 13th-ranked “Derby Watch” horse Domestic Product. The Klaravich Stables-owned colt finished second to Hades on Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park in the Gr. III Holy Bull Stakes.

    Hades, a Florida-bred trained by Joseph Orseno who is 3-for-3, is also nominated, as is trainer Claude “Shug” McGaughey III’s promising Conquest Warrior, who is ninth on the “Derby Watch” list.


    Also nominated is trainer Derek Ryan’s gelding Book’em Danno, who finished second by a nose to Japanese runner Forever Young on Saturday in the $1.5-million Saudi Derby. The Hillsborough Stakes has drawn 21 nominations, headed by Grade I winners Marketsegmentation and Aspen Grove.

    Marketsegmentation, a 5-year-old mare owned by Klaravich and trained by Brown, captured the Gr. I New York Stakes last June at Belmont Park, while the 4-year-old filly Aspen Grove, owned by Ocala's Glen Hill Farm and Mrs. John Magnier and trained by Jack Sisterson, won the Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-olds a month later.


    Also nominated is Pletcher’s 5-year-old Surprisingly, who finished third in last year’s Hillsborough after winning the Gr. III Endeavour Stakes here five weeks earlier. Bred and previously owned by Phipps Stable and trained at the time by McGaughey, Surprisingly was purchased by Repole Stable for $1 million at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and transferred to Pletcher’s barn.

    Brown has won the last two editions of the Hillsborough Stakes, four of the last six and six overall. Brown and Pletcher’s abundance of high-quality turf horses seems to extend to 3-year-old fillies, with both conditioners nominating five to the Florida Oaks. Another four come from the barn of Ocalan Mark Casse.

    Brown’s quintet includes two sophomore fillies owned by Klaravich Stables in Dynamic Pricing and Oversubscribed. Dynamic Pricing followed a maiden victory in her career debut in November at Aqueduct with a game third-place finish on Feb. 3 in the Gr. III Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

    Among Pletcher’s nominees is the Sweetest Chant winner, Repole Stable’s Life’s an Audible, while Christophe Clement has nominated Sweetest Chant runner-up Style Points. Casse’s nominees include Resolute Racing’s Pounced, 2-for-3 after an impressive allowance/optional claiming victory on Feb. 11 at Gulfstream.


    The Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes closed with 25 nominations. That collection includes last year’s Challenger winner, 5-year-old Skippylongstocking, who added the Gr. II Charles Town Classic to his ledger in August for trainer Saffie A. Joseph Jr.

    Another nominee with strong Oldsmar form is trainer Roger Attfield’s 7-year-old Shirl’s Speight, a Gr. I winner who captured the 2022 Gr. III Tampa Bay Stakes on the turf. Brittany Russell has nominated her multiple graded stakes-winning 4-year-old colt, Instant Coffee, while Pletcher’s five nominees include 6-year-old Dynamic One, who won the Gr. II Suburban Stakes in 2022 at Belmont but has since raced only three times.


    The Columbia Stakes, previously known as the Chris Thomas Turf Classic, has attracted 35 nominations, including a single filly: Poolside With Slim, who broke her maiden on Feb. 3 at Gulfstream by 5 ½ lengths for owners Glen S. Bromagen II and Patrick Lewis and trainer George R. “Rusty” Arnold II.

    Other good-looking Columbia nominees include Hoolie Racing Stable’s Two Ghosts, who won the Gr. III Grey Stakes on Nov. 4 at Woodbine, trained by Barbara Minshall; Shards, trainer Kelsey Danner’s Florida-bred colt who finished a respectable fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita; Patriot Spirit, who won the Inaugural Sakes here on Dec. 2 for trainer Michael Campbell; conditioner Arnaud Delacour’s Fulmineo, runner-up in the Gr. II Pilgrim Stakes on Oct. 4 at the Belmont At The Big A meet; and trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo’s Full Nelson, who has won three races in a row while climbing the class ladder.
Monday, February 26, 2024
Mandatory payout set for Sunday . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will have an estimate pool of $700,000 when racing resumes Wednesday at Gulfstream Park with a 1:10 p.m. first race post time.

    A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 pool has been scheduled for Sunday. The week will also feature Saturday’s 78th running of the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream’s next step for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby on March 30. The 14-race Saturday program features nine stakes, eight graded, worth $1.85 million in purses.

    Wednesday’s sequence will begin with Race 3, a maiden claiming event for fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. The day’s featured seventh race will be a $91,000 allowance optional claiming event at 1 ½ miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and up. Value Engineering, winner of last winter’s Gr. II Mac Diarmida are among the 10 entered.
Monday, February 26, 2024
3yo Palace Zip wins in first start . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Bridlewood Farm homebred Palace Zip, a first-time starter by Palace Malice, came with a steady run down the center of the track to surge past Reina Mar and Mi Amore and give trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. his 1,000th career win in Sunday’s finale at Gulfstream Park.

  Ridden by Edgard Zayas and sent off the 5-2 favorite in a field of eight, Palace Zip ($7) covered 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather Tapeta in 1:43.58 to capture the maiden claimer for 3-year-old fillies. It was Joseph’s lone starter on Sunday’s program.

    “It’s amazing,” Joseph said after being recognized and posing for photos in a winner’s circle ceremony. “I remember the first one and here we are at 1,000. The first probably 200 took five or six years and it was a struggle, and the last 800 have come pretty quickly. We’ve gotten the opportunities from the owners and that’s what you need. Without the owners, you can’t do it. There’s no trainer without horses, and the owners produce the horses.”

    A native of Barbados, the 37-year-old Joseph has won eight consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park since finishing second during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. He has led the nation’s premiere winter gathering each of the past two years, dethroning 18-time winner and Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.

    Joseph is on track for a third straight Championship Meet title, leading the 2023-2024 stand in wins (47), starters (223) and purses earned ($2.37 million). Among his victories are six stakes-winners, including O’Connor in the Gr. III Harlan’s Holiday, R Harper Rose in the Gr. III Forward Gal and Honor D Lady in the Gr. III Royal Delta.

    Married with two children, Joseph is a third-generation horseman following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. At the age of 22, he became the youngest trainer to win the Barbados Triple Crown with Areutalkintome in 2009.

    Joseph came to the U.S. two years later and finished seventh with his first starter, Go Zapper, on April 10, 2011 at Tampa Bay Downs. His first win came on June 19, 2011 at Calder Race Course with Artefacto, and he saddled his first stakes- winner, Saraguaro, in the 2015 Foolish Pleasure at Gulfstream Park.

    Math Wizard, a horse he claimed for $25,000, put Joseph on the national stage by winning the 2019, Gr. I  Pennsylvania Derby, the trainer’s first graded stakes victory. Joseph has 33 career graded triumphs including Gr. 1 success with White Abarrio in the 2022 Florida Derby, Mischevious Alex in the Carter Handicap and Drain the Clock in the Woody Stephens, both in 2021.

    Joseph set career highs with 201 wins in 2021 and $10.66 million in purse earnings last year. He has trained three millionaires – Skippylongstocking, Math Wizard and White Abarrio – and has ranked in the top 12 nationally in wins and/or purse earnings since 2020.

    Other top horses trained by Joseph include multiple graded-stakes winners O’Connor, Officiating and Tonalist’s Shape, as well as Three Witches, last year’s winner of Gulfstream’s Gr. III Princess Rooney who went on to be third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

    “We’re only as good as what the owners give us. That’s what makes trainers,” Joseph said. “We have to take care of them with the staff, and that’s what makes me. I’m one person that is head of 80 people that make me and make us as a unit. It’s not just me, it’s a credit to the whole staff. It’s a whole crew that makes this success possible and I’m very thankful to be in this position.”

Sunday, February 25, 2024
Leinster is sponsor of both $100,000 Stakes . . .

    (Joe and Helen Barbazon and their Pleasant Acres Stallions were well-represented in various ways at the big day of racing at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday. Leinster, who stands at the farm, had both featured stakes races named after him; Jordi's Dream, third in the $100,000 Leinster Lightning City Stakes is by Pleasant Acres' red-hot stallion, Neolithic; and Extendo, second by a neck in the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash stakes is by former Pleasant Acres stallion Handsome Mike and was bred by the Barbazons in partnership with Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson).

    OLDSMAR - Few sounds you’ll hear are as joyous, and filled with love and gratitude, or as loud as the high-pitched yells coming from trainer Douglas Nunn after his 8-year-old gelding Smithwick’s Spice hung on under jockey Daniel Centeno to win the 21st running of the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs by a neck from Extendo.


    Nunn trained the winner’s dam, Spicy McHaggis, and his siblings. He has always believed in Smithwick’s Spice, but had doubts about entering him against the quality of competition in the Leinster Turf Dash.

    “I liked him cutting back in distance today (following a good second going 1 1/16-mile earlier this month at Gulfstream Park), but these were not just New Jersey-bred horses,” Nunn said once his state of near-hysteria subsided. “I was all ready to scratch him, but the owner (New Spice Stable’s Robert Matthies) said let’s take a shot.

    “He had never run against the big boys, and I didn’t want to take his heart away. But he showed he can run with the big boys,” added Nunn, who broke Smithwick’s Spice as a yearling.

    In the co-feature on the Turf Sprint Showcase Day card, Play the Music overcame early trouble to win the $100,000 Leinster Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares under jockey Antonio Gallardo. 

    Smithwick’s Spice’s time for the 5 furlongs on the grass was :55.98 seconds. Yes I Am Free, the wagering favorite, flattened out in the stretch and finished third, a half-length behind Extendo and ¾-lengths ahead of Thealligatorhunter. Storm the Court, the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, was a late scratch.

    Smithwick’s Spice paid $14.20 to win. He improved to 10-for-40 lifetime and the winner’s share of $45,000 raised his career earnings to $508,847. His only other stakes victory came in the 2022 Joey P. Handicap at Monmouth Park.

    Once Smithwick’s Spice showed Centeno he wanted the lead, the jockey rolled with the veteran campaigner and was richly rewarded. “He fought the entire way. I’ve ridden him before and he’s always run good for me,” Centeno said. “When I turned for home I saw (Antonio) Gallardo (on Yes I Am Free) outside me and I thought, he’s not going to go by me. My horse likes to fight, and he ran big today.” The victory was the first for Nunn at the meet from 15 starts. 

    “The reason I’m still here doing this is this horse,” Nunn said after rejoicing with his wife, Maria Claire Van Sant. “When this horse retires, I’ll retire. He doesn’t want to retire yet, so I guess I’m going to keep on going.

    “When you hang a bridle on some horses, it’s hard because they don’t always give you what they have. This horse has given everything he has from Day 1,” Nunn added, tears flowing freely.

    In the 21st running of the Leinster Lightning City Stakes, supplemental entry Play the Music launched an impressive stretch rally under Gallardo and rolled to a 2 ½-length victory from the other supplemental entry in the race, Howboutdemapples. Pace-setter Jordi’s Dream, a 50-1 shot, held on well for third. Covenant Lady closed well to be fourth.

    A scary moment occurred earlier in the stretch run when betting favorite Just a Care bumped with Howboutdemapples while trying to angle between rivals, causing Just a Care’s jockey Samy Camacho to lose his balance and fall from his mount. Camacho, the track’s leading jockey, walked back to the jockeys’ room after laying on the turf for about 2-3 minutes and was able to return to ride Sky’s Not Falling in the Leinster Turf Dash.

    Earlier in the race at about the 3/8-mile pole, Just a Care and Camacho came over on Play the Music while seeking position on the turn, forcing Gallardo to check sharply. But he was able to swing Play the Music outside, and from there the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred made quick work of her rivals en route to her fourth victory and first stakes triumph from 10 starts.

    Play the Music is owned by Glassman Racing and trained by Mark Casse. Her time for the 5-furlong distance was :55.98 seconds, .89 seconds off Jean Elizabeth’s 2020 stakes record.

    The 4-year-old Just a Care finished with good energy while riderless and was reported to be in good shape after returning to the backside. But her difficulties didn’t detract from the quality of Play the Music’s victory.

“(Casse’s assistant, Jimmy Miranda) told me this filly was ready, and that’s what she showed,” Gallardo said. “Thank God I could put her in gear again after getting checked. She gave me everything and I was able to get her in the clear and into the race.”

    Play the Music had won her previous race, a 7 ½-furlong turf event on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, but this may have been her best career performance. “Antonio had her tucked inside early, which was perfect,” Miranda said. “Then he was able to swing her outside and get her in the clear to make her run. If you read Chapter 7, that’s what it says to do.”

Thursday, February 22, 2024
Stallion stands at Pleasant Acres . . .

    OLDSMAR - By Saturday afternoon, the waiting will be over for 18 turf sprinters primed to show their best stuff against stakes competition.

    Postponed last week by a rainy weather forecast that lived up to its billing, the $100,000 Leinster Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward and the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash for horses 4-and-upward will be held on the Tampa Bay Downs turf course.

    Saturday's weather forecast calls for plenty of sunshine, with temperatures reaching the upper 60s.
    
    Both 5-furlong races have drawn nine horses, with 4-year-old filly Awesome Pic a “main track only” entrant in the Leinster Lightning City, which is scheduled as the seventh race. The Leinster Turf Dash is the ninth race.


    The first of 10 races begins at 12:18 . Saturday's card also includes the third legs of the Tampa Turf Test, as starter handicap event for older horses of both sexes which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2023-24. The distance of both Tampa Turf Test races is a mile-and-an-eighth.

    The field for the Leinster Turf Dash is headed by a pair of graded stakes-winners, Yes I Am Free and Storm the Court. Yes I Am Free, an 8-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Golden Kernel Racing Stable and trained by Laura Cazares, has earned more than $750,000 in his career, highlighted by victories in the Gr. III Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes in 2022 and 2023. Antonio Gallardo has been named to ride Yes I Am Free.

    Storm the Court has two lifetime victories from 24 starts, but one came in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2019 at Santa Anita. The 7-year-old’s career earnings exceed $1.4-million.

    Owned by David A. Bernsen, Susanna Wilson and Peter Eurton and trained by William E. Morey, Storm the Court has finished second in two Tampa Bay Downs starts, both at the Leinster Turf Dash distance. Pablo Morales is the jockey.

    Another likely contender is Sky’s Not Falling, a hard-knocking 6-year-old gelding owned by R. Larry Johnson and R. D. M. Racing Stable and trained by Michael Trombetta. Samy Camacho has been named to ride. Sky’s Not Falling has won almost $400,000 in his career, highlighted by a victory in the 2022 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Stakes at Laurel.

    The Leinster Lightning City appears to be a wide-open affair. The field includes two stakes-winners: Boo Boo Kitty, owned by Rice Racing and trained by Kevin Rice, and She’s My Warrior, owned by Peter Mattson and Tim Padilla and trained by Padilla.

  Boo Boo Kitty, a 5-year-old Florida-bred mare, will be ridden by Morales. She won the 2022 Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs, but will be making her first start in more than 16 months.

    She’s My Warrior, a 5-year-old owned by Peter Mattson and Tim Padilla and trained by Padilla, is a two-time stakes-winner at Canterbury Park in Minnesota. She will be ridden by Alonso Quinonez.

Thursday, February 22, 2024
National Treasure won $20 million Pegasus . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Three of the first four finishers from Gulfstream’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and a Florida Derby winner, will lead a field of 14 Saturday in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

    Fans can watch and wager on the Saudi Cup at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Post time for the Saudi Cup is 12:40 p.m. Gulfstream will also show the Neom Turf Cup and Red Sea Turf Handicap prior to the Saudi Cup.

    Pegasus winner National Treasure and runner-up Senor Buscador have made the trip for the Saudi Cup along with Hoist the Gold, who finished fourth. Bob Baffert, trainer of National Treasure, has also entered Defunded, second in the 2023 Pegasus World Cup.

    Joining those three is Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio, winner of the 2022 Florida Derby, and Japan’s Ushba Tesoro, winner of the 2023 Dubai World Cup (G1) and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classi
c.

            
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Maryquitecontrary finishes 3rd . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stable’s Honor D Lady made her 4-year-old debut a memorable one Saturday by running away from nine others down the stretch to win the $150,000, Gr. III Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park.

    Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Honor D Lady covered the 1 1/16 mile in 1:44.74. Soul of an Angel was second and Maryquitecontrary rallied for the show. Honor D Lady returned $11.40.


    Honor D Lady ended her 3-year-old season with a third-place finish in the Gr. III Comely at Aqueduct in November after winning the Gr. III Remington Park Oaks in September. Earlier in the year she won the Honey Ryder at Gulfstream.

    Honor D Lady was settled off a :23.33 and :46.85 pace set by longshot Yuki before making her move around the final turn outside another Joseph runner in Libban. She entered the stretch with a clear advantage and the victory was never in doubt. It was the third win of the afternoon for Ortiz.


    “I watched the replay of when she won at Remington and Saffie told me how he wanted her to be ridden, so I followed instructions,” Ortiz said. “We wanted to go forward and if I could work my way to the clear, do that. I did that, and it worked out great.” “She ran big today off the layoff and we’re very happy to have a filly like this in our barn,” Joseph said. 

    Honor D Lady has now won on turf, dirt and Tapeta. Joseph said the Gr. I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 13 might be the filly’s next start.

     Maryquitecontrary, a daughter of First Dude, had won seven of 13 starts, including seven for 10 at Gulfstream, and was coming into the Royal Delta off a third-place finish in the Gr. II Inside Information. But she had never raced around two turns. The filly rallied for the show.

    Tizzy in the Sky finished fourth. She was making her 5-year-old debut for trainer Todd Pletcher and was making her first start since finishing second Dec. 2 in the Gr. III Go For Wand at Aqueduct over a muddy track. She had won the Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream in May.


    The Royal Delta is named in honor of Besilu Stable’s Hall of Fame mare who earned $4.8 million while racing between 2010 and 2013. Trained by Bill Mott, Royal Delta was a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic as well as the Gr. I Beldame Invitational, Gr. I Alabama Stakes and Gr. II Black-Eyed Susan. The daughter of Empire Maker won the Gr. III Sabin Stakes at Gulfstream twice.

         
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
First Dude's 3rd highest earner . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH – Dr. Rod Lundock’s Maryquitecontrary will certainly be familiar with her surroundings Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the ultra-consistent 5-year-old mare has finished in the money in all 10 of her starts, including seven victories.

    The graded stakes-winning daughter of First Dude will be a stranger of sorts, however, when she puts her enviable one-turn record on the line in the $150,000, Gr. III Royal Delta, having never been tested around two turns at Gulfstream or elsewhere during her 13-race career.

    Maryquitecontrary drew the No. 2 post position for the 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta, which drew a field of 11 older fillies and mares.

    “I think it’s time for her to try. If she can go a mile on dirt, why not a mile and a sixteenth around two turns?’ trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said. “She drew good, I think, post position-wise. I like that post. We’ll find something out. Anytime I run a horse and find something out, it’s not a wasted effort no matter what happens for me.”

    Maryquitecontrary has won twice in her only two races at a one-turn mile, capturing back-to-back editions of the Rampart Stakes, including a going-away one-length victory in her first start for Plesa Dec. 30. She came back to finish third Jan. 27 in the Gr. II Inside Information, a seven-furlong test she won in 2023 by 2 ½ lengths.

    “She’s pretty straightforward. She’s a very sound horse. You don’t have to worry about stuff like that. She’s fun to be around. She has a personality – not all horses do,” Plesa said. “It’s nice to be around her. It’s nice to go to the barn everyday and see her in that stall. She appreciates all the extra TLC, which she certainly deserves. But we try to give them all a little TLC.”

    Maryquitecontrary has employed a drop-back, late-kick running style while amassing a bankroll of $622,805 during a career that includes a close second-place finish behind Goodnight Olive in the 2023 Gr. I Madison. Regular jockey Luca Panici has the return mount.

    Saffie Joseph Jr., the two-time defending Championship Meet titlist who currently leads this season’s trainer standings, is represented by four in the Royal Delta field – Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stable’s Honor D Lady, Vegso Racing Stable’s Imonra, Sean Defreitas’ Rosie’s Halo and C2 Racing Stable and Paul Braverman’s Libban.

    Honor D Lady has earned the distinction of having been triumphant on dirt, turf and Tapeta. The 4-year-old daughter of Honor Code, who captured the Honey Ryder on turf last spring and finished second in the Gr. III Selene over Woodbine’s Tapeta course, is coming off a pair of solid efforts in graded stakes on dirt.

    Honor D Lady captured the Sept. 24, Gr. III Remington Park Oaks before concluding her 3-year-old campaign with a solid third-place finish in the Nov. 25, Gr. III Comely at Aqueduct.

    “After the last race it was by design to give her a little break and point to the Royal Delta. Everything has gone according to plan, so she goes in there with a good chance,” Joseph said. “She’s drawn well. She’s going to need to improve facing older horses for the first time, but it seems like she has improved and since she’s gone to the dirt she’s gotten better.” Jose Ortiz has the call.

    Imonra enters the Royal Delta off a second-place finish behind Maryquitecontrary in the Rampart. The 4-year-old daughter of Violence finished second in the Gr. III Iowa Oaks last season. Rosie’s Halo finished fourth in the Rampart. Libban won a Gulfstream optional claiming allowance by four lengths before finishing fourth in the Jan. 13 Wayward Lass at Tampa Bay Downs.

    Edgard Zayas has the return mount on Imonra, while Javier Castellano will ride Rosie’s Halo for the first time. Edwin Gonzalez has the call on Libban.

    KimDon Racing’s Tizzy in the Sky, a vastly improved 5-year-old daughter of Sky Kingdom, is slated to make her 2024 debut in the Royal Delta after finishing her 2023 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Dec. 2, Gr. III Go For Wand at Aqueduct. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has awarded the mount to Irad Ortiz Jr.

    Godolphin’s Nostalgic, who finished second in the Nov. 18, Gr. II Chilukki at Churchill Downs before finishing a disappointing sixth in the Rampart; Mark Grier’s Opus Forty Two, a multiple graded stakes-placed daughter of Mendelssohn who captured the Wayward Lass;  Haras Lizzie Inc.’s Yuki, a winner at Del Mar and Los Alamitos last season; Gerald James and Hall Performance’s South of an Angel, an optional claiming allowance at Tampa last time out; and Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Magical Lute, who finished third in the Wayward Lass; round out the field.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
3yo filly has earned $99,000 . . .
    Michael Lund Petersen’s Kinza (Carpe Diem – Secret Wonder) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner, going straight to the front and never looking back en route to a two-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000, Gr. III Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old filly by millionaire OBS graduate Carpe Diem was purchased for $30,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Sale and has earned $99,000 to date. 

    Victoriam Farm’s Stone Silent (Adios Charlie – Travelator) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Gulfstream’s $115,000 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes on Sunday, taking over turning for home, opening daylight in the stretch and finishing best by 2/14 lengths over Choose Joy (Munnings – Elegantly), with Fulminate (Get Stormy – E Built This City) settling for third. It’s the third stakes victory for the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly by Adios Charlie, trained by Brian Lynch, now 1-4-2-1 with $290,838 in earnings. Consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent, to the 2022 OBS March Sale, she was sold for $410,000 after working an Under Tack quarter in :20 2/5. 
 

    Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Bin Aziz’ Just For Sul (Justify – Susie’s Baby) romped to a 3 1/2 length victory in the Gr. III Japan’s Cup on Friday at Riyadh, taking command on the turn and drawing away with ease. The 4-year-old daughter of Justify was purchased for $800,000 out of the Wavertree consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. 

    Lea Farms’s Power Squeeze (Union Rags – Callmethesqueeze) saved ground in the early going of the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, stayed inside to take charge a furlong out and pulled away to score by 2 3/4 lengths. It’s the second straight stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags, now 5-3-1-0 for trainer Jorge Delgado with $188,650 in earnings. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she was purchased for $90,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock consignment. 

   ed Zan wance at Santa Anita on Sunday. Breaking on top, the 3-year-old colt by Frosted set the pace, was headed after turning for home thRacing Stables’ Maymun (Frosted – Handwoven), a dazzling debut winner in January, tried two turns in his second start in an allowance then came again late to score by a neck. Consigned by Longoria Training & Sales, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he sped an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5 and was sold for $900,000 to Donato Lanni, Agent. Two for two for trainer Bob Baffert, he has earned $79,200.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
3yo filly has earned $99,000 . . .
    Michael Lund Petersen’s Kinza (Carpe Diem – Secret Wonder) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner, going straight to the front and never looking back en route to a two-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000, Gr. III Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old filly by millionaire OBS graduate Carpe Diem was purchased for $30,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Sale and has earned $99,000 to date. 

    Victoriam Farm’s Stone Silent (Adios Charlie – Travelator) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Gulfstream’s $115,000 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes on Sunday, taking over turning for home, opening daylight in the stretch and finishing best by 2/14 lengths over Choose Joy (Munnings – Elegantly), with Fulminate (Get Stormy – E Built This City) settling for third. It’s the third stakes victory for the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly by Adios Charlie, trained by Brian Lynch, now 1-4-2-1 with $290,838 in earnings. Consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent, to the 2022 OBS March Sale, she was sold for $410,000 after working an Under Tack quarter in :20 2/5. 
 

    Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Bin Aziz’ Just For Sul (Justify – Susie’s Baby) romped to a 3 1/2 length victory in the Gr. III Japan’s Cup on Friday at Riyadh, taking command on the turn and drawing away with ease. The 4-year-old daughter of Justify was purchased for $800,000 out of the Wavertree consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. 

    Lea Farms’s Power Squeeze (Union Rags – Callmethesqueeze) saved ground in the early going of the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, stayed inside to take charge a furlong out and pulled away to score by 2 3/4 lengths. It’s the second straight stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags, now 5-3-1-0 for trainer Jorge Delgado with $188,650 in earnings. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she was purchased for $90,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock consignment. 

   ed Zan wance at Santa Anita on Sunday. Breaking on top, the 3-year-old colt by Frosted set the pace, was headed after turning for home thRacing Stables’ Maymun (Frosted – Handwoven), a dazzling debut winner in January, tried two turns in his second start in an allowance then came again late to score by a neck. Consigned by Longoria Training & Sales, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he sped an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5 and was sold for $900,000 to Donato Lanni, Agent. Two for two for trainer Bob Baffert, he has earned $79,200.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
3yo filly has earned $99,000 . . .
    Michael Lund Petersen’s Kinza (Carpe Diem – Secret Wonder) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner, going straight to the front and never looking back en route to a two-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000, Gr. III Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old filly by millionaire OBS graduate Carpe Diem was purchased for $30,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Sale and has earned $99,000 to date. 

    Victoriam Farm’s Stone Silent (Adios Charlie – Travelator) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of Gulfstream’s $115,000 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes on Sunday, taking over turning for home, opening daylight in the stretch and finishing best by 2/14 lengths over Choose Joy (Munnings – Elegantly), with Fulminate (Get Stormy – E Built This City) settling for third. It’s the third stakes victory for the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly by Adios Charlie, trained by Brian Lynch, now 1-4-2-1 with $290,838 in earnings. Consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent, to the 2022 OBS March Sale, she was sold for $410,000 after working an Under Tack quarter in :20 2/5. 
 

    Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Bin Aziz’ Just For Sul (Justify – Susie’s Baby) romped to a 3 1/2 length victory in the Gr. III Japan’s Cup on Friday at Riyadh, taking command on the turn and drawing away with ease. The 4-year-old daughter of Justify was purchased for $800,000 out of the Wavertree consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. 

    Lea Farms’s Power Squeeze (Union Rags – Callmethesqueeze) saved ground in the early going of the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, stayed inside to take charge a furlong out and pulled away to score by 2 3/4 lengths. It’s the second straight stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags, now 5-3-1-0 for trainer Jorge Delgado with $188,650 in earnings. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she was purchased for $90,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock consignment. 

    Zedan Racing Stables Maymun (Frosted-Handwoven), a dazzling debut winner in January, tried two turns in his second start in an allowance at Santa Anita on Sunday. Breaking on top, the 3-year-old colt set the pace, was headed after turning for home, then came again late to score by a neck. Consigned by Longoria Training & Sales, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he sped an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5 and was sold for $900,000 to Donato Lanni, Agent. Two for two for trainer Bob Baffert, he has earned $79,200.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
No More Time pays $8.60; 10-1 in morning line . . .

    OLDSMAR - For much of the Gr. III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, winning jockey Paco Lopez felt like he was living a dream.

    Lopez’s instructions from trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo were to try to break well from the No. 5 post and sit in a stalking position early in the mile-and-a-sixteenth race. But as 3-year-old thoroughbreds often do, No More Time took matters into his own hooves and surged to the lead from the outset, with Lopez happy to go along for the ride.

    Despite running a 4-furlong split of :46.61 seconds and a 6-furlong time of 1:10.81 that were faster than both men wanted, the Iowa-bred son of Not This Time-Baroness Juliette, by Speightstown, had the vigor to turn back a serious challenge from longshot West Saratoga at the top of the stretch, then hold off Agate Road for 1 1/4-length victory.

    West Saratoga held on for third, with Elysian Meadows fourth in the 12-horse field. Both Everdoit, who swerved into the gate at the start, and jockey Huber Villa-Gomez, who was unseated, were pronounced fine after the race.

    No More Time, who won for the second time in four starts, completed the distance in 1:43.26, .82 seconds off Flameaway’s 2018 stakes record. The winner picked up 20 points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” toward earning a spot in the May 4 Run for the Roses starting gate at Churchill Downs.

    No More Time paid $8.60 to win as the betting favorite despite being 10-1 on the morning line.

    To Lopez and D’Angelo, the race couldn’t have unfolded any better.

    (D'Angelo) told me to put on the brakes out of the gate and sit third or fourth, but my horse broke unbelievable and I let him go,” Lopez said. “The pace was a little faster than I wanted, but his first and second quarters were very natural. I had plenty of horse the whole way and when I asked him, he gave me everything.”   

    An apparent dearth of early speed in the race led D’Angelo to try to have No More Time lay second, third or fourth early, but he was not overly concerned when the horse went to the lead on his own. D’Angelo said a 5-furlong breeze in 1:00 on Feb. 3 at Palm Meadows Training Center set him up perfectly for such an effort.

    “That was a monster move,” D’Angelo said. “He took the lead with no problem today. I said before the race we wanted a good start and we’ll see what happens, but (No More Time) did it on his own.”

    The conditioner is hopeful of returning to Oldsmar for the Gr. III, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 9. “We will make the right decision for the horse, not for us,” D’Angelo said. “But if everything is in good order we’ll probably come back because he likes it here.”

   Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo purchased No More Time for $40,000 as a yearling and are partners in the colt with Morplay Racing, the father-son team of Orlando resident Rich Mendez and his son Josh. “We decided to keep him instead of selling him, and it’s an amazing feeling to win this race,” Rich Mendez said.

    “I spoke to Paco after the race and he said the horse was just playing with them. After his last race (fifth in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes on Jan. 1 at Gulfstream), when he fell about 10 lengths back and still came back and tried to compete, we really felt good about him. He has so much heart.”

    Lopez also won the 11th and final race on the turf on Embrace Me, a 4-year-old filly owned by Mark T. Anderson and trained by Tom Albertrani, to sweep the late daily double.

Friday, February 9, 2024
Change of Command listed at 3-1 . . .
    OLDSMAR - Change of Command, a winner of his two most recent starts at Gulfstream Park, has been installed as a 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 44th running of the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

    The mile-and-a-sixteenth Sam F. Davis is the 10th race on an 11-race Festival Day 44 card, with post time for the first race at 12:27 p.m. Three other stakes are scheduled: the $150,000, mile-and-40-yard Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies; the $100,000, 6-furlong Pelican Stakes for horses 4-years-old-and-upward; and the $50,000, 6-furlong Minaret Stakes for fillies and mares 4-and-upward.

    All four stakes races will be run on the main dirt track. The Sam F. Davis is a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race, with the first five finishers earning 20, 10, 6, 4 and 2 points toward qualifying for a berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve starting gate on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

    It’s the same deal for the Suncoast, which will award the first five finishers the same number of points toward qualifying for the Longines Kentucky Oaks on May 3.

    Several high-profile jockeys from Gulfstream Park will head north for the Festival Preview Day gathering, with Tyler Gaffalione, Jose Ortiz and Junior Alvarado named to ride in all four stakes. Gaffalione has the mount on Change of Command, replacing Ortiz, who will ride 7-2 second choice Agate Road for trainer Todd Pletcher.

    Change of Command, who is owned by the Courtlandt Farms operation of Donald Adam and trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey, III, will break from the No. 9 post in a 12-horse field.

    “I think he’s done really well since his last race” (an allowance/optional claiming victory at the Sam F. Davis distance on Jan. 5 at Gulfstream Park), McGaughey said this morning. “He is a talented horse who still has a lot to learn, and we’re giving him that chance.

    “I think all of his races have been good. His workouts have been good, and if everything goes right they (the competition and his connections) are going to know he’s in there. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Tyler. My instructions to him will be to play the break, see what happens and give him a place to run when the time comes.”

    The trainer plans to add blinkers to Change of Command’s equipment Saturday. “All of his races, he’s been hanging a little, and hopefully blinkers will keep him from doing that and he’ll continue his run,” McGaughey said.

    It’s not unusual for the Sam F. Davis to appear as a wide-open race, given that most of the horses are just getting their 3-year-old seasons rolling. In fact, only one of the 12 has actually celebrated his actual 3rd birthday: Agate Road, the St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable-owned colt who was born on Jan. 25, 2021.

    Agate Road, who will break from the No. 6 post, won the Grade II Pilgrim Stakes on the turf last October at the Belmont At The Big A meet, and four of his five starts have been on turf. He ran second in his career debut last August at Saratoga in a race that was switched from the turf to the dirt.

    In addition to Agate Road, Pletcher will start Tireless, who broke his maiden here on Jan. 14 going a mile-and-40-yards. Antonio Gallardo is the jockey.

    “Both (Agate Road and Tireless) have shown improvement in their dirt breezes,” Pletcher said in a text message.

    The third morning-line choice at 5-1 is trainer Gary Capuano’s colt Copper Tax, who will break from the No. 7 post under jockey Charlie Marquez. Copper Tax concluded his 2-year-old campaign on a five-race winning streak, including the Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park and the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park, before finishing sixth in the Grade II Remsen Stakes on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct.

    Oldsmar-based trainers such as Michael Campbell, who will saddle 6-1 shot Patriot Spirit for leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho, and Gregg Sacco, the conditioner of 10-1 Crazy Mason, believe they can be right in the mix. Crazy Mason, who will break from the No. 4 post under Mychel Sanchez, won a mile-and-40-yard allowance on Jan. 14, 6 weeks after finishing second to Patriot Spirit in the Inaugural Stakes.

    “We’re going into the Davis with a lot of confidence,” Sacco said. “He (Crazy Mason) overcame a slow pace last time and finished full of run, and he galloped out super. He’s had two workouts since then and is thriving” (Sacco said no time was recorded last Saturday when Crazy Mason worked in a thick fog).

    “We’re expecting a big effort from our colt,” Sacco added. ‘We’re glad to be a part of it and hope for the best for everybody.”

    The “forgotten” horse in the Sam F. Davis may be Grade III winner West Saratoga, who finished second in his lone Tampa Bay Downs start in the Jan. 13 Pasco Stakes, albeit 12 ½ lengths behind Book’em Danno.

    West Saratoga, who is owned by Harry L. Veruchi and trained by Larry Demeritte, will be ridden by Jesus Castanon.

    “This is one of the stronger bunches he’s run against, and this race could determine how good he is,” Demeritte said. “I think he is peaking at the right time, and he has the versatility to race on the lead or come from mid-pack, like he did in the (Grade III Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs).

    "What impressed me in the Pasco is that he got checked on the turn and started running again. A lot of horses will pack it in in that situation, and he has continued to train well since then. I wouldn’t trade my horse for anyone’s,” Demeritte said.

    In the Suncoast, which is the fifth race, Pletcher’s filly Life Talk has been made the 3-5 favorite against five opponents. Owned by Repole Stable, she will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. Life Talk won the Grade II, mile-and-an-eighth Demoiselle Stakes on Irad Ortiz, Jr., Jose’s brother, to earn her favorite’s role.

    “She’s progressing very well,” Pletcher noted. “We’re excited to get her back going.”

    The second choice in the Suncoast at 5-2 is Gulfstream Park stakes winner Power Squeeze, who is trained by Jorge Delgado and will be ridden by Daniel Centeno. McGaughey will send out Courtlandt Farms’s Whocouldaskformo, who broke her maiden here on Dec. 31 going a mile-and-40-yards. Gaffalione will be aboard.

    In the Pelican Stakes, slated as the eighth race, 6-year-old gelding Sibelius will bid to become the sixth horse to capture back-to-back runnings of the race (Above the Wind actually won three consecutive Pelicans, from 2003-2006). Owned by Jun H. Park and Delia Nash and trained by Jeremiah O’Dwyer, Sibelius will be ridden by Junior Alvarado.

    Sibelius, who used last year’s crackerjack Pelican score as a prep for a victory six weeks later in the lucrative Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Nakheel at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, appears to be rounding into similar form, if his 4-length victory in the Grade III Mr. Prospector Stakes on Dec. 23 at Gulfstream Park is an indication.

    Sibelius is the 3-1 morning-line second choice, behind trainer Wesley Ward’s 5-year-old gelding Nakatomi at 9-5. Nakatomi, who will be piloted by Gaffalione, finished third in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, behind subsequent Eclipse Award Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power and multiple-Grade I winner Gunite.

    An eight-horse field in the Minaret Stakes, scheduled as the seventh race, is headed by 5-year-old mare Chi Town Lady, trained by Wesley Ward. Established as the 5-2 morning-line choice, she will break from the No. 2 post under Gaffalione. Chi Town Lady competed only twice in 2023, finishing third both times, but will be difficult to defeat if she can approach her form while winning the Grade I Longines Test Stakes in the summer of 2022 at Saratoga.

    Arroyo is Boot Barn Jockey of the Month. In recent weeks, Angel Arroyo has displayed a knack for winning close finishes, with seven of his 11 most recent victories by less than a length. His agent, former jockey Jose Angel Garcia, says that streak can be attributed in large part to Arroyo’s excellent skills as a gate rider.

    “He’s unbelievable at positioning horses out of the gate,” Garcia said. “Horses break sharp for him, and they are always right there in contention.”

    Arroyo won today’s second race on 5-year-old mare Downton Tabby, enabling him to climb into a tie for ninth place in the Oldsmar standings with Kevin Gomez with 15 winners each. The victory on the 13-1 shot clinched the Boot Barn Jockey of the Month Award for the 34-year-old Panama City, Panama product.

    Arroyo doesn’t have an explanation for his recent string of close victories, other than crediting the sort of consistency every jockey strives for. “I ride hard on every horse and try to do the best I can. That’s my job,” he said. “There is a lot of competition here this year, and I like that. Horse racing is a sport of highs and lows, but I try to stay upbeat.”

    Arroyo cracked the top 10 in last year’s Oldsmar standings with 28 winners and followed that up by riding 57 winners at Delaware Park, finishing in third place. He has 1,385 career victories, including 446 from 2010-2012.

    The graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Technical Jockey Training Academy won the 2012 Parx Racing jockeys’ title with 160 winners.

    “He’s one of the greatest I’ve ever had as an agent. This guy can ride horses,” Garcia said.

    Arroyo and leading jockey Samy Camacho both walked off the track under their own power after a freak incident at the start of the eighth race. Funny Man, Arroyo’s mount, stumbled breaking from the No. 4 post in the mile-and-a-sixteenth race, dumping Arroyo. Funny Man then veered into the path of No. 3 Frosty the Soldier, who unseated Camacho.

    When Arroyo released his reins after falling, they became tangled around the rear leg of Frosty the Soldier, and the two horses raced in tandem that way for several strides before they managed to disengage themselves and continue on their journey. Both horses were corralled by Tampa Bay Downs outriders, and the two jockeys and two horses, it appears, escaped with nothing worse than a weird shared anecdote.

    Morales returns with third-place finish. For a few fleeting seconds, veteran jockey Pablo Morales thought he might be headed to the winner’s circle aboard Lucky in Love in today’s fifth race, his first start since Nov. 25.

    Morales and his 4-year-old filly, owned and trained by Ron G. Potts, had to settle for a third-place finish in the maiden claiming turf event, won by Algarca. But getting back into action for the first time after breaking his left wrist in a training accident signaled that the 35-year-old rider is prepared to hit the ground running in his return.

    “I’ve been OK for a couple of weeks already, but I wanted to make sure I had everything tight and flexible before I went out there. Everything is perfect,” he said. “I wasn’t really thinking much about anything except trying to do my best, make the right decisions and following the right horse, the No. 9” (eventual runner-up Far Above).

    Morales, who has ridden 2,626 winners in his career, made the process sound about as easy as riding a bicycle after a long time off. “It was definitely cool, but it didn’t seem that strange to me. You just go back to it like (the injury) never happened,” he said. “You get prepared, you focus and you can go for it, and that’s what I did.

    “My horse tried hard and did everything she could. She will win,” he added.

    Around the oval ---Apprentice jockey Gabriel Maldonado rode three winners today. He captured the first race with Just Plain Ornery, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Barbara Anderson and Juan Arriagada and trained by Arriagada. Just Plain Ornery was claimed from the race for $8,000 by trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo for new owner Moshe Mark.

    Maldonado added the fourth race on Ritz On Broadway, a 3-year-old filly owned by Joseph Irace and Alfred Noll and trained by Wayne Potts.

    Maldonado also won the sixth race on Victory Line, a 4-year-old gelding owned by David A. Bernsen LLC and trained by William E. Morey.

    Leading jockey Samy Camacho rode two winners. He won the third race on Good Value, a 4-year-old filly owned by Julian De Mora, Jr., and trained by Juan Carlos Avila. Camacho added the seventh on the turf with Full Nelson, a 3-year-old colt owned by Gold Square, LLC, Joseph R. Hardoon and Jose Francisco D’Angelo and trained by D’Angelo.

    There will be a forced payout Sunday in the 20-cent Ultimate 6 wager, in which the jackpot normally is distributed any time a single bettor has all six winners. That stipulation will be waived Sunday, rewarding anyone picking all six winners with their share of the total pool.

    If nobody hits all six, the jackpot will still go to anyone picking 5-of-6 (or 4-of-6, if that’s the best result).

    The jackpot climbed to $103,047 today. Track officials estimate that the jackpot could rise to the vicinity of $500,000 if no bettor claims it Friday or Saturday, but there will be a forced payout Sunday regardless.



Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Insurance plan is cost effective . . .
    Hallandale Beach - The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, located at Gulfstream Park, announces that applications are being accepted for their workers’ compensation program. Implemented in November 2023, the plan has been enthusiastically received and already provides coverage for more than 50 trainers.

    This unique horse racing industry insurance program provides affordable workers’ compensation insurance coverage to trainers for their backstretch employees, including assistant trainers, exercise riders, grooms, and hot walkers. Trainers pay a start fee that is determined after loss runs are provided. Those who race at Gulfstream Park year-round receive a $50 subsidy from the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, making the insurance plan extremely cost effective.  

    “This new policy provides substantial savings in expenses for resident trainers at Gulfstream Park,” said trainer Ron Spatz. “The security of knowing all of my employees are covered at a sizable cost savings – without the risk of being dropped or facing a rate increase if a claim is filed – was a huge factor when I decided to sign up for the program.”


    The Horsemen’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Trust provides all state coverage with the exception of New York, California, Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.

    “I am grateful for the years of dedication and hard work the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association has done to make this possible for us,” said trainer Jose Garoffalo. “In the past, finding coverage for backstretch employees was not only difficult, it was very costly. And, if there was a previous claim in the past few years, the insurance would either be too expensive or nearly impossible to find. This program is a blessing for trainers at Gulfstream Park.”


    The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s motto is “horsemen helping horsemen.” FTHA diligently represents the interests of Thoroughbred horse owners and trainers who do business in Florida – always working to foster and promote relationships with tracks, community, and government.  This workers’ compensation program ensures that Florida’s hardworking trainers can protect their employees while getting the benefit of a dramatic reduction in premiums.

    “In the past, Gulfstream Park trainers faced difficulties when it came to obtaining reasonably priced workers’ compensation policies for their backstretch employees,” said FTHA Executive Director Herb Oster. “Finding a solution that made sense has been on the forefront of our efforts for several years and we are pleased to be able to provide this program that ultimately saves our trainers thousands of dollars a year.”

    To apply for The Horsemen’s Workers’ Compensation Trust, contact Jana Schwartz in the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen Association office at Gulfstream Park, call 759-256-7142, or email: [email protected].

 


Monday, February 5, 2024
Four win Saturday at Gulfstream . . .

    Baoma Corp.’s Nysos (Nyquist – Netta Z) romped to the head of the 3-year-old class in Saturday’s $201,000, Gr. III Robert E. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday with a sharp 7-1/2 length victory. The 3-year-old son of Nyquist rated nicely off the lead, swept to the front on the turn and cruised to an easy win.  Fellow OBS graduate Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso – Deanaallen’skitten) settled for second. Trained by Bob Baffert, he’s now three for three by a combined 26 3/4 lengths and has earned $216,600. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he sped an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 and was purchased for $550,000 out of the Best A Luck Farm consignment by Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp.  

Four OBS grads scored in stakes races at Gulfstream on Saturday.

    D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s Hades (Awesome Slew – The Shady Lady) is three for three and a graded stakes -winner, jumping into the Triple Crown picture with a victory in the $250,000, Gr.III Holy Bull Stakes . The 3-year-old Florida-bred son of Awesome Slew took the early lead, turned back a bid by champion Fierceness turning for home and drew off to win by two lengths. Trained by Joe Orseno, he has earned $225,000 to date. Consigned by Ocala Stud to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he was sold for $130,000 after breezing an Under Tack quarter in:21 1/5. 

    Repole Stable’s Life’s an Audible (Audible – Catkins) scored her first stakes win in the $175,000, Gr. III Sweetest Chant Stakes. The 3-year-old daughter of Audible was well behind, rallied wide on the turn and was up in the final yards to score by a neck. Consigned by Britton Peak, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Sale., she was sold for $200,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Now 6-2-2-0 for trainer Todd Pletcher, she has earned $243,045. 

     Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Harper Rose (Khozan – True Bliss) pressed the pace in the early going of the $145,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3), took over at the head of the stretch and cruised to a two-length victory. Fellow OBS graduate Chi Chi (Audible – Simply Confection) checked in third. It’s the first graded stakes win for the 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by Khozan, trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., now 5-4-1-0 with $344,025 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS March Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 before being purchased out of the GOP Racing Stable consignment for $60,000. 

    Frank DeLuca’s Frankie’s Empire (Classic Empire – Donna D) rated off the pace early in the $125,000 Swale Stakes, rallied wide go reach contention, took over a furlong from home and was best by 3 1/2 lengths. It’s the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old son of Classic Empire, now 7-4-0-1 with $185,700 earnings for trainer Michael Yates. Consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he was sold for $20,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. 

     Lea Farms, LLC’s Super Chow (Lord Nelson – Bonita Mia) went right to the front in Aqueduct’s $175,000, Gr. III Toboggan Stakes and was long gone, romping to a 4 1/4 length victory. It’s the first graded stakes win for the 4-year-old Lord Nelson colt, purchased for $75,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Jorge Delgado, he has compiled a 16-7-4-4 record and earned $590,650.  

    Gary Barber’s Bron and Brow (Gormley – Changing Vista) took his second straight stakes race, capturing Delta Downs’ $100,000 Louisiana Bred Premier Sprint Stakes on Sunday by a length and three quarters. It’s the fifth stakes victory for the 5-year-old son of Gormley, purchased for $200,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 17-7-4-3 for trainer Mark Casse, he has earned $444,370.

Sunday, February 4, 2024
Defeats champion Fierceness at odds of 9-1 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Repole Stable’s Fierceness was an imposing favorite to win Saturday’s $250,000, Gr. III Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, but D J Stable and Robert Cotran’s Hades was hardly intimidated by the 2023 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile.

    Undefeated in two prior starts, Hades took it to the champion and his six other rivals right from the start of the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, breaking alertly to go to the front and never looking back to register a 9-1 upset victory. The 35th running of the Holy Bull, a prep for the March 30 Curlin Florida Derby, headlined Saturday’s 12-race program with five stakes for 3-year-olds, including four graded stakes.

     Joe Orseno-trained Hades withstood pressure from Inveigled early and Fierceness late but still had enough in reserve in the stretch to kick away from the 1-5 favorite, who faded to third. Late-running Domestic Product finished second, two lengths behind the winner and 1 ½ lengths ahead of Fierceness.

    “The plan was to go to the lead, but if somebody was pushing him, he was going to rate him. It looked like he started to do that when that one horse went up to him, and then Paco had to go. He knew it,” Orseno said. “When the horse accelerates, he’s just got another gear at the top of the stretch. He showed it to us last time. Of course, a champion eyeballs him and he dug in and took off. He ran away from a very good horse. It was our day today. We’ll see next time, but right now we’ll enjoy the moment.”

    Fierceness broke with the field from his No. 7 post and was outsprinted to the lead by Hades and Inveigled while racing in traffic. Hades cut the corner from his rail post position to show the way heading into the backstretch, as Fierceness worked his way clear of traffic to sit third on the outside of Inveigled past fractions of 25:03 and 50.53 for a half mile. John Velazquez sent Fierceness after the pacesetter and the two entered the stretch head-and head, but the Todd Pletcher-trained champion shortened stride as Hades kicked away under Paco Lopez.

    “He didn’t get off to a very good start. The inside horse bumped him pretty good and then he got sandwiched and kind of had to shove him into the race and try to get the position we wanted, which we eventually did. But, he had to overcome a pretty rough start to get there,” Pletcher said. “It seemed like he got into a good rhythm and straightened away for home and just kind of flattened out a little bit. I’m disappointed in the outcome. I think if you watch the replay of the start, it was a pretty rough start, kind of similar to what happened in the Champagne. If he doesn’t get away well, he doesn’t get into the flow of the race the same way.”

    Fierceness was coming off a dominating 6 ¼-length victory in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. The son of City of Light had scored an 11 ¼-length debut score over a pair of next-out winners on a muddy Saratoga track Aug. 25 before finishing off the board following a troubled start in the Oct. 7 Champagne on a sloppy Aqueduct surface.

    “The way he broke out of there, he kind of broke a step slow and got bounced out of there. I had to put him into the race and then sat against him on the backstretch,” Velazquez said of Fierceness’s trip Saturday. “Somebody moved on the outside and I let him do his thing. [I saw] Paco’s already riding so I kind of sat against him thinking, ‘Let me just wait.’ When I asked him, he wasn’t there for me.”

    Hades who ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.07 while dealing with constant pressure. “He likes to fight. He beat the Breeders’ Cup winner. Maybe the Breeders’ Cup winner wasn’t 100 percent ready, but I know my horse and ran very good today,” said Lopez, who had ridden the son of Awesome Slew in his first two victories.

    The Orseno trainee overcame bumping at the start of his Dec. 9 debut at Gulfstream, closing from well back to get up in time to win a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream. The 3-year-old gelding, who was purchased for $130,000 at the 2022 OBS April sale, had a much easier time of things in his return in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance for Florida-breds, shaking off early pressure while setting the back and drawing away to an eight-length romp.

    “I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of him yet. If you know me, I didn’t have him peaked today. I know what it takes if you’re going to campaign a horse,” said Orseno, who saddled Red Bullet for a victory in the 2000 Preakness. “It was like, we’ll have him ready for today, and this was our plan today, but this was today’s plan. It’s not the ideal plan if you’re trying to win the Derby or even get there, but for today it worked.”

Orseno wasn’t ready to commit Hades to the March 2, Gr. II Fountain of Youth, the final prep for the Florida Derby, in the aftermath of his gelding’s victory. “I’m going to let the horse tell us. Right now, I would say no, but if the horse is sharp …,” Orseno said. “He’s lightly raced. He’s run five and a half and seven furlongs. It’s not like he’s been pushed.”

    Hades’ upset was especially satisfying for Orseno because Leonard Green’s D J Stable and Robert Cotran have been longtime clients, who paid $130,000 for the Holy Bull winner at the 2022 OBS April sale.

    “The owners have been with me for a long time and their partner, Robert Cotran, he’s been with me just as long. It’s great. We put the two of them together. They didn’t know each other when it happened but they know each other now.”
Friday, February 2, 2024
Nominees total 40 . . .
    OLDSMAR - Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has enjoyed a stranglehold on the Gr. III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes since 2006, winning the Kentucky Derby prep race seven times in the last 18 years. Judging from the nominations for this season’s Sam F. Davis, Pletcher is eager to extend that dominance.

    Seven of the 40 nominees for the 44th edition of the race, the headliner on Tampa Bay Downs’s Feb. 10 Festival Preview Day 44 card, are Pletcher trainees, including Eclipse Award Champion Two-Year-Old Male Fierceness, breeder-owner Repole Stable’s winner of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Nov. 3 at S
anta Anita.

    While Fierceness is entered in Saturday’s Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and unlikely to be entered in the Sam F. Davis barring a late reversal of plans, it’s logical to assume Pletcher will find one or two others in an attempt to enlarge his collection of Sam F. Davis winners: Bluegrass Cat (2006), Any Given Saturday (2007), Rule (2010), Brethren (2011), Vinceremos (2014), Destin (2016) and Litigate (2023).

    More on Pletcher’s Sam F. Davis nominees can be found below.

    The Sam F. Davis is a mile-and-a-sixteenth “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race awarding 20 points to the winner and 10, 6, 4 and 2 points to the next four finishers toward qualifying for a starting berth in the 150th running of the Run for the Roses on May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

    Named after the former president of Tampa Bay Downs, the Sam F, Davis is one of four stakes scheduled for the main track on the Festival Preview Day 44 card.

    The 44th running of the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a distance of a mile-and-40-yards is a “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” points race, with the top five receiving 20-10-6-4-2 points toward qualifying for the May 3 distaff classic.

    The Suncoast Stakes attracted 21 nominations, five trained by Pletcher. That quintet includes Grade II Demoiselle Stakes winner Life Talk, owned by Repole Stable, and the outfit’s Scalable, who finished second in the Grade II Chandelier Stakes. Life Talks and Scalable were fourth and fifth last fall in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

    Trainer Mark Casse has nominated owner Gary Barber’s Witwatersrand, who won the Grade III Mazarine Stakes on Nov. 4 at Woodbine. Another Suncoast nominee with proven stakes credentials is Red Oak Stable’s Gorgeous Girl, who finished second here on Jan. 13 in the Gasparilla Stakes. Gregg Sacco is the trainer.

    Feb. 10’s other stakes are the 40th running of the $100,000 Pelican Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint for horses 4-years-old-and-upward, and the 43rd edition of the $50,000 Minaret Stakes, a 6-furlong event for fillies and mares 4-and-upward. The Pelican closed with 17 nominations. Among the possibles are Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s 6-year-old gelding Baby Yoda, who was second in the 2022 Pelican, and Grade III winner Little Vic, a 5-year-old from the barn of trainer Juan Carlos Avila.

    The Minaret attracted 17 nominations, as well. Heading the list is trainer Wesley Ward’s 5-year-old mare Chi Town Lady, who won the Grade I Longines Test Stakes in 2022 at Saratoga and has amassed career earnings of $462,913.
The Minaret nominees also include Lady Radler, a 4-year-old filly owned by Mellon Patch, Inc., and trained by Michael Campbell. She is 5-for-11, including a victory last September in the Grade III Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs.

    Back to trainer Pletcher’s seemingly delicious dilemma approaching the Sam F. Davis. With Fierceness Holy Bull-bound, Pletcher may turn to Locked, a son of Gun Runner owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, to extend his Sam F. Davis record. Locked was almost as good as any 2-year-old last fall, winning the Grade I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland before running third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.

    Pletcher could also choose to enter Noted, a stakes winner on both dirt and turf owned by Repole Stable, or one of several others as they round into form for their 3-year-old campaigns.

    Owner Mellon Patch, Inc., and trainer Michael Campbell have nominated Patriot Spirit, their son of Constitution who breezed 4 furlongs here on Jan. 25 in 48 4/5 seconds as he prepares for his first start as a 3-year-old. Patriot Spirit won the Inaugural Stakes here on Dec. 2.

    Book’em Danno, the speedy winner of the Pasco Stakes here on Jan. 13, is among the Sam F. Davis nominees, but trainer Derek Ryan is expected to run him next in the $1.5-million Saudi Derby in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24. Book’em Danno breezed 5 furlongs here Sunday in 1:02.

    Trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo has nominated four horses to the Sam F. Davis. One, Morplay Racing’s No More Time, is entered in the Holy Bull, while the others are still maidens.

    Other impressive-looking Sam F. Davis nominees include Grade II Remsen Stakes runner-up Sierra Leone, trained by Chad Brown; trainer Larry Demeritte’s Grade III stakes winner West Saratoga, a distant second to Book’em Danno in the Pasco; Grade II-placed Fulmineo, trained by Arnaud Delacour; Otello, the winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes on Jan. 1 at Gulfstream, trained by Christophe Clement; and Inaugural runner-up Crazy Mason, owned by Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and trained by Gregg Sacco.

    Turf Champions Day is Saturday. The 38th edition of the Grade III, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes and the 25th running of the Grade III, $175,000 Endeavour Stakes, both at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf course, are the co-feature events on Saturday’s 10-race “Turf Champions Day” card.

    Seven older fillies and mares are entered in the Endeavour, which is the sixth race on the program. Trainer Chad Brown, who has won the race a record four times, has entered both Klaravich Stables’s 5-year-old Consumer Spending and 4-year-old Implicated, owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Cambron Equine and Laura Leigh Stable.

    Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano has been named to ride Consumer Spending, while leading Oldsmar jockey Samy Camacho will be on Implicated.

    Trainer H. Graham Motion, who has won the Endeavour twice, also has two entrants: 5-year-old Willakia, owned by Stonestreet Stables, and 5-year-old Sparkle Blue, owned by Augustin Stable and Catherine Parke. Vincent Cheminaud is named on Willakia and Jorge Ruiz will ride Sparkle Blue.

    The afternoon’s excitement will build to a crescendo for the Tampa Bay Stakes, which is the 10th race on the program. Hall of Fame conditioner Claude “Shug” McGaughey, III, will go for his fourth triumph in the race with Never Explain, a 6-year-old son of Street Sense owned by Courtlandt Farms. Cheminaud will ride Never Explain from the No. 1 post.

    Other top contenders appear to be Olympic Runner, trainer Mark Casse’s 8-year-old gelding who is a Grade II winner, and Winfromwithin, trainer William E. Morey’s 6-year-old who finished second in last year’s Tampa Bay Stakes and holds the 1-mile Oldsmar turf course record of 1:33.23, set as a 3-year-old in the 2021 Columbia Stakes. Camacho will ride Olympic Runner, with Jose Ferrer named on Winfromwithin. Assigned the outside No. 10 post is Chad Brown’s 5-year-old Running Bee, to be ridden by Castellano.
Monday, January 29, 2024
Bellamore takes Gr. III Houston Ladies Classic . . .
    Kaleem Shah’s Bellamore (Empire Maker – Smaft N Soft), rated off the pace in Saturday’s $300,000, Gr. III Houston Ladies Classic Stakes, rallied wide on the turn, then kept closing down the stretch and was up late to win by a neck. It’s the first stakes victory for the 6-year-old mare by Empire Maker, trained by Steve Asmussen, now 20-4-4-5 with $644,992 in earnings. After working an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale, she was purchased for $350,000 out of the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment. 

OBS grads captured a pair of stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

    KEM Stables’ Hot Fudge (Liam’s Map – Nelle’s Mischief) chased the pace from the outside in the $150,000 Interborough Stakes, took the lead on the turn, then battled down to stretch and was best by half a length. It’s the fourth straight win and second straight stakes victory for the 5-year-old daughter of Liam’s Map, consigned to the 2021 OBS Spring Sale by Flying Fish, Agent, and sold for $235,000 after breezing an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Linda Rice, she’s now 12-7-1-1 and has earned $438,905.  

    Martin Schwartz, Gandharvi, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, James J. Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson’s Bergen (Liam’s Map – Toni’s Hollyday) rallied to take command of the $97,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes after turning for home and drew away to score by 5 1/4 lengths. It was the stakes debut for the 3-year-old colt by Liam’s Map, trained by Brad Cox, now 3-2-1-0 with $136,975 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he sped a quarter in 20 4/5 at the Under Tack Show and was purchased for $375,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment. 
 

    Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Mouheeb (Flatter – Shananie’s Song) punched his ticket on Friday to the upcoming Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) with an impressive 6-3/4 length victory in the Gr. III Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) at Meydan.  It’s the third stakes win for the 6-year-old son of Flatter, trained by Michael Costa. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin to the 2020 OBS Spring Sale, he was sold for $400,000 after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5. McCrocklin has consigned a half-sister by Not This Time to the upcoming OBS March Sale. 
Monday, January 29, 2024
Lucky bettors earn nearly $2 million each . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - The mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool Sunday at Gulfstream Park yielded $1,804,431 payoffs to three bettors holding tickets with all six winners.

    Unsolved for 20 consecutive programs following a mandatory payout, the pool stood at $921,255 heading into Sunday’s wagering. A total of $5,615,409 was bet into the popular multi-race wager Sunday to increase the pool to $6,536,665.

    The winning combination was 5 (Tidal Force - $7), 11 (Break Out - $19.40), 9 (Bird Wildcat - $24.40), 10 (Spirit Animal - $22.60), 11 (Bring Theband Home - $20.20), 7 (Sweet Mimi - $52.50) in the six-race sequence that spanned Races 6-11.


    On mandatory payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence. The carryover jackpot is usually only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winner, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will start anew on Wednesday’s program.

                        Spirit Animal Holds on to win Sunday’s City of Light Handicap  

    TEC Racing’s Spirit Animal ($22.60) got the jump on Conglomerate heading into the stretch and held on to win by the slimmest of noses over the favored high-weight in the $75,000 City of Light Handicap.

    The Martin Drexler-trained 8-year-old gelding made the scale of weights for the 1 1/8-mile starter handicap work to his advantage. Spirit Animal carried 121 pounds, six fewer than Conglomerate, in the 1 1/8-mile starter handicap on Tapeta,

    Spirit Animal, who was claimed for $10,000 last February at Gulfstream, settled in fifth behind a solid pace set by long shot The Best Distance before advancing on the far turn under Edwin Gonzalez. The Drexler trainee was taken four-wide leaving the turn into the stretch, one path inside an approaching Conglomerate. Fly the W, carrying 125 pounds after winning six of his last eight starts, kicked to the lead in mid-stretch after stalking the pace but was unable to hold off Spirit Animal, who was just able to hold off Conglomerate at the wire.


    “He’s just all heart. This horse is all heart,” Drexler said. “I played around with ideas of running him shorter or putting him on turf, and this race kept sat there and just sat there, and I said, ‘You know what? Conglomerate is in there, Fly the W is in there. If he can beat these horses, he’ll be doing well.

    Spirit Animal, who had been first or second in his last five starts at Woodbine, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.03 to edge Conglomerate. Fly the W finished third.

Who’s Hot: Jockey Edwin Gonzalez rode both ends of a $419 Daily Double aboard Crystal Quest ($38.60) in Race 1 and Flower Mound ($17.40) in Race 2. He came back to capture the City of Light Handicap aboard Spirit Animal.


    Trainer Michael Trombetta had bookend winners, scoring with Crystal Quest ($38.60) in Race 1 and Sweet Mimi ($52.20) in Race 11.

 Oisin Murphy doubled aboard On the Nile ($17.80) in Race 5 and Break Out ($19.40) in Race 7. Trainer Martin Drexler also notched a win with Ninetyfour Express ($10) in Race 3. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who was aboard Ninetyfour Express, went on to capture Race 11 with Bring Theband Home ($20.20).
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Baffert's 3rd win in the $3 million race . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure asserted his class Saturday at Gulfstream Park, providing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his third success in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational presented by Baccarat.

    The Pegasus World Cup, a 1 1/8-mile event for 4-year-olds and up, headlined a 13-race program that also featured the $1 million 1/ST BET Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), the $500,000 TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) and four other graded stakes.


    National Treasure did not have things his own way in the Pegasus, having been denied pacesetting honors by Hoist the Gold, but the son of Quality Road held up to the early pressure and held gamely to hold off a late-running Senor Buscador by a neck.

    “I’m proud of him. He ran his race. He showed up,” said Baffert by phone from Southern California. “That’s all you can ask for as a trainer. He was prepping well for it.” Baffert had previously won the Pegasus World Cup with Arrogate (2017) and Mucho Gusto (2020).

    National Treasure, who is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, was sent to post as the 5-2 favorite in a field of 12 older horses. He entered the Pegasus off a second-place finish in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, in which he was nosed out by defending champion and 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish.

    “I’ve always thought he was that good a horse. He was just very immature and he’s getting better and better, the way he’s training,” Baffert said. “He trained much better than he was going into the Breeders’ Cup.”

    National Treasure broke cleanly from the starting gate but was outsprinted to the lead by Hoist the Gold, who had captured the Dec. 2 Cigar Mile (G2) at Aqueduct in front-running fashion. The Dallas Stewart-trained Hoist the Gold ran the first quarter of a mile in a solid 23.18 seconds on his way to a 46.32 half-mile clocking under Hall of Famer John Velazquez. However, Hoist the Gold was unable to shake the Baffert trainee, who applied pressure on his outside before moving away from the tiring pacesetter in the stretch, completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.51.


    “He’s very brave. Obviously, a great job by Bob,” jockey Flavien Prat said. “He’s always on point. It’s been a great pleasure riding [National Treasure}.”

    National Treasure was engaged by Senor Buscador nearing the wire but would not be denied his second Grade 1 win. The Baffert trainee set the pace in last year’s Preakness Stakes but showed the same resilience he demonstrated at Gulfstream Saturday while holding off a strong bid by Blazing Sevens by a head.


    Senor Buscador, who had been training at Gulfstream since finishing second in the Cigar Mile, finished second under Junior Alvarado, 4 ½ lengths ahead of Crupi and jockey Frankie Dettori. Hoist the Gold finished fourth, another 6 ¼ lengths back

    “It's very hard to come from way back on this track. But I was happy when he was picking it up and I'm excited. But I could feel the last sixteenth of a mile he was getting tired from making that huge run from the back,” Senor Buscador’s jockey Junior Alvarado said. “My horse ran his eyeballs out. He gave me a helluva run. He gave me everything he had today. My horse ran his heart out today.”


    First Mission, the 5-2 second choice in the betting, showed a little early speed before fading to ninth for trainer Brad Cox, who had saddled Knicks Go for a victory in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup.

    “Just didn't handle the track at all. A lot of dirt hitting him in the face. He didn't seem like he wanted to go forward through it,” Cox said. “Luis [Saez] said at the half-mile pole he didn't move forward when asked. Pretty simple watching the race on television, I kind of thought going up the backside he was struggling with the ground. Regroup and see what happens.”

    National Treasure had been off-the-board in three starts between his front-running victory in the Preakness and his game second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The Kentucky-bred colt had a productive 2-year-old campaign, during which he won at first asking at Del Mar before finishing second in the American Pharoah at Santa Anita and finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.
Friday, January 26, 2024
Bob Baffert goes for third win . . .
    HALLANDALE - Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure arrived at Gulfstream Park from Southern California Tuesday evening to prepare for a start in Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) under the supervision of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes.

            National Treasure has been installed at 9-5 in the morning line in a field of 12 older horses in the headliner of a 13-race program that will also feature the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2), and four other graded stakes.

            National Treasure, who captured the 2023 Preakness in front-running fashion, came up just a nose short achieving a front-running triumph last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, having to settle for second behind Cody’s Wish. The 4-year-old son of Quality Road will seek to give Baffert his third Pegasus World Cup win, following in the hoofprints of Arrogate (2017) and Mucho Gusto (2020).

            Baffert has been one of the most enthusiastic, as well as successful, supporters of the Pegasus World Cup, in which he has been represented by two winners and two second-place finishers.

            “Gulfstream, the Stronach Group, the 1/ST group, they put on a great show. It's developing,” he said. “You've got that, you’ve got the Triple Crown series, the Breeders’ Cup. It's good to have something like this to kick it off.

            “Gulfstream has done a good job the way it’s marketed. it's a good day and it's fun. I remember going down there. I got beat, I ran second, but Post Malone was there. It's always been a great party, a good atmosphere, making racing cool,” Baffert added. “It's a cool sport. I think that's what they're trying to get across, and it is. It's our time to shine down there in Florida.”

            Baffert also credited the Pegasus World Cup as a ‘stallion maker’ while keeping older horses like National Treasure in training longer.

            “I think he's getting better, and you’re supposed to wait until they’re four, but unfortunately a lot of the good horses had to retire because they are so valuable. When they’re four, you're going to have a big, stronger horse, a better horse,” Baffert said. “I think he's the only one left that ran in those [Triple Crown] series. But he's getting better. We've taken our time. We’ve spotted him right. I’ve let him really mature on his own. This is a perfect scenario for him, a perfect spot to come back.”

            National Treasure will break from the No. 7 post position under Flavien Prat.

               Castellano Weighs in on Success Ahead of Pegasus: ‘I’m Very Lucky’

            Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano enjoyed a career resurgence in 2023, winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) for the first time to complete a personal Triple Crown, and enhancing his Saratoga record with a seventh victory in the Travers (G1).

            The 47-year-old Venezuela native captured the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs with Mage, the third leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont and the Midsummer Derby at Saratoga aboard Arcangelo.

            Though his number of overall wins (146) was less than half of his career high (362) set in 2013 – the first of four straight years that ended with an Eclipse Award – Castellano banked $19.5 million in purses, his best year since topping $25 million in 2019.

           “I’ve been very fortunate and blessed in this business. A lot of trainers, a lot of owners give me the opportunity to ride the best horses on the grounds,” Castellano said. “We’re looking forward to 2024 and hopefully we keep the momentum from races like the Kentucky Derby, the Travers, the Belmont Stakes, all those big races … and the horses keep developing for the 2024 big races.”

            Castellano will be a prominent player Saturday at Gulfstream Park with mounts on Il Miracolo in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) presented by Baccarat, Main Event in the $1 million 1/ST Bet Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and Full Count Felicia in the $500,000 TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2)..

            This will be the fifth time for Castellano riding in the Pegasus World Cup, having won with City of Light in 2019 and finishing second with West Coast (2018), fourth with Keen Ice (2017) and 11th with O’Connor (2023).

            Il Miracolo, based at Gulfstream with trainer Antonio Sano, comes into the Pegasus having won the Smarty Jones (G3), run second by a head in the Fayette (G2) and third in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and Clark (G2) to cap his 2023 campaign.

            “The Pegasus is a race we all look forward to. I was able to win a couple of years ago with City of Light. He was very impressive that day, and now this year, I have the opportunity to ride one of the best horses, and hopefully everything falls in the right direction,” Castellano said. “You’ve got to be there to win the Pegasus. It’s an exciting race. We’re all looking forward to 2024 and hopefully starting off on the right foot.”

            Castellano has ridden in the Turf four times, his best finish a second aboard Ivar last January. This year he will be on Main Event, a front-running winner of Gulfstream’s Pegasus Turf prep, the Dec. 30 Fort Lauderdale (G2), by a head over late-running Kingmax, who also returns in the Turf.

            “When he saw [Kingmax] coming on the outside he liked to engage a little bit and he finished strong. Going into the Pegasus Turf he’s going to be really comfortable,” Castellano said. “It’s going to be a step up a little bit. We all do the big races this time of the year you have to show up. I have a lot of confidence in my horse that he can do it.”

            The Filly & Mare Turf will be Castellano’s second time riding Full Count Felicia and first since they ran second in a six-furlong maiden special weight on the grass in April 2022 for previous trainer Chad Summers. Moved that summer to Maryland-based Brittany Russell, who has a string at Gulfstream this winter, Full Count Felicia has won five of seven starts including the 1 1/8-mile All Along in September at Pimlico and one-mile Suwannee River (G3) Dec. 30 at Gulfstream.

            “Pegasus World Cup is an amazing [day]. A lot of people show up, friends and family. A lot of people come to the races and enjoy the beautiful sunshine,” Castellano said. “This is one of the best times of the year to be here in South Florida and see some of the best horses on the grounds.”

            Castellano, 46, has won 5,747 races and is approaching $400 million in purse earnings during a U.S. career that began in South Florida in 1997. The two-time Preakness (G1) winner remains as humble and genuine as when he was starting out.

            “This game is very unpredictable. It seems to me that’s one of the things that’s really, really good about the sport. One day you can be on the bottom and one day you can be on the top,” Castellano said. “You have to be consistent. You have to be disciplined and detailed and show up every single day. You never know what door is going to open.

            “You have to deliver. You have to be consistent. You have to be positive every single day. You never know what kind of horse you’re going to ride and what kind of horse is going to win the Kentucky Derby,” he added. “If somebody told me, ‘You’re going to win your first Kentucky Derby [and] your first Belmont,’ I wouldn’t have believed it. But I’ve been disciplined, been doing the right things and trying to find the right horses and do my homework. It paid off. I was very lucky.”

 

R Calli Kim Takes Four-Race Win Streak into G3 La Prevoyante

            Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Calli Kim, unbeaten in four starts last year for trainer Brendan Walsh, chases a fifth consecutive victory and second straight graded stakes in Saturday’s $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) presented by Ketel One Espresso Martini on the grass at Gulfstream Park.

            R Calli Kim, 7, is the younger half-sister of Temple City Terror, a four-time stakes winner including the 2022 Dowager (G3) and Long Island (G3) who was also trained by Walsh. R Calli Kim, by Revolutionary, continued the family tradition with a popular 2 ½-length triumph in the 1 3/8-mile Long Island in mid-November at Aqueduct.

            It was an unlikely end to a season that began last July when R Calli Kim, entered for a $32,000 tag, returned from more than a year between starts to win a 1 1/16-mile claiming event on the Saratoga turf. From there she won a second-level optional claiming allowance going 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs and an open Keeneland allowance in October at 1 ½-miles, the same distance as the La Prevoyante.

            “She got injured and we gave her time off. We brought her back, and I thought she was doing really well, working very well and all, and we took a shot at Saratoga and jammed her in pretty good,” Walsh said. “I didn’t for a second think she was going to turn around and win a graded stake at the end of the year. But she’s progressed, like her sister, and gotten better and gotten a lot of confidence, and she’s been working great coming into Saturday. Hopefully she can follow on from last year.”

            Jose Ortiz has the mount on R Calli Kim from Post 3 in a field of nine older fillies and mares. She will carry 123 pounds, co-topweight with Grade 3 winner Romagna Mia, who won the 1 ½-mile Via Borghese Dec. 26 on the Gulfstream turf.

            “She came back [from her last race] super. I backed off her a little bit because there was nothing for her,” Walsh said. “We gave her a little down time for a few weeks, and we brought her down here and she’s been working along pretty well since. She should run very well on Saturday.”

            Walsh said Temple City Terror, who earned $931,218 in 31 starts from 2019-23, was more high-strung than her little sister, a winner of eight of 13 races and $517,890 who owns two wins, one second and one third in six previous tries at Gulfstream, the most recent being a troubled second by a neck in a one-mile April 2022 allowance.

            “She’s not as wired as Temple City Terror was. She’d get wound up, and this one is a little more laid back,” Walsh said. “But they’re sweethearts of fillies to have. She’s just a pleasure to train. She’s very straightforward.”

            Walsh also entered Gilmore in the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3) presented by Whispering Angel for 4-year-olds and up going one mile on the man track, and Verstappen in the $200,000 William L. McKnight (G3) presented by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association for 4-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles on the grass.

            Gilmore, owned by a partnership headed by SF Racing, comes into the Hooper after running second to Group 1 winner and defending champion Sibelius in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) Dec. 23 at Gulfstream. The 4-year-old colt has two wins from 11 starts and is seeking his first stakes victory, having run second or third in the Woody Stephens (G1), Pat Day Mile (G2), Bay Shore (G3) and El Camino Real Derby as a 3-year-old in 2023.

            “Last year I thought he made good progression and I always thought he was going to be a nice horse as time would go along. He ran some very nice races last year,” Walsh said. “I thought he ran a really good race in the Mr. Prospector because I kind of knew that it was going to be a little on the short side for him, which it proved to be, but the extra furlong [Saturday] should be right up his street.”

            Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable and Windmill Manor Farm’s Verstappen will be making his Gulfstream debut in the McKnight. Winner of the 1 ½-mile Elkhorn (G2) last spring at Keeneland, the 5-year-old gelding was also second n the Bowling Green (G2) and Kentucky Cup Classic and most recently third by less than a length in the Red Smith (G2) behind Master Piece, who is running in Saturday’s $1 million 1/ST Bet Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

“He had a great year last year. We left him at Turfway [Park] last winter and said we’d bring him down here this year and see how he handled Florida,” Walsh said. “I think he’s set to run a big race, as well. I think he will [handle the course]. I was a little up in the air about it, but he’s been handling the track at Palm Meadows very well and I think that gives a fairly good indication of how they’re going to manage here.”
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Sales top $4.4 million for 2 days . . .

    Hip No. 409, a yearling daughter of Omaha Beach consigned by Fly By, went to Discovery Bay Bloodstock for $100,000 to top the entire sale and Open Session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2023 Winter Mixed Sale. The bay filly is out of Gardenista, by Curlin, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Valbenny (IRE).

    Hip No. 494, Sweet Mitole, a yearling bay filly by champion OBS graduate Mitole, was sold for $90,000 to Exclusive Equine Investments. Consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, she’s out of Pointe Du Hoc, by Soldat, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Storm Mesa.

    Hip No. 610, a yearling daughter of Uncle Chuck consigned by Fly By, was purchased by Grade One Investments  for $80,000. The bay filly is out of Champina, by Daredevil, from the family of graded stakes-winning OBS graduate Jack Milton.

    Supernova Stables went to $70,000 for Hip No. 445, a yearling daughter of Audible consigned by New Horizons Bloodstock. The chestnut filly is out of Lemoncita, by Lemon Drop Kid, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Chewing Gum. 

    Hip No. 659, a yearling daughter of Girvin consigned by Hare Hill Farm, sold for $65,000 to Tahoe Bloodstock. The bay filly is out of stakes-placed Awesome Dama, by Corinthian, from the family of graded stakes-winner Ms. Mostly.

    Hip No. 640, a yearling daughter of Lexitonian consigned by 4 M Ranch, Agent, went to Albert Davis for $50,000. The chestnut filly is out of Electric Rose, by Flashback, a daughter of stakes-placed Bud’s Little Edge.

    Hip No. 599, a yearling son of Volatile consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent, was purchased for $45,000 by Lambholm, Agent. The chestnut colt is out of Blameitonthebadboy, by Blame, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Sky Haven

    Hip No. 545, Boston Soldier, consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock, Agent, was purchased for $42,000 by LMB Farms. The dark bay or brown yearling colt by Aurelius Maximus is out of stakes-placed Sweet Alice Benbow, by Wildcat Heir, from the family of stakes-winner Nothing Sweeter.

    FMQ Stables went to $42,000 for Hip No. 567, a yearling daughter of City of Light consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent. The bay filly is out of Yes It’s Jackie, by Yes It’s True, a half-sister to champion Abel Tasman. 

    Hip No. 621, Candle Ina Wind, a yearling son of Flameaway consigned by Summerfield, was sold to Grade One Investments for $40,000. The chestnut colt is out of Curious Luck, by Trust N Luck, a daughter of stakes-winner Silent Ridge.

    For the Open session, 166 horses sold for $2,025,900 compared with 186 horses bringing $2,065,700 in 2023. The average price was $12,204 compared with $11,106 last year, while the median price was $5,100 compared with $7,500 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 19.8%; it was 8.4% in 2023.

    For the Consignor Preferred session, 83 horses sold for $1,913,400, compared with 99 horses grossing $2,696,700 in 2023. The average price was $23,053, compared with $27,239 a year ago, while the median price was $16,000, compared to last year’s $20,000. The buyback percentage was 23.1%; it was 13.2% last year.

    For the Horses of Racing Age section, 31 horses grossed $545,000 compared with 95 selling for a total of $1,583,800 in 2023. The average was $17,581 compared with $16,672 a year ago, while the median price was $11,000 compared to $10,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 18.4%; it was 13.6% in 2023.

    For the entire Winter Mixed Sale, 280 horses sold for $4,484,300, compared to 380 horses bringing $6,346,200 last year. The average was $16,015, compared to $16,701 in 2023 while the median price was $8,000, compared with $9,500 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 20.7%; it was 11% in 2023.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Heavy favorite for outstanding owner and breeder . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - This is a week on the calendar in which Sheikh Mohammed’s international racing and bloodstock operation Godolphin has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years.

    Godolphin is the heavy favorite to be feted Thursday at the Breakers in Palm Beach with Eclipse Awards as North America’s outstanding owner and breeder for 2023. Godolphin has won an Eclipse Award three straight years as leading owner and five overall, and two straight as leading breeder with a third under the Darley banner.


    That said, the Godolphin team is hoping this week ends with a different twist two days later at Gulfstream Park – winning its first $3 million, Gr. I Pegasus World Cup Invitational presented by Baccarat with the 4-year-old homebred First Mission.


    Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Pegasus and the Kentucky Derby are about the only signature American races that Sheikh Mohammed has yet to win. However, Proxy, who finished fifth last year, also was Godolphin’s first starter in the Pegasus since the race was refashioned from the Donn Handicap in 2017.

The Brad Cox-trained First Mission is the 7-2 second choice in the field of 12, which is led by 9-5 favorite National Treasure, last year’s Preakness Stakes winner.

First Mission, a son of Godolphin’s Darley America stallion and 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, comes into the Pegasus as the least experienced horse, having raced only five times, all last year.

    Unraced as a 2-year-old, First Mission captured Keeneland’s Gr. III Lexington in his third start last year but then was scratched from the Preakness with a minor issue. First Mission returned sixth months later to win a Keeneland allowance race before dropping a nose decision in the Gr. II Clark to fellow Pegasus entrant Trademark on Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s still a horse that doesn’t have a whole lot of experience,” Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock, said. “He had that long break and then ran against [Trademark], who loves Churchill and has plenty of hardened experience. He probably learned a lot from the race that day. We were probably disappointed not to the win the race but happy with how the horse ran. Since the Clark, we earmarked the Pegasus.

    “There are nice horses in there,” he added. “We go in there optimistic we’ll be able to compete with those horses. We like him and think he has plenty of upside. This will tell us the story if our lofty sights for him are correct or if we need to rein them in.”

Banahan acknowledged it was frustrating to miss last year’s Preakness and other marquee 3-year-old stakes.

    “We’re on the doorstep of a classic and would probably have been close to being the favorite in the race or very close to it,” he said. “We thought he’d run a big race in there. There are only three classics that come around every year, and we haven’t won too many. Yeah, it was frustrating at the time. But we all wear long pants and we have to roll with the punches a little bit and come back and try and regroup and do the best we can.

    “It wasn’t anything major [that sidelined First Mission], just sort of juvenile issues more than anything. We figured at the time that if we needed to give him time off, then let’s give him the [extra] time off and come back as a bigger, stronger version of himself.”

    While Godolphin has always commanded respect wherever it runs horses, its staggering numbers the past few years show Sheikh Mohammed’s increased emphasis on American racing – developing and keeping horses here rather than shipping them to Dubai. The expanded American operation has led North America in purse earnings and graded stakes victories the past three years, including last year’s $17.27 million and 27, respectively.

    “Powerhouse stable,” said Cox, whose Godolphin-owned horses have included two-time champion Essential Quality. “Pretty easy to see that when you see the leaderboards and the stats they put up. They’re obviously a world-class operation, all class to deal with, great team to work with in America headed by Michael Banahan and Dan Pride. I really just enjoy working with those guys.

    “First Mission came in rated as one of their better colts,” he added. “He was one that just wasn’t quite ready for what we were asking him to do [as a 2-year-old], so we gave him some time off. He came back in the fall and marched forward. Now he’s grown up mentally and physically.”

    Godolphin’s two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody’s Wish is a solid favorite to be crowned 2023 Horse of the Year. Racing’s most poignant story of 2023 was Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trainee’s special relationship with Cody Dorman, who was born with Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome and confined to a wheelchair while communicating through a digital tablet. Cody died from a medical event while returning home from the Breeders’ Cup after watching his namesake’s last career race before joining Godolphin’s Darley America stallion band.

    Godolphin also has Kentucky Oaks heroine and three-time Gr. I winner Pretty Mischievous as the front-runner for the 3-year-old filly championship, with Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Master of the Seas a finalist for champion male turf horse.

    We have some stiff competition in there,” Banahan said of the Eclipse Awards. “But that would be a fantastic way to start the year. We had a super year last year, a special year. I think we won 12 Grade 1 races, following on 2022 and 2021, which were unbelievable years as well. We’ve been very lucky riding the crest of a wave for the last couple of years. We’d like to continue to ride that for another year or however long we can. Hopefully a horse like First Mission can jump up there and replace our stellar horse horses from the last couple of years, where Cody’s Wish and Proxy sort of led the charge in the
older division.“

    “We’re very grateful the boss has given us the opportunity to have the quality of these horses in the States to race under the Godolphin banner,” he added. “I suppose our broodmare band has become more and more dirt-centric than it was 20 years ago, when we were trying to feed the European stable more so. As we’ve gotten a bigger stable the last 10 years in America, it’s really a stand-alone, independent version of Godolphin for just America. We’re getting those results now.”



Cox also has a vested interest in the Eclipse Awards, with Juddmonte Farms’ Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Idiomatic the overwhelming favorite to be voted champion older filly or mare. Cox himself is a finalist for outstanding trainer, an honor he won in 2020 and 2021.

Sunday, January 21, 2024
Scores at Santa Anita and Fair Grounds . . .

    H & E Ranch’s Desert Dawn (Cupid – Ashley’s Glory) tracked the leaders three wide from off the pace in Santa Anita’s $100,000, Gr. III La Canada Stakes, rallied to the lead turning for home, then held on gamely and was best by a length. It’s the second graded stakes win for the 5-year-old daughter of Cupid, trained by Philip D’Amato, now 19-3-5-5 with $956,525 in earnings. Consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent for H & E Ranch, she went through the ring at the 2020 OBS October Selected Yearling Sale.

    FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration) is on track for a trip to the rich Gr. I Saudi Cup after bouncing to the lead in the $175,000, Gr. III Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds and never looking back en route to a facile 5 3/4 length victory. It’s the second graded stakes win for the Gr. I stakes-winning son of Always Dreaming, consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, and sold for $240,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Brad Cox, he’s now 7-4-2-0 and earned $982,085.  

Two OBS graduates earned TDN Rising Star status over the weekend.

    Zedan Racing Stables' Maymun (Frosted – Handwoven) went straight to the lead in his debut for trainer Bob Baffert in an $86,000 maiden test at Santa Anita, quickly opened daylight, then drew away effortlessly to a 7 1/2 length victory. Consigned by Longoria Training & Sales, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, the colt by Frosted turned in an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5 and sold for $900,000 to Donato Lanni, Agent. 

    Manama Gold (Star Guitar – Charged Cotton) earned TDN Rising Star status on Friday at Meydan with a 9 1/4 length victory in the Cocoa Beach Stakes. Now two-for-two, the 3-year-old filly by Star Guitar was consigned to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale by Richardson Bloodstock, Agent, and purchased for $200,000 by Oliver St. Lawrence Bloodstock after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. 

OBS graduates captured a pair of stakes on Friday at Sunland Park.

    Jeremy Ramsland’s Lucky Jeremy (Lookin At Lucky – Powder N Blush) tried stakes company for the first time in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby, tracked the pace, swung out for the drive, took command in deep stretch and eased away to win by two lengths. It’s the second straight win for the 3-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, now 3-2-0-0 with $115,080 in the bank for trainer William E. Morey. After speeding an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5, he was purchased for $50,000 out of the GOP Racing Stable consignment. 

    Holly Wilson and David Wilson’s Chesterette (Practical Joke- Jenny’s So Great) came wide into the stretch in the $65,000 Bold Ego Handicap, caught the leaders a furlong out and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over fellow OBS graduate Raneem (Fed Biz – J P’s Flashy Honey). It’s the first stakes victory for the 5-year-old mare by Practical Joke, consigned by Julie Davies, Agent, to the 2021 OBS Spring Sale and sold for $300,000 after speeding an Under Tack eighth in:9 4/5. Trained by Bart G. Hone, she’s now 10-4-3-0 and has earned $151,543. 

Friday, January 19, 2024
Gr. I Pegasus is worth $3 million . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The $3 million, Gr. I Pegasus World Cup Invitational, $1 million, Gr. I Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and $500,000, Gr. II Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf will be supported on Gulfstream Park’s Jan. 27 star-studded program by four other graded stakes that have attracted the nominations of many prominent stakes performers from prominent North American stables.

    The $200,000, Gr. II Inside Information presented by Don Julio Tequila, drew 23 nominations on a list of older fillies and mares topped by Dr. Rodney Lundock’s Maryquitecontrary, the seven-furlong stakes’ defending champion. The late-running 5-year-old daughter of First Dude is coming off an impressive victory in the Dec. 30 Rampart at Gulfstream in her first start for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.

    Last year, Maryquitecontrary captured the Rampart before winning the Inside Information and finishing a close-up third in the Gr. I Madison at Keeneland. Vegso Racing Stable’s Imonra and Sheri Greenberg Racing and Staghawk Stables’ Unifying, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Rampart, are also on the Inside Information noms list.

    Southern California-based Phil D’Amato is represented on the Inside Information noms list by Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso’s Hot Peppers, who is coming off a second-place finish in the Jan. 1, Gr. III Las Flores at Santa Anita. The Florida-bred 5-year-old daughter of Khozan launched her career by winning three of four starts at Gulfstream.

    Pamela Ziebarth’s Sweet Azteca, a late-developing 4-year-old daughter of Sharp Azteca, has been nominated to the Inside Information after finishing third, 1 ¼ lengths behind runner-up Hot Peppers, in the Las Flores in only her second career start. Trainer Michael McCarthy saddled City of Light for a victory in the 2019 Pegasus World Cup.

    The $150,000, Gr. III Fred W. Hooper presented by Whispering Angel, a mile stakes for older horses, received 29 nominations, including Albaugh Family Stables’ Cyclone Mischief, who finished third behind Forte and Mage in last year’s $1 million, Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby. The Dale Romans-trained son of Into Mischief is coming off a fourth-place finish in a Nov. 26 allowance at Churchill Downs in his first start since finishing off the board in the Kentucky Derby. Romans is also represented on the noms list for the 37th running of the Hooper by Albaugh Family Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Giant Game, who won the Cornhusker last year.

    Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has nominated Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Hejazi, who is coming off a second-place finish in the Dec. 26, Gr. I Malibu at Santa Anita, and SF Racing and partners’ Fort Bragg, who captured the Gr. III Dwyer at Belmont following a fifth-place finish in the Florida Derby last year.

    The $200,000 William L. McKnight, a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses, drew 34 nominations on a talent-deep list topped by Red Rafa Stud Inc’s Planetario, a Brazilian import who most recently captured the Nov. 24, Gr. II Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella also saddled the 6-year-old campaigner for a victory in the Gr. III San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita.

    Trainer Chad Brown is represented on the McKnight noms list by three horses, including Peter Brant’s Francesco Clemente, an Irish-bred son of Dubawi who was beaten by just a neck by the Mandella trainee in the Hollywood Turf Cup. Brown’s other nominees are Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber and Michael Caruso’s Rockemperor, a Gr. II stakes-winner, and Westberg, Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Stone Age.

    Harrell Ventures’ Main Event, who is coming off a victory in the Gr. II Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream, is nominated to the McKnight, but is also on the invitation list for the Pegasus World Cup Turf. Michael Hui and Phil Forte’s Value Engineering, who finished second in the McKnight last season before winning the Gr. II Mac Diarmida, is one of Michael Maker-trained horses nominated to the McKnight.

    The $150,000, Gr. III La Prevoyante, a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, drew 17 nominations, led by Team Valor International’s Romagna Mia, a 5-year-old British-bred daughter of Mastercraftsman. The Graham Motion trainee is coming off a seven-length romp in the Dec. 26 Via Borghese at Gulfstream that following a three-length score in the Gr. III Dowager at Keeneland.

    Motion-trained Sister Otoole, who is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has also been nominated to the La Prevoyante following a third-place finish in the Gr. III Red Carpet at Del Mar. The 7-year-old daughter of Pleasant Acres' Amira's Prince, who was bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon, sports a record of 4-5-6 in 23 starts and earnings of $431,470.

    Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Calli Kim is prominent on the La Prevoyante noms list after winning her four most recent starts for trainer Brendan Walsh, including an impressive 2 ½-length victory in the Gr. III Long Island at Aqueduct last time out.

Saturday, January 13, 2024
Conquest Warrior, Turn Up the Trees impress . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Hall of Fame trainers Shug McGaughey and Todd Pletcher visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle Saturday following highly impressive graduation performances by 3-year-olds Conquest Warrior and Turn Up the Trees, respectively.

    Courtlandt Farms’ Conquest Warrior ($9) overcame a troubled start that left him trailing the 10-horse field on the backstretch with a stunning wide stretch drive to prevail by a half-length over Pletcher-trained Antiquarian in Race 9, a mile maiden special weight event.

    The McGaughey-trained son of City of Light, who had a slow start in his debut before finishing third Dec. 2 at Aqueduct, was also briefly held up in traffic on the turn into the homestretch before unleashing a powerful stretch rally. The $1 million Keeneland September sale purchase ran a mile in 1:38.57 over a fast main track with Jose Ortiz aboard.

“I was surprised he broke the way he did. I knew he’d be back and then finish,” McGaughey said. “I was surprised by the effort he put in today with the trip he had for a young horse.”

McGaughey said he would look for an allowance race ‘and take it from there.’

            Pletcher unveiled St. Elias Stable’s Turn Up the Trees, a half-length debut winner over 50-1 long shot pacesetter Celtic Pride in Race 6, a maiden special weight for sophomores. The winning time was 1:12.20 for six furlongs over a fast main track.

            “I think he’s still got a lot to learn. He didn’t break great. We wanted to get some early position so [jockey John Velazquez] had to use him a little bit and it looked like he was kind of kept to task throughout. I think he’s going to benefit a lot from having the race.”

            Turn Up the Trees fetched $500,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in September 2022. His sire is millionaire Liam’s Map, who won six of eight races including the 2015 Woodward (G1) and Dirt Mile for Pletcher.

            “He had been training well. I thought his last gate work was very promising, so he came in with high hopes,” Pletcher said. “Anytime you can win first time out, you don’t take that for granted.”

            Pletcher also ran third in Race 6 with another first-timer, Seventeen Twenty Racing Stable, Repole Stable, Michael Wagner and Jackpot Farm’s Maximus Speed, a gelded son of Runhappy.

            “He made a late move and closed well to get up for third,” Pletcher said. “I thought that was encouraging.”

            Centennial Farms’ Antiquarian, also trained by Pletcher who was caught late by Conquest Warrior, was making his debut in Race 9. The son of Preservationist was purchased for $250,000 at the Keeneland September sale.
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Son of Bucchero has won 4-of-5 . . .
    OLDSMAR - As the field turned for home in the 26th running of the $125,000 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs with five of the six horses virtually abreast, an enthusiastic crowd braced for a fantastic finish. They got it, but maybe not the sort most were expecting.

    Three-year-old gelding Book’em Danno, the 1-10 betting favorite, overpowered his rivals through the lane, drawing away under jockey Samuel Marin to a 12 ½-length victory. West Saratoga fought gamely to finish second, a neck ahead of Rathmore.

 Book'em Danno’s time for the 7-furlong distance on a fast (but perhaps still drying out) track was 1:23.26. He paid $2.20 to win, a price usually seen here only in show pools and candy lines, and the $2 3-1 exacta paid $4.40.

    “That was perfect. I was so confident before the race – when I got out of the jockeys’ room, I knew I was going to win,” said Marin. “I’ve won on him twice before (including the Smoke Glacken Stakes on Sept. 9 at Monmouth) and I’ve been working on him almost every morning and teaching him.”

    The victory was the fourth in five starts for the New Jersey-bred son of Bucchero-Adorabella, by Ghostzapper, who is owned by Atlantic Six Racing (Jim Scappi and brothers Jim and Mark Rubenstein among the partners) and trained by Derek Ryan, who won the 2009 Pasco Stakes with Musket Man.

    “This was just what I wanted,” said Ryan, who thinks Book’em Danno could be undefeated had he not been forced to set the pace in the Nashua Stakes on Nov. 5 at Aqueduct in his most recent start, finishing second. “Put an easy race into him and move forward. That’s the way he likes to run. I could have ridden him myself today.”

    Both Samy Camacho, the jockey on West Saratoga, and Gabriel Maldonado, the rider on fourth-place finisher El Principito, claimed foul against the winner, but there was little doubt the result would be allowed to stand. Nitpickers might have seen interference on the turn, but no one in the field was getting close to Book’em Danno today.

    Larry Demeritte, the trainer of Gr. III stakes-winner West Saratoga, said his horse got checked into the turn, but he didn’t dispute the stewards’ verdict. “I thought my horse made a fight of it and ran a great race to get second,” Demeritte said. “Our plan is to keep him here and train up to the (Gr. III Sam F.) Davis (on Feb. 10).”

    The Book’em Danno team has numerous options, including a possible overseas venture for the $1.5-million Saudi Cup on Feb. 24. But for now, allow them to enjoy this tour de force.

    The Pasco was one of three stakes races on a Skyway Festival Day card held under partly cloudy skies, with strong winds that made it feel a bit colder than 57 degrees.

    In the 40th edition of the $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Florida-bred Mystic Lake took the lead at the outset and was never headed, holding on for a ¾-length victory over an onrushing Gorgeous Girl. Corinth, an 87-1 shot, finished third.

    Winning jockey Edgard Zayas was delighted by Mystic Lake’s performance, which came a race after he was unseated by Libban, his mount in the Wayward Lass Stakes, in the starting gate. Libban pinched Zayas’s right ankle against the side of the starting gate, and the incident caused a delay of several minutes as Zayas was attended to. But jockeys are a gritty bunch, and Zayas said after the Gasparilla it was going to take more for him to surrender the mount on Mystic Lake.

    “I feel a little sore, but we’re hanging on,” he said with a smile.

    The victory was the second in five starts for Mystic Lake, a daughter of Mo Town out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday. Her time for the 7-furlong distance was 1:24.69. She paid $3.60 to win as the heavy betting favorite. The 87-1 shot Corinth finished third in the seven-horse field.

    Mystic Lake is owned by C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms and trained by Saffie A. Joseph Jr.

    Joseph said Mystic Lake’s career debut last August at Gulfstream was a mystery, as she was never in contention after training well leading to the race. Her form turned around on the Tapeta surface at Woodbine, with a maiden victory, a second in the Glorious Song Stakes and a third in the Mazarine Stakes.

    “We’ve thought a lot of her all along, and we figured that first start just wasn’t her day,” Joseph said from his Gulfstream Park base. “She’s a very honest filly and this shows she can get 7 furlongs. I’ll talk it over with Mark (Cornett, the owner of C2 Racing Stable) and come up with a game plan from here. I think she’ll go turf, too.”

    Mystic Lake earned a $25,000 winner’s bonus as a Florida-bred, upping her winnings to $55,000, just shy of her career earnings entering the race.

    “She took the lead and we never looked back,” Zayas said. “She might have been stopping a little late, but she went quick early and the track was a little deep. All I had to do was hold on, and she kept trying even when (Gorgeous Girl) came up on the outside.”

    In the 40th running of the $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes for older fillies and mares, jockey Daniel Centeno angled Opus Forty Two to the outside with a furlong remaining and the 4-year-old did the rest, speeding past a game Dream Concert, the wagering favorite, by ¾-length. Magical Lute flattened out late, finishing third.

    The winner’s time for the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance was 1:44.90. She improved to 4-for-11 lifetime. It was the fifth Wayward Lass Stakes victory for Centeno, who rode Opus Forty Two to victory in last year’s Gasparilla Stakes.

    Opus Forty Two, a Kentucky-bred filly by Mendelssohn out of Laquesta, by Lemon Drop Kid, is owned by Mark B. Grier and trained by Arnaud Delacour.

    “She didn’t break very sharp today, so I didn’t want to rush her,” Centeno said. “She relaxed real well behind the pace-setters and I didn’t have to fight her. At the 3/8-mile pole there was nowhere to go, but I got her out at the 1/8-pole and put her way outside and you saw what she did – she just exploded.

    “I knew she was better in the clear, but I didn’t expect that kind of response,” said Centeno, who also won the third race on 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding Misterchilliwilli for owner Robert Deckert Jr., and trainer Michael Simone. 

    Delacour said Opus Forty Two exceeded his expectations. “She’s a pro. She does things the same way every day, and as soon as Danny put her in the clear she dug in and showed a good kick,” Delacour said. “She is quite aggressive in her training, so I don’t have to do much to get her ready.

    “That was not an easy field and I would have been happy if she had hit the board,” added Delacour, who won his third Wayward Lass
.
Friday, January 12, 2024
Whisper Hill filly pays $2.40 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher made back-to-back visits to the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following impressive victories by a pair of talented 3-year-old fillies on Thursday’s program.

    Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose ($2.40) remained undefeated in two starts after winning Race 6, a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old fillies. The Pletcher-trained daughter of Into Mischief, who graduated by 9 ½ lengths in a 6 ½-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct Nov. 19, raced outside Gun Song into the stretch before edging away to win by a length over the stubborn pacesetter.

    Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Leslie’s Rose, who ran seven-furlongs in 1:23.36. Gun Rose was 7 ¾ lengths clear of third-place finisher Sing a Little Song.

    “She was very impressive in her debut, and she’s trained well since then,” Pletcher said. “She has natural speed, but I think she’ll run further. I couldn’t be more pleased with her. That’s a pretty nice filly that got beat. It looked like they had good separation.” Pletcher said a yet-to-be-determined stakes appearance was likely for her next start.

    One race earlier on Thursday’s card, Pletcher-trained Pretty Liam ($9.80) graduated by 3 ¾ lengths in her career debut in a five-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-old fillies that was transferred from turf to Tapeta. The daughter of Liam’s Map saved ground behind the early pace before Ortiz eased her off the rail at the top of the stretch, where she caught pacesetter Beanpot and drew away to victory.

    “I thought she ran really well, too. I didn’t know what to expect on the synthetic,” Pletcher said. “She’s a half to a multiple-stakes winner on turf, so we kind of thought that was a logical place to get started. When it came off, we were confident to run her, and it worked out.”

    St. Elias Stable’s Pretty Liam, who ran five furlongs on Tapeta in :55.37 seconds, is a half-sister to Danse Macabre, a multiple stakes-winner with earnings just shy of $1 million. Kelsey Danner-trained Danse Macabre won the Gr. III Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream last season. Pletcher said Pretty Liam is likely to return in a turf allowance.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Finish 1-2-3 in San Vicente . . .

    Hours after joining Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning OBS March and Winter Mixed Sale graduate White Abarrio as an Eclipse Award finalist, Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth (Good Magic – Hoppa) made his 3-year-old debut in Santa Anita’s $200,000, Gr. II San Vicente Stakes.

    Leading a 1-2-3 OBS sweep, he came from just off the pace to charge past fellow OBS March graduate Pilot Commander (Justify – Rebuke) and win by 2 3/4 lengths, with OBS Spring Sale grad Slider (Jimmy Creed – Days Like This) checking in third. The 3-year-old colt by Good Magic is now 5-3-2-0 for trainer Bob Baffert and has earned $716,600.

    Consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by Top Line Sales, Agent, he was purchased by Donato Lanni, Agent, for a sale record-equaling $2 million after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5. 

    Joseph P. Morey, Jr.’s Vote No (Divisidero – Sistas Ready) is three for four with two stakes wins after coming from off the pace in Saturday’s $125,000 Turfway Preview Stakes, taking command passing the eighth pole and drawing away to win by 5 1/4 lengths. Trained by William E. Morey, the graded stakes-placed 3-year-old colt by Divisidero is now 4-3-0-1 and has earned $425,338.

    A two-time OBS graduate, he was sold by KP Sales at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $50,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2023 June Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. 

    Gary Barber’s Bron and Brow (Gormley – Changing Vista) successfully defended his title in Saturday’s $100,000 Gary P. Palmisano Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds, tracking the leaders from the outside, slipping inside turning for home, reaching the lead in deep stretch and easing away to score by 2 1/4 lengths.

    That’s four stakes victories for the 5-year-old son of Gormley, purchased for $200,000 out of the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Mark Casse, he’s now 16-6-4-3 with earnings of $384,370.  

    LSU Stables’ Ari’s Magic (Good Magic – Ari the Adventurer) earned TDN “Rising Star” status with a sensational debut at Tampa Bay Downs on Friday, rallying to the leaders on the turn, taking charge late and drawing away to win by 4 3/4 lengths. The 3-year-old colt by Good Magic, consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by Top Line Sales, Agent, was purchased for $725,000 by Steven W. Young, Agent, after turning in an Under Tack eighth in:10 flat. 

 

Saturday, January 6, 2024
    OLDSMAR - Assistant trainer Will Sacco says the main lessons he takes away from his...
    OLDSMAR - Assistant trainer Will Sacco says the main lessons he takes away from his father Gregg are of the unspoken variety.

    “You have to really have that horsemanship that I've seen just by watching him in the morning” to succeed in the sport, 23-year-old Will said after his dad earned the Boot Barn Trainer of the Month Award. 

    “My dad’s love for the horses is what I’ve really taken from working with him. He always does what is best for the horse, whether it’s giving them a break or trying to find what agrees with them – the right equipment, distance, and surface. They can't talk back, so you really have to have that level of horsemanship."

    For the elder Sacco, who is tied for third place in the Tampa Bay Downs standings with eight victories after 4-year-old filly Forever Rose’s come-from-behind maiden victory in today’s fifth race on the turf, those lessons are an extension of the legacy handed to him by his late father, trainer William J. Sacco.

    Forever Rose is owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and MyRacehorse and was ridden by Antonio Gallardo.

    “I had a wonderful relationship with my dad, and Will reminds me a lot of him,” Gregg, 58, said. “He’s stubborn at times, but he’s a smart kid and a very talented horseman. He leads our staff, which without their tireless efforts any of our successes would not come to fruition.

    “I’m looking forward to him training on his own, which I think is not that far off in the future. He started from the ground up doing everything with me, from hotwalking to grooming. He’s got a keen eye at the sales and picks out a lot of our horses, and he’s in charge of our daily routine.

    “A lot of what we do on the backside, I’ve left to my son,” Gregg added.

    Will, who spent most of his summers as a youngster around his father’s Monmouth Park barn, spent a month at the University of Kentucky in 2018 before deciding to follow his father’s path. He joined the operation in 2019 and was named assistant at the start of the 2022-2023 Oldsmar meet.

    His father’s career will make his pedigree obvious to everyone he encounters along his way.

    Now in his second season at Tampa Bay Downs, Gregg Sacco has trained 798 career winners. His best horse probably was Mind Control, who won five graded stakes under his care from 2018-2020, including the Grade I Hopeful and the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens, both at Saratoga. Other top Sacco-trained runners include Grade III winners Foreverness, a gelding, and the filly Unbridled Essence, and Joevia, who finished third in the 2019 Belmont Stakes.

    He’s trained many, many more of lesser ability, and Will knows that’s part of the sport as well.

    “Training horses is seven days a week, and you have to be at the barn early if you’ve had a bad day or won three races,” Will said. “You have to love it and you have to keep looking forward. When we leave the barn and get home, we talk about horses, and around the dinner table we talk about horses.”

    That makes perfect sense, when you realize how much joy it brings them.

    Around the oval. Oisin Murphy, the talented Irishman who was British Champion Jockey in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and won the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Marche Lorraine, came up from Gulfstream to treat fans to two victories from two mounts.

    Murphy got the mount on 3-year-old colt Ari’s Magic in the sixth race when Samy Camacho was taken off after falling from his mount in the previous race due to the track’s concussion protocol.

    Murphy helped the LSU Stables’s-owned, Christophe Clement-trained Ari’s Magic break his maiden for fun, then Murphy won the eighth race on 4-year-old colt Alexander Helios after a spirited stretch duel with Conspiracy Fact. Alexander Helios is owned by Diane and John Fradkin and trained by Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.

    Camacho gained a measure of solace by winning the seventh race on the turf on Crafty King, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Team Equistaff and trained by Gerald Bennett.

    Antonio Gallardo rode two winners. In addition to his triumph on Forever Rose, he won the first race on Sheza Nasty Girl, a 3-year-old Florida-bred filly owned and trained by Victor Carrasco, Jr.

    Trainer Wayne Potts won back-to-back races. He captured the third with Fly Fly Away, a 7-year-old gelding owned by Joseph Irace and Alfred Noll and ridden by Jose Ferrer. Potts added the fourth with Bold Medication, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Irace and Noll and ridden by Kevin Gomez.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Two for $125,000, one for $50,000 . . .

    OLDSMAR - Patriot Spirit, an impressive winner of the Inaugural Stakes here on Dec. 2; Grade III stakes-winner West Saratoga; and two-time stakes-winner Book’em Danno are among 20 3-year-old colts and geldings nominated to the 26th edition of the $125,000, 7-furlong Pasco Stakes on Jan. 13 at Tampa Bay Downs.

    The Pasco is one of three stakes on a Skyway Festival Day card. The others are the 40th running of the $125,000, 7-furlong Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and the 40th running of the $50,000, mile-and-a-sixteenth Wayward Lass Stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old-and-upward. All three races will be contested on the main track.

    The Gasparilla closed with 24 nominations and the Wayward Lass drew 18 nominations. Entries will be taken in the Racing Office on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

    Patriot Spirit, a Kentucky-bred son of Constitution owned by George Mellon’s Mellon Patch, and trained by Michael Campbell, improved to 2-for-4 lifetime with his victory in the Inaugural. He turned in a 6-furlong workout of 1:14 4/5 here on Saturday.


    The next four finishers in the Inaugural – Crazy Mason, Rathmore, Sir Flash and Gotts Got It – are also nominated to the Pasco.

    West Saratoga, owned by Harry L. Veruchi and trained by Larry Demeritte, captured the Gr. III Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs, then wrapped up his 2-year-old campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Gr. I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 7 at Keeneland.

    Book’em Danno, a gelding owned by Atlantic Six Racing and trained by Derek Ryan, won the Smoke Glacken Stakes on Sept. 9 at Monmouth and the Futurity Stakes on Oct. 8 at the Belmont At The Big A meet before finishing second to Where’s Chris in the Nashua Stakes on Nov. 5 at Belmont.


    Other stakes-winners nominated to the Pasco are Bentornato, from the barn of Jose Francisco D’Angelo; and Sweet Soddy J, trained by Raymond E. Ginter Jr.

    The Gasparilla nominees include Let Them Watch, a Florida-bred daughter of Maximus Mischief who won the Sandpiper Stakes here in gate-to-wire fashion on Dec. 2. She is owned by Case Chambers and trained by Michael Maker. Let Them Watch also won the Sharp Susan Stakes in August at Gulfstream Park as a 2-year-old.

    Other Gasparilla nominees include Irish Maxima, who finished fifth in the Gr. I Frizette on Oct. 7 at Belmont At The Big A, trained by John Servis; Leslie’s Rose, a Todd Pletcher-trained filly who won her career debut by 9 ¼ lengths on Nov. 19 at Aqueduct; trainer Saffie A. Joseph Jr.’s restricted stakes-winner R Harper Rose; and Joseph’s Mystic Lake, third in the Gr. III Mazarine Stakes on Nov. 4 at Woodbine.

   The Wayward Lass has drawn a quality group of nominees, including trainer Gerald Bennett’s 4-year-old filly Dreaming of Snow, a stakes-winner who captured a 7-furlong allowance/optional claiming event here on Dec. 9; 5-year-old Evidencias, a Brazilian import trained by Christophe Clement; 4-year-old Opus Forty Two, the winner of last year’s Gasparilla, trained by Arnaud Delacour; and trainer Tim Padilla’s Minnesota-bred stakes-winners, 5-year-old She’s My Warrior and 6-year-old Molly’s Angel.

    Around the oval - Charlie Marquez rode three winners yesterday. He swept the early double, winning the first race on 3-year-old filly Chief Lady for owner Winner Circle Stables and trainer Gregg Sacco and taking the second on 3-year-old filly Pamz Palace, owned by Roger B. Sterling and trained by Crystal Pickett.

    Marquez added the fifth race on the turf with Aloha Man, a 3-year-old colt owned by Crystal G. Pickett and Marblehead Management One and trained by Pickett.

    Samuel Marin rode two winners. He won the fourth race on The Sweaty Fox, a 5-year-old mare owned by Harry Hoglander and trained by Tony Wilson. Marin added the ninth and final race on the turf with Magical Marriage, a 7-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Dennis A. Drazin and trained by Patrick McBurney.


Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Five weekend stakes-winners . . .

    Harrell Ventures’s Main Event took the lead at the start of Saturday’s $200,000, Gr. II Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park and refused to yield, hanging on gamely and scoring by a head. It’s the second graded stakes win for the now 5-year-old son of Bernardini, trained by George Weaver, now 13-5-1-0 with $457,783 in earnings. Consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent, to the 2021 OBS Spring sale, he was purchased for $130,000 by Steven W. Young, Agent, after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 3/5. 

    U.S. Equine’s Angel Nadeshiko (Carpe Diem – Ciachetta) captured her first stakes win in the $100,000, Gr. III Robert J. Frankel Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita with a frontrunning ¾ length victory. Fellow OBS grad Oakhurst (Mr Speaker – Happiness Is) checked in third. It’s the first stakes win for the newly- turned 5-year-old daughter of OBS graduate Carpe Diem, now 16-3-3-2 for trainer Patrick Gallagher, with earnings of $227,780. At the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, she turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 and was purchased out of the Kings Equine consignment for $100,000. 

    Lea Farms’ Power Squeeze (Union Rags – Callmethesqueeze) rated off the pace in Gulfstream’s $150,000 Cash Run Stakes on New Year’s Day, rallied to take command a furlong from home and drew away to score by five lengths. March Sale grad Done Enough (Flameaway – Revengeful Pleasure) checked in third. It was the stakes debut and second straight win for the newly-turned 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags, trained by Jorge Delgado, now 4-2-1-0 with $128,650 in earnings. After turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she was purchased for $90,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock consignment.


    Victoriam Farm’s Stone Silent (Adios Charlie – Travelator) tracked the pace from the outside in Gulfstream’s $100,000 Abundantia Stakes on New Year’s Eve, rallied to take charge at the sixteenth pole and eased away late to win by a length and three quarters over OBS June graduate Choose Joy (Munnings – Elegantly). It’s the first stakes victory for the now 4-year-old Florida-bred filly by Adios Charlie, consigned by Ocala Stud, Agent, to the 2022 OBS March Sale and sold for $410,000 after working an Under Tack quarter in :20 2/5. Trained by Brian Lynch, she’s now 9-3-2-1 and h
as earned $219,698. 

    Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber’s Bold Journey (Hard Spun – Polly Freeze) was a 4-1/2 length winner of the $150,000 Gravesend Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct, rallying and taking the lead a furlong from home. Fellow OBS graduate Durante (Distorted Humor – Seahawk Girl) settled for third. That’s three straight wins for the graded stakes-winning newly-turned 5-year-old son of Hard Spun, now 20-7-6-0 for trainer Bill Mott, with $568,743 in earnings. He was purchased for $80,000 out of the McKathan Bros. consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10.51. 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, December 29, 2023
    HALLANDALE BEACH- Gulfstream Park’s 11-race program Saturday not only offers four...

    HALLANDALE BEACH- Gulfstream Park’s 11-race program Saturday not only offers four stakes races, including preps for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), but a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6.

            The sequence, which begins in Race 6, will have all four stakes with the two final sequences being the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at 1 1/16-mile on the main track and $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at 1 1/8-mile on the turf.

The Rainbow 6 sequence begins at approximately 2:34 p.m.

            Race 6 (Leg 1)

            3-year-olds and up, mile & 70 yards Tapeta, claiming $10,000


            There are 15 entered (three on the AE) and Irad Ortiz Jr. is named aboard Unified Weekend, who drops from a $20,000 claimer off a second place finish last time out in October. Two horses go out for new barns after claims. Gooch Go Bragh was claimed by Jorge Delgado (23-percent off claim) and Chapalu by Steve Budhoo (18 percent off claim). Chapalu has four wins from six starts on the Tapeta and is three for six at the distance. Most Wanted Man is on the AE, but if he gets in he’s the only horse coming into the race off a victory. Trainer Mike Maker is 20-percent after winning last start. Most Wanted Man’s only Tapeta start was a victory. Artemus Bridge drops from a third-place finish at Tampa in a $16,000 claimer. He’s 1-2-1 in five starts on Tapeta for Steve Klesaris. Paco Lopez rides.

      Race 7 (Leg 2)

            3-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs turf, $71,000 allowance optional claimer


            The field of eight may have to run down the quick Cruzin Man, who won a $50,000 claimer at Del Mar and finished third in an allowance optional claimer there before returning to South Florida and getting caught late in his return Dec. 2. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides for Rohan Crichton, a combination that clicks at 45 percent. The son of Chitu is 1-1-3 in five turf sprints. Richy gets Luis Saez and starts for the first time since finishing third in a turf sprint at Saratoga. He enters with a pair of ‘bullet’ works at Nelson Jones Farm and Training Center. Al Atlasi tries the turf for the first time. He broke his maiden on Tapeta in September. Trained by Ralph Nicks, the son of Mshawish is out of Al Khazaaliya, who won around two turns on the turf at Gulfstream. Michael Trombetta saddles Whenigettoheaven, stakes-placed against restricted company in Maryland. Lopez rides.

        Race 8 (Leg 3)

            Fillies and mares, 1 mile turf, $125,000 Suwannee River (G3)


            Very competitive field but Saffron Moon is expected to attract attention coming off a victory in the Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs Nov. 23. Chad Brown trains the 4-year-old filly who is three for five on the turf and Tyler Gaffalione rides and draws the rail. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sends out Accomplished Girl, winner of the Presque Isle Masters (G2) on Tapeta but who hasn’t run longer than 6 ½ furlongs, and Sister Lou Ann, a winner over this course last year and at Kentucky Downs in the One Dreamer in September. Willakia, trained by Graham Motion, was second to Saffron Moon under allowance conditions at Keeneland in October. Tequilera, trained by Michael Matz, is 3-5-3 in 14 turf starts and has won her last two at Kentucky Downs and Laurel Park.

            Race 9 (Leg 4)

            3-year-olds and up, mile & 70 yards Tapeta, $100,000 St. Augustine

            A dozen are entered and Fly the W, a winner of 11 of 22 Tapeta races, draws the rail for trainer Bobby Dibona and jockey Luis Saez, who are 29-percent together. Both Mike Maker and Mark Casse have entered a pair. Casse sends out Conglomerate, looking for his third consecutive victory on synthetic, and Volcanic, who is four of six on Gulfstream’s Tapeta. Maker sends out Beuys, who has two seconds and a victory in his last three starts, all on turf, in New York and Kentucky, and Tiberius Mercurius, who raced last time out on the slop at Fair Grounds off a 3 ½ month layoff. Has won three of six on Tapeta. Skyro, trained by Brian Lynch, has won on turf, twice on synthetic, and a couple times on dirt. Won the Sabal Palm over Gulfstream’s Tapeta last out.

            Race 10 (Leg 5)

            3-year-olds and up, 1 1/16-mile, $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3)

            The prep for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) has 11 going to post and O’Connor is the 5-2 favorite off his victory last time out in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland. Saffie Joseph Jr., trains and Tyler Gaffalione rides. Dubyuhnell ran up the track in the Florida Derby (G1) and was off until October when he won at Keeneland. Danny Gargan trains and the 3-year-old breaks from the rail under Luis Saez. Signator, trained by Shug McGaughey, enters on a two-race win streak. Graded placed Ny Traffic has won at the distance but enters off six consecutive sprints. Blue Devil was fourth in the Clark (G2) and third in the Lukas Classic (G3), while Octane enters off a victory in the restricted Campbell Memorial.

            Race 11 (Leg 6)

            3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8-mile, turf, $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2)

            The prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) brings together a field of 10 and Calumet Farm’s Running Bee is sure to draw attention off an impressive victory at Aqueduct in November off a near year layoff. Chad Brown trains and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides. Brown also trains Stone Age, runner-up in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Todd Pletcher saddles Jerry the Nipper, who is stakes placed against New York bred company, and Grand Sonata, fourth in the River City (G3) last time out. Mike Maker saddles two in Red Run, fourth in the Sycamore (G3) and Suburban (G2), and Grade 1 winner Henley’s Joy, who has earned $1.1 million but hasn’t won in 32 starts.

Sunday, December 24, 2023
Multiple takes-winner is by Bahamian Squall . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Off since May, Jacks or Better Farm’s Spirit Wind came back running in Saturday’s $125,000, Gr. III Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park, earning graded-stakes credentials with a front-running victory.

    The 41st running of the Sugar Swirl, a six-furlong test for fillies and mares, and the $125,000, Gr. III Mr. Prospector, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, co-headlined Saturday’s program, supported by the $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks and the $125,000 Tropical Park Derby.

    Spirit Wind, who had demonstrated dazzling speed while winning four of her previous seven starts, ran to form Saturday, jumping to a clear early lead and setting fractions of :22.23 and :45.30 seconds under Jose Ortiz while well clear of the field for the first half-mile. The Carlos David-trained 4-year-old daughter of Bahamian Squall began to shorten stride in mid-stretch but held on gamely to finish a half-length ahead of runner-up Intrepid Daydream.

    “Carlos told me the works she’s had here were very good work. Obviously has back class and she obviously has speed,” Ortiz said. “She gave me a good jump out of the gate. She broke very clean. She relaxed very good.”

    Spirit Wind ($8.40) ran six furlongs in 1:10.58 to deny the late stretch-bid by Intrepid Daydream, who finished a neck ahead of third-place finisher Olivia Darling.

    The Jacks or Better homebred was a multiple stakes-winner who finished second behind Ce Ce in the Gr. II Princess Rooney during her 3-year-old season. She won an allowance in her 2023 debut at Gulfstream last March and finished fourth in the May 29, Gr. III Winning Colors at Churchill Downs before going to the sidelines.

    Spirit Wind was transferred to David’s Palm Meadows-based stable approximately a month again and entered the Sugar Swirl off one workout.

    “I wanted to give her one more work, but we had the bad weather,” David said. “I told Jose, ‘She might need the race. There’s a lot of speed. Just break good. If some of the others go to the lead, just sit.’ She grabbed the lead and as soon as she got the lead, she relaxed a little bit.”

    David said he’d look for another graded-stakes opportunity for Spirit Wind during the Championship Meet.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Son of Not This Time will stand for $6,500 . . .

MORRISTON  – Pleasant Acres Stallions has announced the arrival of SIMPLIFICATION (Not This Time / Simply Confection, by Candy Ride) – who will stand in 2024 for $6,500.

    “We are pleased to bring a talented son of NOT THIS TIME into our stallion barn at Pleasant Acres Stallions,” said Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones. “SIMPLIFICATION is a hometown hero for all of us in Florida and we are certain breeders will benefit from breeding to this Horse-of-the-Year, Florida-bred graded stakes winner.” 

    At two, SIMPLIFICATION broke his maiden by an impressive 16 ¾ lengths on the main track at Gulfstream Park. He began his 3-year-old campaign with a front-running four-length victory in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes, then finished 2nd in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes to a future Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner. Next, he scored a 3 ½-length victory in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and finished 3rd in the G1 Florida Derby – his final prep for the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 4th in a field of 20.

    SIMPLIFICATION went on to be 3rd in the G2 West Virginia Derby, G3 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes, and the G2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes. A talented athlete, he retired sound with career earnings of nearly $900,000 and was in the money in close to 60% of his races.

    SIMPLIFICATION beat many exceptional rivals, including MG1 SW WHITE ABARRIO ($4,946,350) 2X, TAIBA ($2,356,200), CYBERKNIFE ($2,137,520), and G1Ws CLASSIC CAUSEWAY ($1,460,707) and MO DONEGAL ($1,511,800).

    “Simplification’s unique innate talent and competitive mindset made him the Florida champion that I’ve always wanted to train,” said Antonio Sano. “He proved to have speed, stamina, endurance, and above all, courage.” 

    SIMPLIFICATION is a son of NOT THIS TIME – the son of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, a known provider of stamina. Standing in Kentucky for $150,000, NOT THIS TIME is a Top 10 General Sire of 2023 with five G1Ws, 13 GSWs, 30 BTWs (11.2%), 48 BTHs (18%) and an average of $120,861 per runner.

    SIMPLIFICATION’s female line is very impressive.  He is out of the CANDY RIDE mare Simply Confection – winner of three races with a 2nd in the Rags to Riches Stakes. She was named 2022 FTBOA Broodmare of the Year and is also dam of CHI CHI – winner of the E. L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes.

    SIMPLIFICATION’s 2nd dam, Ballado’s Halo, was stakes-placed with a 3rd in the Queen Stakes and Wishing Well Stakes. She produced HALO’S VERSE, dam of SWs INFLEXIBILITY and HALO AGAIN. His 3rd dam, GOULASH, a stakes-winner and graded stakes-placed runner, produced Champion 3YO Filly, Champion Older Female, Hall of Fame (2014) Inductee, and winner of the Breeders’ Cup - ASHADO ($3,931,440). GOULASH also produced G1W SUNRIVER and GSW SAINT STEPHEN. His 4th dam, WISE BRIDE, produced MGSW QUITE A BRIDE – granddam of MG1W LUCK IS BACK.

    “Simplification is an extremely balanced horse with a great shoulder and strong hind leg. He always gave his all and loved his job,” said Tristan de Meric. “With his physical presence and pedigree there is a lot of potential for him at stud. He’s an exciting addition to the Florida stallion roster and a great value!” 

    SIMPLIFICATION joins stallions Bodexpress (Bodemeister), Chess Chief (Into Mischief), Curlin’s Honor (Curlin), Doppelganger (Into Mischief), Gone Astray (Dixie Union), Gunnevera (Dialed In), Leinster (Majestic Warrior), Magic on Tap (Tapit), Neolithic (Harlan’s Holiday), No Never No More (Scat Daddy), and Sweetontheladies (Twirling Candy), at the 220-acre farm located just northwest of Ocala.

Monday, December 18, 2023
Guaranteed at $250,000 . . .

  HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payoff of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is scheduled for Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park.

   The Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $250,000 for Thursday’s program. The multi-race wager has gone unsolved for eight racing days following the most recent mandatory payout that yielded multiple $50,999 payoffs.

     Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will include the $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks, $125,000 Sugar Swirl, $125,000 Mr. Prospector and the $125,000 Tropical Park Derby.

Accomplished Girl Breezes for Upcoming Stakes - 

    Gentry Farms’ Accomplished Girl, who captured the Gr. II Presque Isle Masters in her most recent start, breezed a half mile Sunday morning in preparation for an upcoming turf stakes. The 3-year-old daughter of Street Boss, who was timed in :50.91 seconds on the Tapeta course, defeated older rivals with a front-running score over Presque Isle Downs’ all-weather surface.

    “We haven’t decided yet. She’ll run in either the mile or the sprint,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., referring to the mile Gr. III Suwannee River Dec. 30 or the five-furlong Abundantia on Dec. 31. “We’ll decide this week.”

    Prior to winning the Presque Isle Masters, Accomplished Girl finished second in a 6 ½-furlong allowance on turf at Kentucky Downs. She previously broke her maiden going five furlongs on turf and captured a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance on Tapeta at Gulfstream.

            Who’s Hot: Defending Championship Meet titlist Irad Ortiz Jr, who rode three winners on Friday before making another three trips to the winner’s circle Saturday, tripled again Sunday.


Monday, December 11, 2023
Nothing Like You wins Gr. II Starlet . . .

    Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz’s Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon – Miss Derek) dueled for the lead early in Saturday’s $200,500, Gr. II Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos, shook loose on the turn and drew off in the stretch to score by 5 1/4 lengths.

    It’s the second straight stakes victory for the 2-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, trained by Bob Baffert, now 6-3-1-0 with $237,160 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she turned in an Under Tack eighth in: 10 flat and was purchased out of the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment for $190,000. 

    KEM Stables’ Hot Fudge (Liam’s Map – Nelle’s Mischief) stalked the leaders three wide in the $120,000 Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct, took over a sixteenth out then held off a late charge to win by a neck. It’s the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old filly by Liam’s Map, consigned to the 2021 OBS Spring Sale by Flying Fish, Agent, and sold for $235,000 after breezing an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 11-6-1-1 for trainer Linda Rice, she has earned $356,405.


    Whispering Oaks Farm’s Good and Stout (Coal Front – Ready Witted) saved ground early in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes, split horses to take over in the stretch then held off a late run to be best by a nose. Fellow OBS Spring Sale graduate Sounds Like Power (Power Jam – Street Sounds) closed to finish third.

    It’s the first stakes win for the 2-year-old son of Coal Front, trained by Carrol Castille, now 5-2-1-1 with $101,000 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 and was purchased for $75,000 out of the Julie Davies consignment. 

Monday, December 11, 2023
Shaq Diesel and Bluefield Score . . .
    OLDSMAR - Neither 3-year-old colt Shaq Diesel nor 7-year-old mare Bluefield had won a stakes race entering Saturday's Florida Sire Stakes races for registered Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs.

    Both made up for that omission with whirlwind, heart-pounding finishes on a glorious late fall afternoon. Shaq Diesel, a son of Khozan out of Kleodora, by Tiznow, nipped pace-setter Dean Delivers by a nose in the Marion County Florida Sire Stakes by a nose, while Bluefield, a daughter of Field Commission out of Imtheblues, by Pentelicus, showed guts and determination to post a neck victory from Dream Concert in the City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes.

    Both winners turned in excellent times, with Shaq Diesel getting the 7-furlong distance in 1:22.24 on a fast track and Bluefield completing her journey in 1:22.47.

    Both trainer David Fawkes and jockey Joe Bravo were ecstatic after Shaq Diesel’s victory, in which he overcame trouble on the backstretch and a wide trip on the turn. Bravo said another horse came over on Shaq Diesel after the break, but the colt was able to recover without losing much momentum. “He was in such control that I was able to pick him right back up and take him outside, but then we lost a lot of ground on the turn,” Bravo said. “But a horse this big with such a beautiful stride. … David gave me a lot of pony to play with today. He had him ready to run.”

    This was only the second race for Shaq Diesel under Fawkes, and the conditioner had a good feeling coming in after a strong second-place finish on Oct. 21 at Gulfstream in an allowance/optional claiming event. Still, Fawkes believed Dean Delivers was the class of the field, and he was visibly impressed with his horse’s closing kick.

    “I didn’t think we’d get there, to be honest with you,” Fawkes said. “For a second, I had to go back and watch the replay to be sure. Her got bothered on the backside and on the turn he was so wide, but thank God he was able to get up on the crown of the track and finish strong.”

    Fawkes acknowledged that Shaq Diesel – who is owned in partnership by Chester A. Bishop, Anthony Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, Patrick Biggs and Donovan Stanford – benefited from lightning-fast fractions of 21.65 and 43.79 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and half set by Dean Delivers and Zydeceaux.

    Shaq Diesel is 4-for-12 lifetime, with the winner’s share of $60,000 raising his earnings to $151,130. He paid $11.20 to win as the third betting choice in the seven-horse field of colts and geldings 3-years-old-and-upward. Big Martini finished third.

    Bluefield, bred in partnership by Ed Pendray and Edward A. Seltzer and owned by Seltzer, won for the eighth time in 20 tries, but in a way her victory against six fillies and mares seemed more improbable than Shaq Diesel’s. That’s because Dream Concert appeared to be running so easily after taking the lead from Delta Charm approaching the far turn.

    Leading Oldsmar jockey Samy Camacho, on Bluefield, knew his task was difficult, but he gained confidence when he was able to angle inside the tiring Delta Charm and take dead aim on the leader.

    “When I hit the 3/16-mile marker and hit her on the left side, she gave me a lot of kick and I said ‘I can get it,’ ” Camacho said. “I’m real happy because I told my valet and my agent I wanted to ride this horse. All the credit goes to Bluefield and (trainer) Saffie Joseph.”

    Watching the race from Gulfstream Park in south Florida, Joseph had a helpless feeling as Dream Concert controlled the race on the lead. Then, he watched Bluefield display the kind of heart that keeps all Thoroughbred people coming back.

    “At the top of the stretch I thought she had a chance, but then (Dream Concert) kicked clear and I thought, ‘second place again,’ ” Joseph said. “Samy did a great job getting the rail when it presented itself, and I think that might have been the difference between winning and losing.

    “This mare keeps getting better with age. She is in the best form of her life, and we’re going to continue to race her,” Joseph said.

    Bluefield paid $5.80 as the wagering favorite. The $60,000 winner’s share boosted her career earnings to $323,000. Atomically finished third in the seven-horse field.






Sunday, December 10, 2023
Defeats Reminder by a neck . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH -Repole Stable’s Grade 2-placed Noted, back on turf following a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, found running room late and held off fast-closing longshot Reminder to win Saturday’s $100,000 Pulpit by a neck at Gulfstream Park.

    The 10th running of the 7 ½-furlong Pulpit for 2-year-olds anchored an 11-race program as co-headliner with the $100,000 Wait a While for 2-year-old fillies – the first two stakes on Gulfstream’s brand-new turf course.

    Noted ($4.40), beaten a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Bourbon on Oct. 8 at Keeneland in his last try on grass, gave jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. a sweep of Saturday’s stakes following Ozara’s victory in the Wait a While. It was the second straight Pulpit win for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and third overall after Ari Gold (2022) and Tapwrit (2016).

    “He had to work out a trip. I was a little worried at the eighth pole. It still looked like he was looking for room but once he got a seam to run at,he quickened nicely,” Pletcher said. “The only thing we wanted to be mindful of is it was 7 ½ [furlongs] and we didn’t want to leave him with too much to do.”

    Prevent, breaking from the rail, was pressed on the lead by fellow longshot Tocayo through a quarter-mile in :22.90 seconds and a half in :45.91. Ortiz settled Noted in seventh along the rail, and still found himself blocked behind horses after six furlongs went in 1:09.36.

   “It felt like they were running,” Ortiz said. “I had to try to stay close. I had good position. At the three-eighths to the quarter pole, I waited a little longer. But when I came out of there and asked my horse to go, he responded very well. He was ready.”

    Ortiz tipped outside once straightened for home and then had to swing around Palm Tree inside the eighth pole to find a seam, then closed stoutly down the center of the track as Reminder, racing for the first time on turf after a win and four thirds on Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta course, made his bid on the far outside.

    Noted completed the distance in 1:27.30 over the firm course and now has two wins and two seconds in five tries on the grass. Reminder was a head in front of Palm Tree in third, with another half-length back to General Ledger in fourth.

    In his other two races Noted, by 2014 Holy Bull winner Cairo Prince, won the Aug. 26 Sapling at Monmouth Park over Dornoch, a full brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mage who won the Remsen last out, and was last of nine in the Juvenile behind Pletcher-trained stablemate Fierceness.

    “I was a little concerned with the 7 ½ but he seemed to come out of the Breeders’ Cup well, he carries good condition and he’s an easy horse to train so I felt like he was ready to run back,” Pletcher said.

   “We’re not going to rule [dirt] out. If he trains really well we might give him another shot at some stage,” he added. “He’s got that win in the Sapling that looks good on paper, but in the Breeders’ Cup he didn’t fire.”

    The Pulpit is named for Claiborne Farm’s late Gulfstream-based homebred who won four of six starts in his only season of 1997, including Gr. II victories in the Fountain of Youth and Blue Grass while also running second in the Florida Derby and fourth in the Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby winner Ice Box, 2007 Met Mile winner Corinthian and 2004 Wood Memorial winner Tapit, now one of racing’s most influential sires. 

Saturday, December 9, 2023
Partners with Hard Rock . . .

    Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Inc. is excited OcalaBetS was chosen to be a marketing partner of the Seminole Tribe of Florida for the rollout of the Hard Rock Bet online sports wagering platform in Florida. Hard Rock Bet provides an opportunity for people physically present in Florida to confidently and safely wager on sporting events with a proven trusted international brand that has a longstanding Florida presence.
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Two stakes Saturday worth $100,000 each at Tampa . . .
    OLDSMAR - Florida-bred stakes performers will be spotlighted Saturday, with a pair of $100,000 races for horses 3-years-old-and-upward at the demanding distance of 7 furlongs on the main track on tap.

    The seventh running of the Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for colts and geldings and the seventh annual City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for fillies and mares are part of a 10-race program that begins at 12:16 p.m. Both stakes are for horses that have paid all Florida Sire Stakes eligibility fees.

    The connections of the two winners will collect $60,000.


    The Marion County has attracted a field of seven males, with 3-year-old gelding Zydeceaux and 5-year-old gelding Willy Boi looming as standouts. Zydeceaux, who is trained by Carlos Narvaez and will be ridden by Samuel Marin, won the open Pasco Stakes and the Florida Cup Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this year, both at the 7-furlong distance.

    Willy Boi, who is trained by Melanie Giddings and will be ridden by leading Oldsmar jockey Samy Camacho, is also a multiple stakes winner, his resume including the Gr. III Smile Sprint Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream as a 4-year-old.

    The City of Ocala, which has also drawn seven horses, is the seventh race. The headliners, at least on paper, are 3-year-old Charlie’s Wish, who won the Azalea Stakes in July at Gulfstream, and 3-year-old Atomically, a stakes-winning and graded-stakes placed lass who competed in last year’s NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland.

    Charlie’s Wish is trained by David Fawkes and will be ridden by Joe Bravo, while Atomically is trained by Jose Pinchin and will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.

    Saturday’s fourth race will feature the return to Tampa Bay Downs of 3-year-old Florida-bred filly Dreaming of Snow, who won the Suncoast Stakes here in February at odds of 38-1 while defeating 2022 Eclipse Award winnin 2-Year-Old Filly Wonder Wheel.

    Dreaming of Snow will face five rivals in the fourth race, a 7-furlong allowance/optional claiming event on the main track. She is trained by Gerald Bennett and will be ridden by Camacho.

Around the oval - Leading jockey Samy Camacho rode three winners yesterday, including both halves of the early daily double. He won the first race on My First Date, a 3-year-old filly owned by Michael B. Catalano, Duke Perry Stable and Jeffrey Lambert and trained by Robert B. Hess Jr. Camacho added the second with Countess Dreams, a 4-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Versatile Thoroughbreds and trained by Kathleen O’Connell.

    Camacho added his third victory in the eighth race, triumphing aboard 4-year-old filly Li’l Miss Camille for owners Winning Stables and Averill Racing and trainer Gerald Bennett. Li’l Miss Camille was claimed from the race for $10,000 by new owner-trainer Juan Arriagada.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023
He has career earnings of more than $303 million . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Enjoying one of the best seasons of his highly decorated career, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has made his way back to South Florida with the mission of ending the year as strongly as it began.

    Ortiz, 31, returns to Gulfstream Park starting Thursday to begin his riding title defense at the 2023-2024 Championship Meet, the nation’s premiere winter racing destination that began its 85-day run Dec. 1.

    A total of 68 stakes worth $14.875 million in purses will be offered led by the $4.5 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational series Jan. 27 and the $1 million Florida Derby March 30. The Championship Meet concludes March 31.

    Ortiz will be busy in his first weekend back. He is named in seven of 10 races Thursday and Friday and nine of 11 races Saturday including Ozara for trainer Christophe Clement in the $100,000 Wait a While and Noted for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher in the $100,000 Pulpit.

    In all, Ortiz is named on 25 horses over his first three days for 17 trainers, among them Mike Maker, Eddie Plesa Jr., Carlos David, Riley Mott, Jose D’Angelo, Joe Orseno, Chad Brown and Jane Cibelli.

    “It’s great to be back. They support me a lot. I love the people. They treat me really, really good and that makes it special,” Ortiz said. “They make me feel like home. I have some trainers I ride for that are waiting for me there and that keeps me hungry. It’s exciting.”

    Ortiz arrives at Gulfstream after earning his fifth Bill Shoemaker Award as top jockey at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, raising his career total to 20 wins following victories in the $6 million Classic aboard White Abarrio, $2 million Sprint on Elite Power and $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint with Goodnight Olive. All three horses will be in the mix for Eclipse Awards as divisional champions.

    For his part, Ortiz is likely headed to a fifth Eclipse Award as champion jockey following wins in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022. According to Equibase statistics, he is approaching his career-high of 346 wins set in 2018 and has already broken his own single-season North American record for purse earnings with $37,791,462. Ortiz banked the previous mark of $37,640,792 in 2022.


    Ortiz has won 337 races – that and his earnings easily tops in North America – with 65 stakes wins, 40 in graded company. For his career, he has 3,715 wins, 596 in stakes, 304 of them graded, and more than $303.5 million in purse earnings.

    “You start good [at Gulfstream] and it’s great because you start the year off on the right foot,” Ortiz said. “It’s very competitive. You have the best jockeys in the wintertime going there. It’s not easy. It’s been working out good, to be honest.”

    Represented by agent Steve Rushing, Ortiz returned to the top of the Championship Meet standings last winter with 128 wins, after having his three-year win streak snapped by Luis Saez in 2021-2022. Ortiz also had a meet-high $7.5 million in purse earnings, setting the stage for what has been a memorable 2023 campaign.

    Ortiz won 14 stakes during the 2022-2023 meet, 10 of them graded, led by 2022 2-year-old champion Forte in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby and Atone in the $1 million Pegasus Turf. Ortiz also won the Florida Derby in 2021, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup in 2020 and 2022 and has won four of the five runnings of the Pegasus Turf, including three in a row.

    Other graded triumphs came in the Harlan’s Holiday, Pan American, W. L. McKnight, La Prevoyante, Kitten’s Joy, Sweetest Chant and Royal Delta. On Feb. 3 he rode seven winners on the card, tying Jerry Bailey, Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez and Paco Lopez for the track record while becoming the first to win seven in a row.

    Since his first full winter of 2017-2018, Ortiz has won 699 races at Gulfstream, an average of 116.5 per season. He has led the standings four times, winning a track-record 140 races in 2020-2021, and has been first in purse earnings five consecutive years including 2021-2022, when he rode just 279 races and finished with 80 wins and $5.05 million.

    Nationally, Ortiz has been in the top five in wins and purse earnings every year since 2014 and has won 300 or more races each season since 2015. Also first in purses from 2018-20 and 2022, he is on the way to having the most wins for a seventh straight year.

    “Believe me, we work so hard and we try to not look back. We just try to do the best we can for the whole year. By this time of year you realize how you’re doing, after all the big races and everything, and we are having a good year,” Ortiz said. “We are very grateful. We thank God for every opportunity they give us to live these moments. We feel blessed to be in this position. We love this game. We love riding and we have to thank the horses because they run for us. They make the sport special.”

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Best of the best return to Hallandale Beach . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Hall of Fame and champion jockey John Velazquez says he’s returning to his “second home.”

    Velazquez, who spent the past two winters riding primarily in California, will return to South Florida to ride at Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet and join one of the world’s most competitive and talented riding colonies.

    The Championship Meet, which begins Friday, will not only be playing host to Velazquez but Irad Ortiz Jr., leading jockey at the Championship Meet four of the past five years, five-time leading rider Javier Castellano, three-time leading rider Luis Saez, Tyler Gaffalione, Paco Lopez and several newcomers, including Sean Levey and Oisin Murphy from Europe, Vincent Cheminaud and Chris Emigh. Popular Joe Bravo is also returning after spending several of the past winters in California.

    Velazquez, leading rider during the Championship Meet twice, says returning to South Florida is also a return to a “normal routine.”

    “California, obviously, was a different opportunity,” Velazquez said. “The experience was something different. I enjoyed it a lot. I was given a lot of opportunity because guys from the east who go west don’t always get the opportunities I did. It was a good experience, and the people were very good to me, but Gulfstream is my second home after New York.”

    Velazquez will begin riding the weekend of Dec. 8. Defending riding champ Irad Ortiz Jr. will begin riding Dec. 6. Jose Ortiz, who will be honored with a bobblehead in his likeness during the Championship Meet, will begin riding Friday. Sean Levey arrives from the United Kingdom and will ride December through February.

    Levey was born in Swaziland, moved to Ireland as a teenager, and apprenticed for approximately six years at Aidan O’Brien’s before going to England in 2011. He won his first Group 1 in the 2018 1000 Guineas at Newmarket aboard Billesdon Brook. Levey won two more Group 1 events in 2019 aboard Billesdon Brook in the Sun Chariot Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on King of Change. In 2022 he won his first Group 1 in France with Aristria in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

    Murphy, a three-time champion in the United Kingdom, is scheduled to ride from late December through January.

    Cheminaud first came to the U.S. in 2015 to ride Flintshire, whom he guided to victory in the Gr. I Sword Dancer at Saratoga. He returned in 2018 to ride Victorine, who finished fourth in the Gr. II Sands Point at Belmont. The 29-year-old French Derby-winning jockey ventured to Kentucky to ride full time in 2021, winning 41 races. He has won 29 races from 206 mounts this year.

    “I ride a lot for Christophe Clement and Shug McGaughey, so I decided to come here,” Cheminaud
said.

    Emigh is well known in the Midwest, where he’s ridden the past year in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana and has won riding titles at Arlington, Hawthorne and Delta Downs. 
Riding the Championship Meet has “been on my bucket list for a while but I never got the chance,” the winner of nearly 4,400 races, said.
Monday, November 27, 2023
It will be introduced Friday . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The new turf course at Gulfstream Park received rave reviews from jockeys Edgard Zayas and Luca Panici after riding a pair of Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained horses in company for a half-mile this morning.

    “It feels great. It’s beautiful,” said Zayas, who captured the riding title during the Sunshine Meet that concluded Saturday. “I can’t wait to ride on it Friday.”

    The 2023-2024 Championship Meet gets underway on Friday while offering the first turf races at Gulfstream since the renovation of the grass course began in May.

    Zayas was aboard Sunshine Frolic, a 3-year-old son of California Chrome who worked inside General Ledger, a 2-year-old son of Summer Front ridden by Panici.

    “Right now, the turf isn’t dry. It’s nice and moist. They got over it great,” Zayas said. “I can’t wait. I love turf racing. It’s my favorite. I’m really excited about the new turf and I’m excited turf racing’s back.”

    Sunshine Frolic, who broke his maiden on Tapeta in his second career start, and General Ledger, who won his debut impressively on dirt, ran as a team from the half-mile pole to the finish line before galloping out with energy. Both horses were timed in :48.14 seconds. 

    “It’s nice, very consistent. They got over it nice.,” Panici said. “It’s not hard. It’s looking good.”

    Joseph used the opportunity to participate in the first workouts on the new turf course to introduce Sunshine Frolic and General Ledger to grass. “Both of them have never run on it. Both of them most likely want to run on the grass, most likely,” Joseph said. “One has won on the Tapeta and the other is bred for all grass.” Joseph was visually taken by the pristine surface. “It’s a beautiful piece of ground,” he said.

    Two races on turf have been carded for Friday’s opening-day program, including a $72,000 optional claiming allowance, a five-furlong sprint featuring the return of Yes I Am Free, who has won the last two runnings of the Gr. III Gulfstream Turf Sprint. Multiple graded stakes-placed Bad Beat Brian is slated to make his local debut for owner/trainer Brittany Vanden Berg in the Race 9 feature.

Sunday, November 26, 2023
Both wind up with 33 winners . . .


                 
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Saffie Joseph Jr. and Victor Barboza Jr. finished in a dead-heat for the training title for the Sunshine Meet that came to a close Saturday at Gulfstream Park with 33 winners each.

    Joseph saddled Mojave Desert ($9.20) for a victory in Race 1 to pull even with Barboza, who entered Saturday’s card with a 32-31 edge. Barboza countered in Race 2 with Grand Daniel ($7). Joseph came back to tie it up in Race 6 with Breezero ($2.60).

    Joseph has won eight consecutive training titles at Gulfstream Park, including the last two Championship Meet crowns. Jose D’Angelo, who had been in the thick of a three-way battle for the training title, finished third with 30 winners.

    Unlike Joseph and Barboza, Edgard Zayas held a commanding lead among the riders throughout the meet that started Sept. 9. The 30-year-old Puerto Rico native, who rides first-call for Joseph, finished with 59 wins, 21 more than runner-up Miguel Vasquez.

    “It’s been great. I’ve been getting support from all the owners and trainers,” Zayas said after riding Breezero to a six-length maiden victory in Race 6. “I’m so happy to be healthy.” He is looking forward to the Championship Meet that gets underway next Friday and runs through March 31.

    “My agent (Tito Fuentes) always told me this is the most important meet of the whole [off-season], because you’ve got to go into the Championship on a roll,” said Zayas, who rode a pair of winners on the closing day program, “This is an important meet going into the Championship Meet.”

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $125,000 Friday. The multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the sixth program following a $136,285 jackpot hit.

    The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, headlined by a $72,000 five-furlong optional claiming allowance over the newly renovated turf course. Laura Cazares-trained Yes I Am Free, a multiple graded-stakes winner who has dominated his competition at Gulfstream in turf sprints the past few years, returns from a three-month freshening in the deep field of 12. Championship Meet newcomer Brittany Vanden Berg is scheduled to saddle multiple graded stakes-placed Bad Beat Brian. Joseph-trained Axthelm, a graded stakes-placed son of Into Mischief, returns to Gulfstream off a third-place allowance finish at Keeneland.

    A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool will be held on Saturday’s program.

   Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato will put an undefeated record on the line next Saturday in a quest to sweep the 2023 Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-old colts and geldings. The Jose D’Angelo-trained son of Valiant Minister breezed five furlongs in 1:04.80 Saturday morning at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training center in Palm Beach County.

    “Bentornato worked so good. Last week was his hard workout. This week, he went good. He started slow and finished the way I wanted,” D’Angelo said. “He’s ready to go.” Bentornato has three stakes victories on his unblemished four-race resume, including commanding triumphs in the $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $200,000 Affirmed in the Florida Sire Stakes series.


 
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Gomez wins first trip over the track . . .

    OLDSMAR - Several thoughts flashed through Kevin Gomez’s mind as his mount in Wednesday’s first race, 2-year-old Florida-bred gelding Lord Knows, bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon at Pleasant Acres Stallions, powered to a 6 ½-length victory on the renowned Tampa Bay Downs turf course.

    Once the result was made official, the 29-year-old jockey wondered where this racetrack has been through his nine-year career. “It feels amazing,” Gomez said of winning the first race he ever rode at the Oldsmar oval on the Opening Day card. “You always want to start a meet on the right foot, and this will let trainers see my name and give me a chance to ride their horses.”

    A light mist fell between the third and fifth races, but the conditions did nothing to lessen the quality of racing nor the enjoyment of a festive holiday crowd of 2,821. The all-sources handle for the day reached $3,358,896.
    Despite finishing second at the recent Delaware Park meet with 59 winners, Gomez has been overshadowed by many of the more experienced jockeys here leading up to the 2023-2024 meet. That might not last for long.

    “I’ve been here for two weeks, and I’m really liking it,” Gomez said. “My agent, Mark Mace, kept asking me if I wanted to come here, and I got a lot of advice from other people telling me to try it. So, here I am.

    “I love the weather, of course, and the grass racing, and the friendly atmosphere. The jockeys help each other before the races, but once you break out of the gate you have no friends – you’re on your own,” Gomez said.

    Gomez earned his second victory in the sixth race, piloting 2-year-old filly Lady Prospect to a front-running 3 ¾-length victory from the late-closing Copper Bound in the 5 ½-furlong maiden event. Lady Prospect is owned by Morris E. Kernan Jr., and Jagger Inc., and trained by Jamie Ness, who won a record nine consecutive Tampa Bay Downs training titles from 2006 through 2015.

    Gomez’s fellow jockey and competitor Alonso Quinonez is delighted to return. He rides for trainer Tim Padilla, and the duo has enjoyed plenty of success in recent summers at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where Quinonez tied for fifth in the jockey standings and Padilla took sixth among trainers.


    They teamed to win the second and third races with a pair of 3-year-old Florida-breds. Their filly Miss Mac Mac, bred and owned by Peter D. Mattson, improved to 3-for-7 with a 6-furlong tally in the second race, followed by their gelding Summer All Year’s triumph going a mile-and-40 yards. Summer All Year was bred and is owned in partnership by Mattson and Padilla.

    “I just want to say thank you to the connections, Tim Padilla and Peter Mattson,” said Quinonez, a heady veteran whose 11 career graded stakes victories include five Gr. I's. “Tim has been doing this for a long time, and he knows how to get his horses ready and put them in the right races.”

    Win or lose, Quinonez enjoys returning to the Tampa Bay area, an emotion of course heightened in proportion to his trips to the winner’s circle.

    “I love the weather here. I love the people,” Quinonez said. “It’s a good environment for racing.”

    Samy Camacho, who is bidding this season to win a fourth consecutive Oldsmar jockeys' title and fifth overall, was the third jockey to ride two winners. Camacho scored in the fourth race on Vegas Playboy, a 3-year-old gelding owned by Monmouth Stud and Pinnacle Racing Team and trained by Gregg Sacco. Camacho added the seventh on the turf on Never So Lucky, a 3-year-old filly owned by Monster Racing Stables and trained by Jose H. Delgado.

    In the featured eighth race, a $53,000, 6-furlong allowance/optional claiming race for horses 3-years-old-and-upward, 6-year-old Florida-bred Feast responded to strong urging from jockey Jose Ferrer, pulling away late for a 6 ¼-length victory from 66-1 shot Big Louie. Bring Theband Home was third.

    Feast is owned by Winning Stables and Averill Racing and trained by Gerald Bennett, the track’s reigning training champ and owner of Winning Stables. A stakes-winner who is now 8-for-25, Feast was gelded over the summer, then turned out for some “R & R” at Martin Goodell’s Swanzey Stables South in Ocala. The surgery and the rest, followed by two super-sharp workouts on the Oldsmar oval surface, had him about at his peak, as he raced the distance in 1:09.49, .82 seconds off the track record.

    Bennett has won the last eight Oldsmar training titles.

    Around the oval - Tampa Bay Downs is closed today to enable track employees, horsemen and jockeys to celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones. Racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:42 p.m. The co-features are the fourth and seventh races, both $54,000 allowance/optional claiming races on the turf.

    The fourth race, for fillies and mares 3-years-old-and-upward at a distance of a mile, has drawn 11 entrants, while the seventh, for horses 3-and-upward sprinting 5 furlongs, has attracted 14. Both races are restricted to 10 runners.


Monday, November 20, 2023
Nyquist colt best by 8 3/4 lengths . . .

    Baoma Corp.’s Nysos (Nyquist – Netta Z) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner after an effortless romp in the $100,000, Gr. III Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar on Sunday.

    Last of four in the early going, the 2-year-old colt by Nyquist came around his rivals on the turn, took over in the stretch, and drew away to score by 8 3/4 lengths, running seven furlongs in a rapid 1:21 3/5. After taking both starts for trainer Bob Baffert by a combined 19 1/4 lengths, he has earned $96,600. Consigned by Best A Luck Farm to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he was sold for $550,000 to Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp. after turning in an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show.  

    Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz’s Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon – Miss Derek) saved ground off the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar, came off the rail in the drive and caught OBS March graduate Tambo (Enticed – Flatter Me First) late to win by a nose.

    It’s the second straight win and first stakes victory for the 2-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, trained by Bob Baffert, now 5-2-1-0 with earnings of $117,160. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat and was purchased out of the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment for $190,000.  

OBS grads scored a pair of stakes wins on Saturday.

    Colts Neck Stables' Nothing Better (Munnings – One True Love (IRE)) successfully defended his title in the $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship Stakes, taking the lead at the start and never looking back en route to a 1-1 3/4-length victory. 

    That’s three stakes wins for the 6-year-old son of Munnings, trained by Jorge Duarte Jr., now 25-9-5-3 with $566,217 in earnings. After breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5, he was purchased for $230,000 out of the Brick City Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale.   

    Mark H. Stanley’s Tricky Temper (Into Mischief – Winter Book) tracked the pace from the start of the $100,000 Key Cents Stakes, wore down the leader to take the lead a sixteenth out and was best by a neck at the wire. It’s the first stakes win for the 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief, purchased for $230,000 out of the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2012 OBS Spring Sale after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. She's now 5-2-1-0 for trainer Jeremiah C. Englehart. 

Saturday, November 18, 2023
Son of Valiant Minister is unbeaten in 4 races . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Undefeated Bentornato breezed six furlongs in 1:13.45 at Palm Meadows Training Center in preparation for a bid to sweep the 2023 Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park in the $300,000 In Reality on Dec. 2.

    “He breezed so, so good,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said following the workout at Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

    The 1 1/16-mile In Reality, the finale of the series for 2-year-olds sired by stallions standing in Florida, will be the son of Valiant Minister’s first race around two turns.

     “We’ve been working very hard at stretching him out, and he’s responded very well,” D’Angelo said. “The way we are galloping him every morning is for this kind of distance, and he has responded. I think he’s ready to run the distance.”

    Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato has three stakes victories on his unblemished four-race resume. After rallying for a narrow debut victory at five furlongs on July 1, the son of Valiant Minister overcame early bumping to register an eye-catching 4 ¼-length front-running score in the six-furlong Proud Man on Aug. 12. He came right back with a dominating 7 ½-length front-running win in the six-furlong Dr. Fager before scoring by 2 ¾ lengths in the seven-furlong Affirmed.

    Bentornato, who has raced somewhat greenly despite winning all four races by open lengths, has impressed D’Angelo with his preparation for the In Reality.

    “For this race, he’s becoming more focused and keeping his mind on business,” D’Angelo said. “He’s acting more professional going to the track and going back to the barn.”

    At Gulfstream, Mattingly, who finished second in the Affirmed in his dirt debut, breezed five furlongs on Tapeta in 1:01.69 in preparation for the $300,000 In Reality.

    “It was a maintenance work. Everything went according to plan,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “Slow in the beginning, and then he picked it up. He galloped out strong.”



Friday, November 17, 2023
He was fifth in earnings when he retired . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Hall of Fame and Kentucky Derby winning jockey Bobby Ussery, ranked fifth all-time in earnings when he retired in 1974, has passed away in South Florida.

    Ussery, a native of Vian, Oklahoma, was 88.

    Ussery won the 1967 Kentucky Derby aboard 30-1 shot Proud Clarion. It was a mount he picked up after his original Derby mount, Reflected Glory, couldn’t make the race due to sore shins. He won the 1960 Preakness with Florida Derby winner Bally Ache.

    Sports Illustrated called Ussery’s ride aboard Proud Clarion “one of the best in Derby history.” Ussery thought he might have a good weekend in Louisville.

    "I might have won it with Bally Ache in 1960, but we finished second,” he said. “Then I thought I’d win it with Reflected Glory. When that didn’t work out, I still figured – just a hunch, I guess – that it was my year, no matter what horse I rode. I had a real hunch.”

    Ussery’s riding career started with a win aboard his first mount, Reticule, in the 1951 Thanksgiving Day Handicap at Fair Grounds. In 1959, he rode a record 215 winners. In 1960 he rode juvenile champion Hail to Reason and won the Preakness, Flamingo and Florida Derby Bally Ache. He also crossed the finish line first in the 1968 Derby, but his mount, Dancer’s Image,on  was later disqualified due to an overdose of bute; he was never paid for the ride, and he talked about his disappointment for many years. 

    In the 1960s, he discovered a riding 'secret' that he sprung on the racing world one day at Aqueduct. From an outside post on the backstretch, Ussery would make no effort to head for the inside, keeping his mount many paths out from the rail heading to the turn, then making a sharp left turn at the spot he had discovered; it acted like a sling and quickly shot him to the lead. It soon became known as "Ussery's Alley," and he used it to perfection, good for many visits to the winner's circle. 

    Other notable wins for Ussery came in the Whitney, Alabama, Travers, Hopeful, Mother Goose, Canadian International and Queen’s Plate, and the Wood Memorial twice.

    Arrangements are pending. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Ussery’s memory to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund at pdjf.org.

Monday, November 13, 2023
Meet begins Dec. 1 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park has released the first condition book for its 2023-2024 Championship Meet, which begins Friday, Dec. 1.

    Opening weekend of the Championship Meet will mark the opening of Gulfstream’s new turf course. Three races are scheduled on the course opening day and three on the first Saturday of the meet, including the $100,000 Sabal Palm for 3-year-olds and up at a mile.

    The Saturday program will also include the finals of the Florida Sire Stakes in the $300,000 In Reality for 2-year-olds and the $300,000 My Dear Girl for 2-year-old fillies.

    The condition book can be found at: https://www.gulfstreampark.com/racing-office/#downloads

   Fans attending opening day will get a complimentary 2024 wall calendar (no purchase necessary).

     The Championship Meet will once again be highlighted by Pegasus World Cup Day, featuring the $3 million World Cup and $1 million World Cup Turf on Jan. 27; the $250,000 Holy Bull on Feb. 3. 

 

   Fans attending

Friday, November 10, 2023
$3 million race set for Jan. 27 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Kentucky Derby winner Mage, withdrawn from last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Classic with a fever, is being pointed to a 2024 campaign that could launch in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

    The 1 1/8-mile Pegasus for 4-year-olds and up headlines a spectacular Jan. 27 program featuring seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million in purses including the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational and $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational.

    Co-owner Remiro Restrepo said that Mage is among a ‘big majority’ of the stable’s horses that remain at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky. before shipping to their winter home at Gulfstream, where Mage broke his maiden in his debut on Jan. 28 before running fourth in the Fountain of Youth and second in the Curlin Florida Derby on April 1.

    “The winter home for us is Gulfstream Park, for the entire barn. The horses are there all winter through the end of March, and then the ones that go to Keeneland for any races ship up immediately. The [others] transition to The Thoroughbred Center between the first and the 30th of April [when] the rest of them ship over,” Restrepo said. “Everybody’s trying to ship down [to Florida]. We’ve still got a few more horses to ship down from Kentucky, but we do have a big majority of the horses still up there.”

    Following the Kentucky Derby, Mage finished third in the Preakness and second in the Haskell before running seventh in the Travers on Aug. 26 at Saratoga, his most recent start. He breezed four times at The Thoroughbred Center in October and was pre-entered in the Classic but had his name removed after missing a planned work Oct. 29, the day before he was scheduled to fly to Santa Anita Park for the Breeders’ Cup.

    “He was doing perfect before the Classic. If you were to have asked me 24 hours before he jumped on the plane, I would have said, ‘We couldn’t be happier. He’s doing as good as he was before the Derby, we’re ready to rock,’” Restrepo said. “And then, 24 hours later, you have to say, ‘Holy smokes. He missed two meals and caught a slight temp.’ How could we jump on the plane? The most incredible thing is, we make plans, and the horses decide whether to execute them or not.

    “It’s one of those things. It sums up horse racing, right? A lot of things happen outside of your control. They’re animals so you have to be their stewards,” he added. “Unfortunately, we were forced to miss the race and now we’re just kind of taking a step back and looking at our options. We’re looking at the racing calendar for 2024 and figuring out what the best course of action is.”

    The Pegasus has showcased some of racing’s top older horses to either cap an outstanding career or use as a springboard to later glory. Inaugural 2017 winner Arrogate beat two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, making his final start, raced four more times was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2023. Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year, won the 2018 Pegasus in his finale, as did four-time Gr. 1 winner City of Light in 2019.

    Knicks Go parlayed a 2021 Pegasus victory into Horse of the Year honors, then came back to be second in 2022 in his final race behind Life Is Good, who went on to win three more graded- including the Whitney and Woodward. Art Collector sprung a 15-1 upset in this year’s edition for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

    “Obviously he’s a horse with a lot of fans and he accomplished an amazing thing [this] year. There’s a lot of people that are curious. There’s been a lot of horses retired this year, a pretty prominent number of horses, but we’re running in 2024. That’s the most important thing,” Restrepo said. “When the time comes, we’ll start hunkering down on a calendar for the year, some targets, and figure that out. Yes, the Pegasus is definitely one of the possibilities. There’s just a lot of things to consider. We’ll figure that out when we can.” 

    A Miami native currently attending horse sales in Kentucky, Restrepo owns Mage with Brian Doxtater and Case Chamberlin’s CMNWLTH, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr.’s OGMA Investments, and Sam Herzberg’s Sterling Racing. Purchased for $290,000 and trained by Gustavo Delgado Sr., Mage has two wins, two seconds, one third and $2,507,450 in purse earnings from seven starts.

    “There’s just so much going on. We just finished up a big sale [Tuesday] night. Now we’ve got 12 days of selling here, and there’s no race tomorrow,” Restrepo said. “So, you put that on the back burner. You say, ‘Let’s get through this season and we’ll get to that when we do.’

    “He’s running [next year]. There’s no question about that,” he added. “Our goal is to have him ready for an awesome 2024; however, many races or locations or whatever it may be is what we’ve all got to decide as a team. That’s what we’re going to work on once we get a little time. [The Pegasus] is 11 weeks away, it’s not something we’ve got to focus on right now. I know that it’s in the pipeline, and we’ll just go from there.”

$100K Rainbow 6 Gross Jackpot Guarantee, New Post Time 

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $100,000 when racing returns to Gulfstream Park today with a nine-race program and a new post time of 12:10 p.m. The multi-race wager has gone unsolved for seven programs following a mandatory payout on Oct. 21.











Monday, November 6, 2023
Race Day colt nearing $5 million in earnings . . .

    C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds) turned in a championship performance in the $6-million, Gr. I Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

    Rated just off pace in the early going, he went after the leaders on the turn, took command and opened daylight in the stretch, then coasted home the winner by a length. The 4-year-old colt by Race Day, now trained by Rick Dutrow, is a four-time graded stakes-winner, with a 15-7-1-3 career record and $4,946,350 in earnings.

    A two-time OBS graduate, White Abarrio was sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.


Friday, November 3, 2023
Armstrong, Reminder top $65,000 Tests . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Jose D’Angelo figures to be well-represented today at Gulfstream Park, where the up-and-coming trainer is scheduled to saddle Amstrong for a start in the $65,000 Showing Up for 3-year-olds and Reminder for his stakes debut in the $65,000 Armed Forces for 2-year-olds.

    Soldi Stable and Ohana Racing’s Amstrong will seek his fourth triumph in as many starts on Tapeta in the 1 1/16-mile Showing Up. Reminder will strive to do his highly successful family proud in the mile-and-70-yard Armed Forces on the all-weather surface.

    “It looks like we could have a good weekend,” D’Angelo said.

    Amstrong moved up on Tapeta to break his maiden by four lengths in his third career start in April before coming right back to capture the Not Surprising by 3 ¾ lengths in June. The son of Tapwrit ran his record on the all-weather surface to 3-for-3 with a 2 ¼-length score in the Sept. 16 Bear’s Den.

    “The last furlong of his races, he’s run so, so good,” D’Angelos said. Miguel Vasquez, who was aboard Amstrong for his three Tapeta wins, has the return call.

    Ari Gold, who captured the Pulpit on turf at Gulfstream in December, is scheduled to make his Tapeta debut in the Showing Up. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Medaglia d’Oro prompted the pace before weakening in the Gr. III Virginia Derby on turf at Colonial in his most recent start.

    My Purple Haze Stables’ Smart Strike is slated to seek to turn the tables on Amstrong Saturday after finishing second in the Not Surprising and third in the Bear’s Den.

    Like Oak Plantation’s Souper Blessing, who finished third on turf in a Woodbine stakes last time out; NBS Stable’s Anamnestic, a disqualified winner of the Juvenile for Florida-breds last fall who is coming off an optional claiming allowance win on Tapeta; and Love Me Not, the Bear’s Den runner-up; are other prominent contenders.

    The Showing Up is Race 10 an 11-race program.

    Reminder is scheduled to face seven other juveniles in the Armed Forces, which is carded as Race 5. After a pair of troubled trips while finishing third in his first two starts, the son of Audible stalked the pace before drawing clear in the stretch to graduate going away by 3 ¾ lengths under returning Edgard Zayas.

    “He’s training really good,” D’Angelo. “He’s training really beautifully. I think he will be tough in the stake.”


   Reminder is out of Mom’s Deputy, whose seven foals to race have all been winners, including $594,000 earner Mom’s On Strike, a multiple graded stakes-winner.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Fronton winds up after Saturday's business . . .

    The Ocala Jai Alai Fronton, which was the first pari-mutuel facility in Florida to institute simulcast wagering in the early 1990's when the late Tom Contreras was general manager, will close after business on Saturday to make way for the new Ocala Bets, located at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.

    The new venue will begin operations in November and will feature several varieties of poker, at the same time continuing to present intertrack wagering from race tracks around the continent. 

    The Jai Alai Fronton, which opened in 1973 and over the years was home to some of the greats of the sport - Joey, Aramayo, Laca, Rufino, and even Ocala resident Mark Pinson, discontinued live jai alai many years ago to concentrate on its new poker room and the simulcasting business. The poker room then lost many of its attendees when the poker room opened at Oxford Downs, near The Villages, since busloads of players previously made the trip north to the Fronton. 

      

  

 

Monday, October 23, 2023
They win from New York to Florida to California to Canada . . .

    Andrew N. Warren and Rania Warren’s Raise Cain (Violence – Lemon Belle) came outside for the drive in Saturday’s $250,000 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland, reached the leaders a sixteenth from home, battled to the wire and was best by a head. It’s the second stakes victory for the graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colt by Violence, trained by Ben Colebrook, now 13-3-2-1 with $577,066 in earnings.

    Consigned to the 2022 OBS June Sale by Eisaman Equine, Agent, he went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5.  

    Bob Baffert unveiled Baoma Corp.’s Nysos (Nyquist – Netta Z) in a Santa Anita maiden special on Saturday, and the 2-year-old colt turned in a dazzling debut, taking the lead turning for home and romping to a 10-1/2 length victory in 1:08 4/5 for the six furlongs. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp., signed the ticket for the son of Nyquist, purchased for $550,000 out of the Best A Luck Farm consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. 

    Leon King Stable Corp.’s unbeaten Bentornato (Valiant Minister – Her Special Way) made it 4-for-4 with a 2-3/4 length victory in Gulfstream’s $200,000 Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes on Saturday. The 2-year-old son of Valiant Minister took charge on the turn, then cruised to a convincing win over OBS March graduate Mattingly (Bucchero – Battingstar).

    He’s a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Stuart Morris at the October Yearling Sale then purchased for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 March Sale. Trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo, the 2-year-old Florida-bred colt has earned $278,830.

    Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Harper Rose (Khozan – True Bliss) is 3-for-3 and a stakes-winner after taking command on the backstretch of Gulfstream’s $200,000 Florida Sire Susan’s Girl Stakes and never looking back en route to a four-length victory. The 2-year-old Florida-bred filly by Khozan is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and has earned $197,300. At the 2023 OBS March Sale, she turned in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 before being purchased out of the GOP Racing Stable consignment for $60,000. 

    NBS Stable and Elements Racing’s Danse Macabre (Army Mule – Sylphide) got a jump on the weekend in Thursday’s $125,000 Glen Cove Stakes at Aqueduct, saving ground, angling out after turning for home, taking charge in deep stretch and scoring by a length and a half over fellow OBS March graduate Dontlookbackatall (Peace and Justice – Celtic Arch).

    It’s the third stakes win for the graded stakes-winning 3-year-old daughter of Army Mule, purchased for $55,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5. Trained by Kelsey Danner, she’s now 9-5-3-1 and has earned $927,090.

    Highfield Investment Group’s Grated Coconut (The Factor – Holiday Diva) scored his first stakes victory with a 12-1/4 length romp in Sunday’s $50,000 Birdcatcher Stakes at Century Downs. Consigned by Julie Davies, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, the 2-year-old son of The Factor was purchased by Highfield for $55,000 after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 4-1-0-1 for trainer Craig Robert Smith, he has earned $27,043. 

Sunday, October 22, 2023
He's unbeaten in 4 races . . .

HALLANDALE BEACH - Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato maintained his perfect record Saturday while powering to a 2 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Affirmed, the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes Series at Gulfstream Park.

    The seven-furlong Affirmed co-headlined Saturday’s 11-race program with the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, a seven-furlong stakes for fillies, in the $2.2 million series for 2-year-olds won by heavy favorite R Harper Rose.

    The Jose D’Angelo-trained Bentornato, who had previously rolled to a FSS first-leg victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager on Sept. 9, is on course for a bid to sweep of the Florida Sire Stakes series in the $300,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 2 at Gulfstream.

   Bentornato had to survive an objection and stewards’ inquiry concerning crowding during the backstretch run to claim his fourth career win without a loss. The son of Valiant Minister broke alertly to vie for the early lead before jockey Emisael Jaramillo successfully managed to rate the speedy colt just to the outside of early pacesetter Esperon.

    With weakening inside pressure, Bentornato assumed a clear lead on the far turn and showed the way into the stretch after briefly being challenged by Sound of the Beast. Hurricane Nelson made a late bid to the outside and Mattingly cut the corner into the stretch to enter contention, but. Bentornato shook off the mild challenges and drew away to victory.

    “I am so happy. We were so high on him,” D’Angelo said. “We were prepping him, not for this race but for the next one because maybe it will be harder for him. He responded very well. He didn’t look too sharp and need to have the lead. Going two turns, maybe he will get slower fractions and he will be better.”

    Bentornato collected his third straight stakes victory after running seven furlongs in 1:23.50, built on fractions of :22.59 and :45.50 seconds for the first half mile.

    “He’s 4-for-4 but he’s still a little green,” said D’Angelo, whose undefeated colt dropped over to the rail in the stretch before changing leads late. “He always wants to go close to the rail, but we can improve that.”

    Mattingly, a son of Bucchero and a stakes-winner on Tapeta, finished second in his dirt debut, a neck ahead of Hurricane Nelson.

    D’Angelo swept the first leg of the Florida Sires Stakes series with Bentornato and Welcome Back, who captured the $100,000 Desert Vixen. Unfortunately, Welcome Back was scratched from the Susan’s Girl after sustaining a minor injury Friday night while kicking a stall wall. D’Angelo said undefeated Welcome Back will be ready to compete in the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the third leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series.

Monday, October 16, 2023
Trainer swept Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Jose D’Angelo hopes to relive a career achievement at Gulfstream Park, when he saddles his undefeated duo of Bentornato and Welcome Back for starts in Saturday’s second leg of the 2023 Florida Sire Stakes series.

    D’Angelo, who is locked in a tight three-way battle for the Sunshine Meet training title with Saffie Joseph Jr. and Victor Barboza Jr., saddled King Leon Stable Corp.’s Bentornato for a romping victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager and Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s Welcome Back for a fast-closing narrow triumph in the $100,000 Desert Vixen to sweep the six-furlong first-leg races for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions.

    Bentornato looms as a big favorite in a field of 12 entered Sunday for the $200,000 Affirmed, which will be contested at seven furlongs. Welcome Back appears to have a tougher task in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong co-feature for fillies.

    Bentornato has two stakes victories on his unblemished three-race resume. After rallying for a narrow debut victory at five furlongs on July 1, the son of Valiant Minister overcame early bumping to register an eye-catching 4 ¼-length front-running score in the six-furlong Proud Man on Aug. 12. He came right back with a dominating 7 ½-length front-running win in the Dr. Fager. Emisael Jaramillo has been aboard for all three wins and has been awarded the return mount.

    Ironhorse Racing Stable and Harlow Stables’ Mattingly is scheduled to make his main track debut in the Affirmed with an impressive record on Tapeta. The Joe Orseno-trained son of Bucchero has three stakes placings, including a victory last time out in the Hollywood Beach, and a maiden score on his four-race record.

    Trainer Christophe Clement has entered Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Hurricane Nelson in the Affirmed. The son of Kozan will seek to graduate after finishing second in her first two starts in New York. He fell a half-length short of graduating in his Aug. 12 debut at Saratoga before checking in second again a month later at Aqueduct.

    Brad Grady and David Grund’s Seminole Chief, a son of Girvin, is scheduled to make his stakes debut for trainer Jack Sisterson after capturing his Sept. 11 debut at Finger Lakes by a going-away eight lengths.

    Shooting Star Thoroughbreds’ Echo Lane, Champion Equine’s Esperon, Arindel’s Lasso, Just For Fun Stable’s Roar Ready, Scott Savin and Savin Sisters Stable’s Rye’s My Guy, Cammarota Racing’s Secret Lover, Lawson Racing Stables’ Sound of the Beast, and Screen Door Stables’s Squints round out the field.

    Soldi Stable’s Welcome Back is slated to seek her third-straight victory while facing 11 other fillies in the Susan’s Girl. The daughter of Adios Charlie took on winners in her July 29 debut, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on Tapeta in which she closed from far back and drew off to a 1 ¾-length score. She was the odds-on favorite for her return in the Desert Vixen but had to work for a nose decision after being steadied in traffic on the turn into the homestretch under returning rider Edwin Gonzalez.

    Welcome Back figures to have her work cut out for her if she is to emerge undefeated from the Susan’s Girl, in which she will be challenged by undefeated R Harper Rose.

    Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Harper Rose was the morning-line choice for the Desert Vixen, only to be scratched after coming down with a slight fever a few days earlier. The daughter of Khozan recovered quickly and made an impressive return to action while capturing a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance on Sept. 22 by 5 ¾ lengths. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly had previously debuted with a front-running debut victory by 6 ¼ lengths. Edgard Zayas has the return mount.

    Arindel’s Mist, a homebred daughter of Brethren, will seek to turn the tables on Welcome Back, after coming within a nose of victory in the Desert Vixen.

    Brad Grady's Honey Dijon is scheduled to ship in from Kentucky for the Susan’s Girl. The Joe Sharp-trained daughter of Girvin broke her maiden at seven furlongs at Saratoga in her second career start before finishing an even sixth over the Kentucky Downs turf in the Untapable Stakes. 

    Robyn Kaiser’s Bucchera, Quintessential Racing Florida and Rocky Top Stable’s Dancing N Dixie, Jacks or Better Farm’s Fields of Green, BC Racing’s Haunted, Just For Fun Stable’s Jazzin, Gelfenstein Farm’s Reina Mar, and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Unrelentless round out the field.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Sells for $135,000 . . .

    Hip No. 353, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent, was sold to de Meric Sales, Agent for $135,000 to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2023 October Yearling Sale.  The bay filly is out of Final Reward, by Arch, and is a half-sister to newly stakes-placed Yatta, third in the recent Selima Stakes at Laurel.

    Hip No. 193, a son of Omaha Beach consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, went to Brown Water Stables for $100,000. The bay colt is out of Courageous Cajun, by Treasure Beach (GB), a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Cajun Delta Dawn.

    Hip No. 279, a son of Gormley consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent for Spendthrift Farm, was purchased by Shepherd Equine Advisors, Agent for Larry Hirsch, for $100,000. The bay colt, a half-brother to graded stakes-inner Bye Bye, is out of Garnet, by Smart Strike.

    Thorostock & Seth Morris Thoroughbreds paid $82,000 for Hip No. 341, a daughter of Good Magic consigned by RSVP Sales, Agent. The chestnut filly is out of Gr. I stakes-placed Antonina (PER), by Awesome Twist, a half-sister to champion Azucena.

    Hip No. 171, a son of Honor A. P. consigned by Jose Munoz, was sold to NRClub for $80,000. The bay colt is out of stakes-winner Calamity Jane, by Cowboy Cal, from the family of champion OBS graduate Groovy.

    Eduardo Pulgart went to $75,000 for HIP No.157, a son of Volatile consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent. The gray or roan colt is out of Boom Boom Boom, by More Than Ready, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Runup the Colors.

    Hip No. 283, a daughter of McKinzie consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, was sold for $70,000 to Cristom Stable. The dark bay or brown filly is out of stakes-placed Ghost Flower, by Ghostzapper, a half- sister to graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Applicator.  

    Gina Fennell paid $62,000 for Hip No. 307, a son of Global Campaign consigned by Jose Munoz. The bay colt is out of Hardcore Cat, by Wildcat Heir, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Dorth Vader.

    Hip No. 159, a son of Aurelius Maximus consigned by Musketeers Equine (Carmen Matos), Agent, was purchased by Terry Gabriel for $52,000. The dark bay or brown colt is out of stakes-placed Born to D’ Wild, by OBS graduate D’wildcat.

    Hip No. 154, a son of Gunnevera consigned by Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy), Agent, was sold to Stefania Farm for $50,000. The chestnut colt is out of Bold Embrace, by Graeme Hall, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Wavell Avenue.

    Tom McCrocklin, Agent, paid $50,000 for Hip No. 162, a son of Win Win Win consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent. The dark bay or brown colt is out of stakes-placed Brennan, by Forestry, from the family of graded stakes-placed stakes-winner Gazillion.

    Hip No. 324, a son of Khozan consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent, was sold to Robert B. Hess for $50,000. The bay colt is out of OBS graduate House Money, by Wildcat Heir, a full sister to stakes-winning OBS graduate Fiscal Policy.
For the session, 175 horses sold for $3,308,500.  The average price was $18,906; the median price was $12,000. The buyback % was 41.5.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Dreamfyre is unbeaten . . .

    Danny A. Eplin’s unbeaten Dreamfyre (Flameaway – Appreciating) is 3-for-3 and a graded stakes-winner after gamely taking Santa Anita’s $202,000, Gr. III Surfer Girl Stakes.

    Taking the lead at the start, she was headed briefly on the turn by fellow OBS Spring graduate Buttercream Babe (Twirling Candy – Runway Ready) but refused to yield, battling back down the stretch and prevailing by a neck at the wire. It’s the third stakes victory in as many starts for the 2-year-old filly by Flameaway, consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, and sold for $140,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Trained by O. J. Jauregui, she’s a winner on dirt and turf and has earned $285,000.

Monday, October 9, 2023
Wins first 4 races on Sunday card . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - One day after guiding Three Witches to a 10-1 upset victory over favored Maryquitecontrary in the $200,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney, jockey Leonel Reyes enjoyed a five-win day Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

    The 37-year-old journeyman, who recently claimed his first U.S. riding title during the Royal Palm Meet, began his day with four straight wins aboard Nunofthisnunofthat ($3.60) in Race 1, Sweet Temptation ($5.40) in Race 2, Ballet Valentina ($10) in Race 3 and Emergency Response ($8) in Race 4 before tasting defeat aboard favored Vanishing Interest in Race 5. He returned to the winner’s circle following Race 7 aboard Freedom Principle ($5).

    “I try to win every race. [Saturday] was a good day to win a graded race for Saffie Joseph,” Reyes said. “Now, to have five wins today is amazing.”

    Reyes has steadily established himself as a force in the Gulfstream jockey’s room since arriving in 2016 from Venezuela, where he had ridden 1,400 winners. He has ridden 759 winners since venturing to the U.S.

    His winning ride aboard Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Three Witches in Saturday’s seven-furlong Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ Challenge race was Reyes’ third graded-stakes score.
Sunday, October 8, 2023
Three Witches scores at 10-1 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Three Witches held off a stretch challenge from heavily favored Maryquitecontrary to register a half-length upset triumph in Saturday’s $200,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park.

    The Princess Rooney, a seven-furlong test for fillies and mares, is a designated Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge Series race that offers a Breeders’ Cup nominated winner a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

    Sent to post at 10-1, Three Witches was one of three Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained fillies in the field of eight entered for the 37th running of the Princess Rooney. The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, who was coming off an optional claiming allowance win, recorded the first graded stakes success while making her stakes debut.

    “She wasn’t far off on numbers if ‘Mary’ didn’t run her best,” Joseph said. “I think Mary fired. I thought she was going to get us. Most of the time when she gets in that spot, she runs down horses.”

    Settled in mid-pack off a quick pace set by Poiema along the backstretch, Three Witches advanced between horses on the far turn under Leonel Reyes, who swung her three-wide around the tiring pacesetter and R Adios Jersey coming off the turn into the stretch. Maryquitecontrary, who had won her last five races over the Gulfstream track, launched a rally from last with a five-wide sweep on the far turn under Luca Panici and posed a serious threat entering the stretch. However, Three Witches kicked in through the stretch to hold her off.

    “She’s run some decent races where she showed some glimpses of hope and then she’d disappoint after a couple races. We gave her a break and she came back to win well. Today, she put it together. Obviously, she had to make a jump, and she did,” Joseph said.

    Three Witches, who had won two of six previous starts, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.89. Maryquitecontrary, a Grade 1-placed Gr. II winner, finished second, 3 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher R. Adios Jersey.

    Three Witches is scheduled to sell at the Keeneland November Sale during the week following the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

    “The Breeders’ Cup, we’ll talk about. It’s another jump up. She earned the right to go. We’ll have to decide. [Owner] Bob [Edwards] is going to make that decision. I’ll give him feedback on how she’s doing, but he’ll make the call,” Joseph said.

    Rodney Lundock’s Maryquitecontrary captured the Gr. II Inside Information during the Championship Meet to cap a five-race winning streak. She was sent to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey at Keeneland, where she finished second behind Goodnight Olive in the Gr. I Madison. She went on to finish fourth in the G. II Honorable Miss and off-the-board in the Gr. I Ballerina at Saratoga before returning to Gulfstream. Panici was impressed with the effort of the 7-5 favorite, who is currently in the barn of trainer David Fawkes.

    “She ran good. The pace was tough, 44 [seconds] and 1:09. The first part she was not too [near] the speed,” Panici said. “We got a lot of dirt in the face, but I’m happy because at the end she finished very, very good and we’re looking to run her one mile where I think she belongs. I think this winter she’ll be back good, and that’s the main thing.”

Time Passage Wins 3rd Straight in Miss Gracie Stakes 

    Laurie Plesa and Glassman Racing’s Time Passage collected her third straight victory since being sent around two turns on Tapeta, the daughter of Tunwoo scored a dominating victory in the $100,000 Miss Gracie. The Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee scored a front-running 2 ¾-length triumph in the mile-and-70-yard stakes for 3-year-old fillies that offered a $25,000 win bonus for a registered Florida-bred.

    Florida-bred Time Passage, the 7-5 second choice ridden by Edgard Zayas, ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:41.43 after setting fractions of 23.98 and 46.94 seconds for the first half mile.  To Thyself B True rallied for second a neck ahead of Pawky. Coco, the 6-5 favorite, finished fourth.

Friday, October 6, 2023
Lucky Bettor scores to the tune of $200,000-Plus . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - On the day prior to a scheduled mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool for Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park, a lone-ticket holder broke the jackpot for a $213,992.18 payoff Friday.

    The multi-race wager starts anew Saturday when a mandatory Rainbow 6 payoff is still scheduled to be held in conjunction with the 37th running of the $200,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney.

    The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved for 10 days following back-to-back jackpot hits.  The winning combination of the one winning ticket was 3-2-5-2-3-1.

    Maryquitecontrary, who captured the Gr. II Inside Information during the 2022-2023 Championship Meet, returns to Gulfstream for the seven-furlong test for fillies and mares that has been designated as a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge Race, which offers a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. The Princess Rooney is carded as Race 9 on a 10-race program.

    Maryquitecontrary will seek her sixth straight victory over Gulfstream’s main track as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a field of eight fillies and mares. Rodney Lundock’s homebred daughter of First Dude’s triumph in the seven-furlong Inside Information ran her win string to five straight before she joined Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey at Keeneland, where she finished second behind Goodnight Olive in the Gr. I Madison. She went on to finish fourth in the Gr. II Honorable Miss  and off-the-board in the Gr. I Ballerina at Saratoga.

    Maryquitecontrary, now in the barn of trainer David Fawkes, breezed a half-mile in 46.40 seconds, the fastest of 45 recorded at the distance Sunday, in preparation for her return to action at Gulfstream. Jockey Luca Panici has the return mount.

The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10 on Saturday’s card that will also feature the $75,000 Miss Gracie, a mile-and-70-yard stakes on Tapeta for 3-year-old fillies, in Race 8.    Eddie Plesa-Jr.-trained Time Passage will seek her third straight victory, including a 2 ¼-length front-running victory in the Soaring Softly last time out under a returning Edgard Zayas.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Looking for 6th straight at Gulfstream . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - When last seen at Gulfstream Park, Rodney Lundock’s Maryquitecontrary swept to an eye-catching triumph in the seven-furlong, Gr. II Inside Information on the undercard of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

    The 4-year-old daughter of First Dude has returned to regain her winning ways in Saturday’s $200,000, Gr. III Princess Rooney, a ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race. The winner of the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares will earn a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

    Maryquitecontrary, who followed up her Inside Information score with a second-place finish behind Goodnight Olive in the Gr. I Madison at Keeneland in her first start for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. The homebred filly went on to finish fourth in the Gr. II Honorable Miss at Saratoga before offering a rare off-the-board finish over Saratoga’s muddy track in the Gr. I Ballerina last time out.

    Now in trainer David Fawkes’ barn at Gulfstream, Maryquitecontrary, who will seek her sixth straight success over Gulfstream’s main track in the Princess Rooney. She has been installed ast5-2 in a field of nine fillies and mares. “She’s been training great since she’s been here,” Fawkes said. “Her last work was really good.”

    Luca Panici, who has been aboard for the Florida-bred filly’s last eight starts, has the return mount on the filly who was saddled by Joe Catanese for her fifth-race winning streak culminating in her Inside Information victory by 2 ½ lengths. “We have had good results from the beginning. I hope we can keep it going,” Panici said. “Hopefully, back in her hometown, she’ll run really good.”

    Monarch Stable’s Last Leaf, a multiple graded stakes-placed daughter of Not This Time, has also done her best running at Gulfstream, where she has won six of 16 starts for trainer Ron Spatz, including a 2 ½-length victory in the 2022 Azalea, in which she handed runner-up Maryquitecontrary her last loss at Gulfstream. Maryquitecontrary got revenge in the Inside Information, in which Last Leaf raced extremely wide and finished fifth.

Currently trained in Kentucky by Eddie Kenneally, Last Leaf has placed in her last four starts in Kentucky, including a third-place finish behind champion Echo Zulu in the Gr. III Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. Miguel Vasquez has the mount aboard Last Leaf (4-1).

    Saffie Joseph Jr., who has won the last seven meets at Gulfstream Park, entered three runners in the Princess Rooney Sunday -- Edward Seltzer’s Bluefield (6-1), e Five Thoroughbreds’ Three Witches (8-1) and Sean Defreitas’ Rosie’s Halo (15-1). Bluefield will be coming off a three-month layoff since rallying to finish second in the six-furlong Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows. In her prior start in the Musical Romance, a 6 ½-furlong stakes named in honor of the 2012 Princess Rooney and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champion, Bluefield scored an impressive four-length win over runner-up Saturday rival Poiema.

    “She ran really well at Prairie Meadows. The filly that beat her came back to win a stake,” Joseph said. “Seven furlongs might be stretching it, but the key is we learned to ride her patiently.”

    e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Three Witches returned from a five-month layoff for Joseph to capture an Aug. 27 optional claiming allowance at seven furlongs, rallying from off the pace to win going away by 4 ¾ lengths. “Seven furlongs is right down her alley,” Joseph said. “Back at the distance she likes, she’s obviously got to improve, but her figures aren’t that far off. If she can jump forward, she can win it.” Sean Defreitas’ Rosie’s Hero finished fourth in the seven-furlong Sheer Drama at Gulfstream Aug. 19.

    “She’s probably better at a mile,” Joseph said. “She won and came off the layoff. She didn’t run that well but we needed to get a race into her. She’s going to move forward big.”

    Rosie’s Halo finished second, beaten by just three-quarters of a length, behind Maryquitecontrary in a first level allowance in June 22.

 “Maryquitecontrary is a different horse now,” Joseph said. “But we’ll give it a try.”

    Edgard Zayas has the call on Bluefield, while Leonel Reyes and Samy Camacho will ride Three Witches and Rosie’s Halo, respectively.

    Averill Racing and ATM Racing and Jayson Werth’s R Adios Jersey (7-2), a graded stakes-placed multiple stakes-winner, is expected to ensure a lively pace in the Princess Rooney. The 5-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie is coming off a dazzling 5 ½-length victory in the seven-furlong Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream on Aug. 19. Edwin Gonzalez has the return call aboard the Florida-bred mare.

    BC Racing’s Flakes (20-1) is scheduled to take on her elders in the Princess Rooney. The 3-year-old daughter of Frosted earned graded stakes-placed credentials while finishing third in the Gr. II Gulfstream Park Oaks. The Juan Alvarado trainee has been first or second in three subsequent starts against 3-year-olds, including a victory in the Game Face and a runner-up finish in the Azalea. Emisael Jaramillo is slated to ride Flakes for the first time Saturday.

    AMO Racing USA’s Olivia Darling (10-1), who captured an optional claiming allowance in her only start at Gulfstream last December, returns for the Princess Rooney after winning three and finishing second four times in eight subsequent starts. The Jorge Delgado-trained 4-year-old daughter of Palace is coming off an allowance win at Parx Aug. 29. Jose Morelos, who was aboard for her Gulfstream score, returns to the saddle.

    Poiema (8-1) enters the Princess Rooney off an impressive victory in the Edwin Broome Memorial Handicap at Gulfstream in her second start for owner/trainer Joe Catanese. Formerly owned and trainer by Larry Bates, who passed away during the summer, the 4-year-old daughter of Neolithic shook off early pressure while setting the pace in the 5 ½-furlong handicap and drew off to a comfortable 5 ¼-length score. Edgar Perez has the return call.

Monday, October 2, 2023
Gulfstream is 6th of 8 venues . . .

    It's been quite a while since we included an update on the success (or failure) of Florida's gambling spots, so here goes. Today's edition includes the eight venues that feature slot machines.

    The amount of cash that flows through the machines at each venue is known as "credits in." The amount of cash that the entity earns is known as "net slot revenue," but that is countered by the onerous 35 percent tax levied by the state of Florida for the privilege of operating the machines, despite the fact that the state does little to earn its share.

    Each entity decides how much to pay out, so the differences in the earnings of the eight vary greatly because of the amount of their "payout percentage." Each venue's payout percentage will be listed in its paragraph.

    The Florida fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30. The state is always way behind in its auditing process and currently only has statistics up to date from July 1 to July 31.   

    The number 1 venue based strictly on "credits in" is called Gretna Racing, DBA as Magic City Casino. In reality it is the old Flagler dog track. For the month of July, $161,943,026 was sent through went the machines and it resulted in "net slot revenue" of $9,918,306. It's the best option for the players because it has the best payout percentage of 93.40; its 35 percent tax came to $3,471,407. 

   The number 2 venue for credits in is The Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park, which was the leader in that category for many years before dropping to No. 2. It handled $129,537,791 in July and slot revenue reached $10,759,864, with taxes of $3,765,95. It's blitz of Flagler in the net revenue department was due strictly due to its payout percentage of 90.63, easily highest takeout of the group.

    The number 3 credits in figure goes to Casino Miami, the old Miami Jai Alai Fronton, with $126,138,666, revenue of $7,881,157, fifth best of the eight. Takeout of 91.99 percent. Taxes - $2,758,405.

    Number 4 of credits in is Hialeah Park Casino with $125,485,404 and revenue of $8,971,854, third best money-maker. Taxes of $3,140,409 and takeout of 92.21 percent.

    The old Calder Race Course is No. 5 with credits in of $117,106,375 and revenue of $8,138,699, fourth best money-maker. Calder has the advantage of being pretty far south of Hialeah, and a little north of the cluster around Hallandale Beach. Taxes are $2,848,544 and its takeout is 91.03 percent. 

    Gulfstream Park holds down the No. 6 spot with credits in of $80,399177 and revenue of $4,794,890. It's in a bad spot with Hollywood dogs two minutes to the north, and the Hard Rock Cafe not far to the west. Taxes are $1,678,211, percentager rate is 91.82.

    Seventh in credits in with $70,405,401 and revenue of $3,760,087 is the Casino at Dania Beach, formerly Dania Jai Alai. In the center of a circle of Pompano, Hard Rock, Hollywood and Gulfstream, credits in of $70,405,401, revenue of $3,760,087, taxes $1,316,031.  

    Big Easy Casino, the old Hollywood dog track, is in a worse position than Gulfstream with the horse track right down the road to the south, Hard Rock to the west and Dania Jai Alai not too far north. Plus, when it first opened, the track was in poor physical shape, lost a lot of business because of it, and even though much has been renovated, it's possible many of the former non-attendees never decided to try it. Credits in is $55,751,685, revenue of $3,102,398, taxes $1,085,839, takeout 92.29 percent.

       

      

    

     

 

 

     

     

    

 

 

 

 

Sunday, October 1, 2023
First stakes score for Bucchero colt . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Ironhorse Racing Stable and Harlow Stables’s Mattingly went yard Saturday at Gulfstream Park, scoring a 1 ¾-length victory in the $90,000 Hollywood Beach.

    The 3-2 favorite for the five-furlong stakes for juveniles on Tapeta provided jockey Samy Camacho with his fourth victory on Saturday’s 10-race program.

    Mattingly, twice stakes-placed in his three previous starts, rated off a fast early pace set by Esperon before advancing on the turn into the homestretch and outrunning Okiro in the stretch while completing five furlongs in 56.67 seconds. Esperon held on for third, a length back.

    Mattingly finished second behind multiple-stakes winner No Nay Mets while making his debut in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile on turf at Gulfstream May 13 before scoring an impressive 5 ¾-length victory on Tapeta six weeks later. The son of Bucchero most recently finished second after setting a pressured pace in the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine at 5 ½-furlongs on Tapeta.

    “I learned a lot in that Woodbine race. When it scratched down to four horses, we thought, ‘Just go. He’s fast.’ He got stuck in a speed duel to set it up for the horse coming off of it. I said, ‘That’s not going to happen again,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “I know the ‘one’ is a very fast horse. I used to train his brother. I said, ‘We’ve got to let the ‘one’ and ‘three’ go.’ That was the plan we took, and it worked.”

    Mattingly, whose $64,000 winner’s purse includes a $25,000 bonus available to a registered Florida-bred winner, will race on more time this year, Orseno said. “We think he’s a very talented 2-year-old with a bright future.

    In the co-featured $60,000 Starfish Bay, Baby Steps ($18.20) led throughout the 5 ½ furlongs of the overnight handicap for fillies and mares to score by 1 ¾ lengths.

    The Jorge Delgado-trained 4-year-old daughter of Jimmy Creed provided jockey Samy Camacho his third of four winning rides Saturday afternoon while completing 5 ½ furlongs on Tapeta in 1:03.35. Choose Joy, the 123-pound highweight, finished second, a neck ahead of Sol Hope.

Rainbow 6 Rainbow 6 Pool Guaranteed 

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $225.000 on today’s program. The multi-race wager has gone unsolved for nine days following back-to-back jackpot hits.

    The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 3-8, featuring the $65,000 Aventura, a mile stakes for 2-year-olds carded as Race 6.

    Roderick Rodriguez-trained Secret Chat, a homebred son of Union Rags owned by Gelfenstein Farm LLC, has been installed at 8-5 in the morning line. The Florida-bred colt is coming off a sparkling seven-length debut victory, in which he closed from last following a troubled start.


Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Chi Chi scores at Remington . . .

    Mellon Patch’s Lady Radler (Kantharos – Sally Bowles (SAF) saved ground in the early going of the $299,750 Dogwood Stakes (G3) on Saturday night at Churchill Downs, came off the rail on the turn, charged to the lead a furlong from home and drew off to a 2 3/4-length victory.

    It’s the first graded stakes win for the 4-year-old filly by Kantharos, purchased for $37,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment at the 2022 OBS March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Michael B. Campbell, she has earned $371,200 and compiled a 10-5-2-1 career record to date.  

    Ernest C. Frohboese’s Chi Chi (Audible – Simply Confection) was a maiden going into Sunday’s $50,000 E. L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes at Remington Park and a stakes-winner at the finish, coming from just off the pace, chasing down the leaders in the lane and scoring by a length and a quarter. The 2-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Audible, consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale, is now 3-1-0-0 for trainer Herman Wilensky, and has earned $36,560.

Monday, September 25, 2023
'Win and You're In' event for BC Filly and Mare Turf . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Graded stakes-winners Caramel Swirl and Maryquitecontrary and R Adios Jersey, a four-time stakes winner in her native Florida, top a dozen horses on the main list for the $200,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G3) Saturday, Oct. 7 at Gulfstream Park.

    The seven-furlong Princess Rooney for fillies and mares 3 and up is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Saturday, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

    Godolphin homebred Caramel Swirl, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, won the 6 ½-furlong Vagrancy (G3) May 14 at Belmont Park in just her second start in nearly nine months. The 5-year-old Union Rags mare won the Raven Run (G2) in 2021 and was second to champion Goodnight Olive in the Ballerina (G1) last summer, a race where she had her most recent start, finishing fourth behind another champion in Echo Zulu Aug. 26.

    Rodney Lundock’s Florida homebred Maryquitecontrary, seventh in the Ballerina, has been right at home at Gulfstream with six wins and a second from seven career tries. The 4-year-old First Dude filly put together a five-race win streak starting last summer that included wins in the one-mile Rampart on the final day of 2022 and the seven-furlong Inside Information (G2) Jan. 28. Her streak was snapped when she ran second to Goodnight Olive in the April 8 Madison (G1) at Keeneland.

    Averill Racing, ATM Racing and Jayson Werth’s R Adios Jersey, also bred in Florida, exits a front-running 6 ½-length triumph in the seven-furlong Sheer Drama Aug. 19 at Gulfstream, where she has a record of 4-2-2 from 10 starts. Fourth in the Inside Information, the 5-year-old Adios Charlie mare has also registered three state-bred stakes wins at Tampa Bay Downs, the most recent coming in the seven-furlong FTBOA City of Ocala last December.

    Also among the main invitees are Beth’s Dream, winner of the one-mile Heavenly Cause April 15 at Laurel Park that is 4-for-7 lifetime at Gulfstream; Flakes, winner of Gulfstream’s 6 ½-furlong Game Face June 17; stakes winner Funny How, second in the April 7 Distaff Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct; Last Leaf, a four-time stakes winner at Gulfstream that is twice Grade 3-placed; and Chilean Group 2 winner Yuki.

    Four horses are on the reserve list of invitations including Flag Woman and Into Happiness, both riding three-race win streaks, and Miss New York, winner of the July 2 Boiling Springs at Monmouth Park.

    The Princess Rooney was won the past two years by Ce Ce, who used her 2021 victory as a springboard to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and the Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter.

    Run at Calder Race Course from 1983 to 2013 before being relocated to Gulfstream, the Princess Rooney honors the 1984 champion older female and 1991 inductee into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame that won 17 of 21 career starts and more than $1.3 million in purses from 1982-84. Five of her wins came in Grade 1 stakes – the 1982 Frizette, 1983 Kentucky Oaks and 1984 Vanity, Spinster and Breeders’ Cup Distaff.


$200,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G3) List

Beth’s Dream

Bluefield

Caramel Swirl


Dr B

Flakes

Funny How

Last Leaf

Maryquitecontrary


Olivia Darling

Poiema

R Adios Jersey

Yuki 

 


Sunday, September 24, 2023
First Gr. I winner for Always Dreaming . . .

    FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration) stamped himself a major player in the 3-year-old division, going right to the front in the $1,000,000, Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby, opening daylight in the stretch and holding off a late run to score by half a length. OBS June Sale graduate Il Miracolo (Gun Runner – Tapit’s World) checked in third.

    After a pair of near misses in graded stakes company, it’s the first stakes win for the lightly raced 3-year-old colt by Always Dreaming, trained by Brad Cox, now 5-3-2-0 with $817,085 earnings. Consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, he was sold for $240,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. 

    Matt Kwiatkowski, Jason Kaylor and Roger D. Browning’s Nobody Listens (Conveyance – Royalesque) took the lead just after the start of the $250,000, Gr. III Turf Monster Stakes, turned for home in front and waved goodbye from there, drawing away to a three-length victory.

    It’s the fourth straight victory and fifth stakes victory for the 5-year-old son of Conveyance, purchased for $40,000 out of the Southern Chase Farm consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Trained by Tim Eggleston, he’s now 26-14-7-1 and has earned $704,230.  

Saturday, September 23, 2023
Due to tropical storm Ophelia . . .
    BALTIMORE – The Maryland Jockey Club has announced that today’s 10-race program at Pimlico Race Course has been cancelled due to deteriorating weather conditions in the mid-Atlantic caused by Tropical Storm Ophelia.

    First race post time for Sunday’s 10-race program is scheduled for 12:55 p. m.
Friday, September 22, 2023
Daughter of Khozan has recovered from fever . . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Having quickly recovered from a fever that knocked her out of the $100,000 Desert Vixen on Sept. 9, R Harper Rose is expected to be heavily favored for today’s feature at Gulfstream Park.

    The 2-year-old daughter of  Khozan, who breezed three furlongs Monday morning at Gulfstream, is rated at 7-5 in the morning line in a deep eight-horse field assembled for Race 6, a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for juvenile fillies.

    “She’s bounced back well,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Thursday morning. “She’s in good order.”

    R Harper Rose, who is owned by Averill Racing and Twi Eight Racing, was also a heavy morning-line favorite for the Desert Vixen, the first leg of the 2023 Florida Sire Stakes series, based on a brilliant Aug. 5 front-running debut victory.

    Edgard Zayas, who teamed with Joseph-trained Accomplished Girl for a victory in Monday’s Gr. II Presque Isle Masters, has the return mount on R Harper Rose, who won her debut by 6 ¼ lengths.

    “She’s good to go,” Joseph said. “She’s fit enough to hopefully win. There’s a horse on the inside of Dwoskin’s that won nicely first time out, so she’s going to have to improve quite a bit.”

    Owner/trainer Steve Dwoskin’s Fay’s Rhonda Cares, who is rated second at 7-2 in the morning line, made an auspicious debut while graduating with an off-the-pace 5 ¼-length score at 5 ½ furlongs on Tapeta. Luca Panici has the return call on the daughter of Mendelson, who was purchased for $100,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale.

    Marc Casse-trained Demar’s Legacy, a daughter of Enticed who sold for $150,000 at the OBS April sale; and Bobby Dibona-trained Star of Saturn, a Florida-bred daughter of The Big Beast; are also exiting debut victories at Gulfstream.

    Meanwhile, Joseph is busy making next-out arrangements for some of his stable stars, including Skippylongstocking, who captured the $1 million. Gr. II Charles Town Classic last time out. No decision has been made for his next start.

    “He’s probably going to breeze this week. We’re working back from the [Breeders’ Cup] Classic. He might go to the Classic. We’ll see how he does and see how it’s shaping up,” Joseph said. “He’s going to train towards that, at least.”

    Stablemate O’Connor, who closed from last to finish second in the Charles Town Classic, is scheduled to return in either the Gr. II Woodward at Aqueduct or the Gr. II Lukas Classic at Churchill on Sept. 30.

    Joseph-trained West Coast Cowboy, who finished second in the Gr. III West Virginia Derby last time out, is entered in Saturday’s $1 million, Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed  

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $100,000 today, after the multi-race wager went unsolved for six days following back-to-back jackpot hits.

    The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, including R Harper Rose’s return in Race 6, which will be followed by a maiden special weight race for juvenile fillies in Race 7. Leading Sunshine Meet trainer Jose D’Angelo is represented by two entrants in the field of nine fillies – Bubbly Champagne, who overcame early trouble while rallying from 11th to third behind highly regarded Fay’s Rhonda Cares in her debut; and Party Shaker, a daughter of Practical Joke who is slated to make her debut in the 5 ½-furlong sprint.

    Trainer Jose Pinchin, who is scheduled to saddle first-time starter Windrush in Race 7, has been reunited with Atomically, who is entered in Race 8, a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares. Atomically won two legs of the 2022 Florida Sire Stakes before being sold to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Bernard and Harry Colburn and transferred to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. After going 0-for-3 for her new connections, the daughter of Girvin will return from a six-month layoff for Pinchin in Friday’s co-feature.
Monday, September 18, 2023
Wins Gr. I Summer Stakes . . .

    West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey’s Carson’s Run (Cupid – Hot N Hectic) is a Gr. I stakes-winner with a berth in the gate at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita after a 2 1/4-length victory in the $522,500, Gr. I Summer Stakes at Woodbine.

    Trailing going to the turn, the 2-year-old colt by Cupid circled the field to reach contention turning for home, took command on the far outside a furlong out and drew away from there. Fellow OBS Spring graduate Go With Gusto (Medaglia d’Oro – Itsagiantcauseway) rallied wide for third.

    Second last time out in Saratoga’s Gr. III With Anticipation Stakes, Carson’s Run is now 3-2-1-0 for trainer Christophe Clement and has earned $314,529. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 and was purchased for $170,000 out of the Randy Mills consignment.

Friday, September 15, 2023
First SW for Divisidero . . .

    Joseph P. Morey Jr.’s Vote No (Dividisero-Sista's Ready) is two for two and a stakes-winner after a three-quarter length victory in the $500,000 Juvenile Turf Stakes on Wednesday at Kentucky Downs.

    Turning for home in contention, he sustained his run down the stretch, caught the leaders in the final yards and ran by for an emphatic victory. He’s a two-time OBS graduate, sold by KP Sales at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $50,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment at the 2023 June Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5.

    The first stakes-winner for his sire, he’s trained by William E. Morey and has earned $316,800. 

Thursday, September 14, 2023
$3 million Pegasus set for Jan. 27 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet – featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Jan. 27 and $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on March 30 – will offer 68 stakes in 2023-2024 with total purses of $14.875 million.

            The Championship Meet, which includes racing over a new turf course, will begin Friday, Dec. 1 and conclude on Sunday, March 31.  

            The Pegasus World Cup Day program, a celebration of World Class racing, entertainment, fashion, food and fun, will feature eight stakes, seven of which have been granted graded status. The Pegasus World Cup, a 1 1/8-mile invitational for 4-year-olds and up, has established itself as the first major target of the new racing season for the classic division. The Pegasus World Cup Turf, a 1 1/8-mile invitational that will be contested by 4-year-olds and up, will be renewed over Gulfstream Park’s newly installed turf course. The $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3), a 1 1/16-mile invitational for fillies and mares 4-years old and up, will also be contested on Jan. 27 on the turf course that is scheduled to host 38 stakes during the Championship Meet.

    The three Pegasus Day invitational races will be supported by the $200,000 Inside Information (G2), a seven-furlong test for older fillies and mares; the $200,000 William L. McKnight (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses; the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3), a mile stakes for older horses; the $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile event for older fillies and mares on turf; and the $100,000 Carousel Club, a mile-and-70-yard overnight handicap on Tapeta for older horses.

    The Curlin Florida Derby, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds that has established itself as the premier Triple Crown prep with 25 winners going on to victory in the Kentucky Derby, will headline the March 30 program that will offer 10 stakes, five graded. The $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, will also be featured on the Curlin Florida Derby undercard that will include the $200,000 Pan American (G2), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses; and the $150,000 Orchid (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares.

    The $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race for older horses, will round out the graded-stakes action on the Curlin Florida Derby program, which will be supported by the $150,000 Appleton, a mile turf event for older horses; $150,000 Sand Springs, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares; the $125,000 Sir Shackleton, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses; the $125,000 Cutler Bay, a 7 ½-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds; and the $125,000 Sanibel Island, a 7 ½-furlong race on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

    The $150,000 Mucho Macho Man, a mile stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds, will kick off the Road to the 73rd running of the Curlin Florida Derby on the New Year’s Day program Jan. 1, followed by the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) on Feb. 3 and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on March 2.

    The Holy Bull, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, will headline the Feb. 1 program that will also offer the $150,000 Kitten’s Joy (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds; the $150,000 Sweetest Chant (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for sophomore fillies; the $125,000 Claiborne Swale (G3), a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds; and the $125,000 Forward Gal (G3), at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.

    The Fountain of Youth, the 1 1/16-mile key prep for the Curlin Florida Derby, will top a blockbuster program that will feature nine stakes, eight of which are graded, including the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2), a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies that serves as the major prep for the Gulfstream Park Oaks. The $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), an historic mile event for older horses, and the $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2), a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older horses, will round out the Grade 2-stakes action on the program.

    The Fountain of Youth Day undercard will also offer the $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3), a 1 1/16-mile grass stakes for older horses; the $150,000 Honey Fox (G3), a mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares; the $150,000 The Very One (G3), a 1 3/8-mile turf race for older fillies and mares; the $175,000 Herecomesthebride (G3), a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies; and the $175,000 Colonel Liam, a mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

    The $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) and the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3) will be renewed on the Dec. 30 program, on which many entrants will be auditioning for invitations to the Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf and Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, respectively.

    The 2023-2024 Championship Meet stakes schedule will be kicked off Dec. 2 by the finals of the Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by nominated Florida stallions – the $300,000 In Reality and the $300,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Poimema pays tribute . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Cipriano Gil celebrated his first victory in the U.S. after guiding Queen Macha to a half-length triumph in today’s second race at Gulfstream Park.

    Carlos Perez-trained Queen Macha ($12.60), who was making her first start in nearly a year in the $35,000 claiming race for fillies and mares on Tapeta, was Gil’s seventh mount since venturing to Gulfstream from Venezuela. “I thank everyone who has helped me since I came here from Venezuela,” Gil said through a translator. “I’m very happy to get my first winner in the United States.”

    The 24-year-old jockey began riding at the age of 15 and has ridden more than 500 winners in Venezuela.

Poiema Pays Tribute to Late Owner/Trainer in Stormy Embrace

    Poiema, who campaigned for Larry Bates prior to the highly respected owner/trainer’s passing in July, scored a commanding 5 ½-length victory in the $60,000 Stormy Embrace.

    “That …was for Larry,” said new owner/trainer Joe Catanese in the winner’s circle while pointing to the sky.

    Making her second start for Catanese, the 4-year-old daughter of Neolithic took the lead shortly after the start of the 6 ½-furlong overnight handicap for older fillies and mares and drew away to a comfortable victory under Edgar Perez.

    “She’s been training very well. I was looking for her to run a good race,” said Catanese, who saddled Poiema for a second-place finish Aug. 18.

    Poiema, the 1-2 favorite in a field of seven, ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:18.09. She’s Outta Here, a 31-1 long shot who chased Poiema right out of the rate to no avail, finished second, a half-length ahead of Sophia’s Storm
.

Sunday, September 10, 2023
Wins Desert Vixen, then adds Dr. Fager . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - After Welcome Back barely prevailed in the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies, Bentornato proved much the best in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, giving trainer Jose D’Angelo a sweep of Saturday’s Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

    In the first leg of the series 
for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions, Soldi Stable’s Welcome Back eked out victory by a nose following a troubled trip, while Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato never gave D’Angelo an anxious moment while scoring by 7 ½ lengths.

  “I’m very happy,” D’Angelo said. “Last year, it was my goal to pick up and train horses for the Florida Sire Stakes. We worked hard at the sales. Thank God, we won both races.” Bentornato, it should be noted, is Italian for WelcomeBack. Bentornato, who was purchased for $170,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training, remained undefeated in three starts while following up a 4 ¼-length triumph in the six-furlong Proud Man at Gulfstream on Aug. 12.

    “I was very confident in him today. In his last stake he wasn’t really ready because he had a fever before the race and missed a couple of very important workouts,” D’Angelo said. “For this race, I just worked him two times, easy for him, without company. Last race I had to push him to get ready.”

    The son of Valiant Minister, the 2-5 favorite in a field of nine, broke alertly from his outside post position and advanced along the backstretch to hook up with Dickens approaching the far turn without pressure from jockey Emisael Jaramillo. Asked to pick up the pace on the far turn, Bentornato quickly opened up a clear lead on the turn into the homestretch and drew off with authority. Bentornato ran six furlongs in 1:11. 44 off half-mile fractions of :22.33 and :45.51 seconds.

    Dickens, who was coming off a third-place finish in the Gr. III Sanford at Saratoga, held gamely to finish second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Jive.

    Bentornato will be pointed toward the next two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes, the $200,000 Affirmed at seven furlongs on Oct. 21 and the $300,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 2. “I think he will go longer, because of the way he trains,” D’Angelo said.

    Welcome Back, who inherited the role of favorite when 7-5 morning-line favorite R Harper Rose was scratched Saturday morning due to a fever, was coming off an impressive debut victory that came against winners on Tapeta in a July 29 optional claiming allowance.

    The strapping, long-striding daughter of Adios Charlie, got away from the gate well to chase pacesetter Field of Greens along the backstretch with Epona’s Hope to her outside. Jockey Edwin Gonzalez was forced to check Welcome Back on the far turn when Epona’s Hope made an outside move to the lead, allowing Mist to get the jump on her with an outside move of her own. Gonzalez made a four-wide move on the turn into the homestretch as Mist set her sights on Epona’s Hope. It took Welcome Back time to get untracked and employ her huge stride, but she was able to prevail over Mist by a nose at the wire.

    “My filly was a little green, between horses, she’d never run between horses. So today she was between horses and she’s so big, so I have to check a little when the 8 [Epona’s Hope] comes down. She almost clipped heels,” Gonzalez said. “When I take her out, she grabbed her spot, and she came running.”

    Welcome Back ($3.60) ran six furlongs in 1:14.28 after fractions of :23.46 and :46.68 seconds. Mist finished second under Emisael Jaramillo, a half-length ahead of Epona’s Hope and jockey Edgar Perez.

    The Soldi Stable homebred sported an equipment change that may well have meant the difference between victory and defeat.

    “We put on her today a new bit. She looked much better today because when Edwin wants to move her, she responds very well,” D’Angelo said. “I’m very happy with the race.”

            Welcome Back will be pointed toward the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series on Oct.21. The $300,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile series final, is scheduled for Dec. 2.

    “I think the hard race for her is going to be this one because she’s perfect to go long,” D’Angelo said. “I was afraid this race was going to be too short for her, so I’m happy she won the race.
"

Thursday, September 7, 2023
Won Proud Man in last . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Jose D’Angelo couldn’t be happier with Bentornato leading up to Saturday’s $100,000 Dr. Fager at Gulfstream Park, where the undefeated son of Valiant Nature will face nine rivals in the first leg of the 2023 Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

    “He’s in peak of condition,” D’Angelo said.

    That was not the case, however, leading up to the first two starts of his career, a late-rallying debut victory July 1 and a runaway triumph in the Proud Man Stakes Aug. 12. Minor issues interrupted his training while preparing for his debut, while a fever left the strapping colt a workout short for the six-furlong Proud Man.

    “From the start, we knew we had a very nice horse,” D’Angelo said. “He was a little green the first time out.  For the second race, the stake, he got a fever three weeks before the race, so he had only two workouts. He won the stake on just two workouts. That’s why I know we have a very nice horse.”

    Bentornato, who has been installed at 2-1 in the morning line, may have been short of conditioning in his five-furlong debut, but his wide rally didn’t come up short. He defeated next-out winner Big Effect by a neck. Distant third-place finisher Dewy’s Beast also won his next start at Colonial Downs.

    Despite less-than-ideal preparation, the D’Angelo trainee looked sharp in the Proud Man, in which he overcame early bumping to show the way into the stretch and draw off to win by 4 ¼ lengths. Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard for both victories, has the return mount.

    Trainer Juan Alvarado is represented by three entrants that were all first-out winners who raced at Saratoga in their second starts. BC Racing’s Dickens, who won his 4 ½-furlong debut June 10 by two lengths, finished third in the July 15 Gr. III Sanford after setting a pressured pace. BC Racing’s Jive, finished seventh in the Sanford after winning his five-furlong debut on May 19. Arindel’s Lasso, who rallied from well back to capture his June 3 debut by 3 ½ lengths, raced evenly while finishing fourth in the Aug. 12 Gr. II Saratoga Special.

    Dickens, a son of Adios Charlie who is rated second on the morning line at 4-1, turned in a bullet workout in his final preparation while breezing a half-mile in 47 seconds from the gate. “Dickens is fast out of the gate, but I don’t think he needs the lead. Ideally, he’s stalking some speed, but if he’s up there it won’t be a problem for him,” BC Racing’s Brian Cohen said.

    Dickens and Lasso had been workmates while preparing for their respective debuts. “Lasso, he’s a green horse with a lot of ability. We’ll put blinkers on him coming back here and I think it will move him forward and put him in the game,” said Cohen, Arindel’s stable manager.

    Edgard Zayas, who has ridden both Dickens and Lasso in all of their races, has been named on Dickens; Hector Diaz Jr. has the mount on Lasso. Edwin Gonzalez, who rode Jive for his debut score, returns aboard the son of St. Patrick’s Day.

    Stonehedge’s Gentle Breeze, who finished second in the Proud Man, will seek to turn the tables on Bentornato Saturday. The Ralph Nicks-trained son of Cajun Breeze overcame bumping at the start of the Proud Man to rally for second. He previously graduated in a $25,000 maiden claiming race by 12 ¾ lengths over a muddy track. Leonel Reyes has the return call.

    Nicks is also scheduled to saddle Northshore Drive. He is a son of Fort Loudon, who swept the 2011 FSS series, and is owned by Jacks or Better Farm, the FSS series’ leading owner.

    Donald Ming’s Ninja Star is scheduled to make his first start at Gulfstream Park after breaking his maiden at first asking at 5 ½ furlongs and finishing second in a six-furlong allowance over Presque Isle Downs’ all-weather surface. Sonny Leon has the call on Ninja Star, who will be saddled for the first time by Scott Acker.

    Donald Mensh and Laurie Plesa’s Raging Fury, a son of Ami’s Flatter who rallied to win his debut by a neck Aug. 5; Lawson Racing Stables’ Sound of the Beast, a son of The Big Beast, who graduated Aug. 12 in his second start; and Cammarota Racing ’s Secret Lover, a son of Khozan who finished third in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga in his second start, round out the field.

 


Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Series goes later than usual . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - The Florida Sire Stakes will be featured on Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park, where the tradition-rich annual series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions will get under way a little later than usual.

    Traditionally scheduled for the last Saturday of July or first Saturday in August, the $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies will launch a revamped schedule that is designed to benefit horses, owners and breeders by a later start and more time between races.

    “We thought as a horseman’s group that it was important, and the breeders got on board,” said trainer Joe Orseno, president of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “I think we’ll see in the long run that horses will stay sounder and compete longer in life.”

    The six-furlong Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen will be followed on the new spread-out schedule by the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies at seven furlongs on Oct. 21 and the $300,000 In Reality and the $300,000 My Dear Girl for fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 2.

    The new FSS schedule provides greater opportunity for late-developing 2-year-olds.

     “The horses that were bought out of the June sale, those horses had no chance to compete in the first leg. Now, they have the opportunity just like the March and April babies,” Orseno said.

    The revamped schedule is expected to make the long-standing juvenile series even better.

    “It’s a very important program. No 1, for the stallions. It gives them a chance to showcase their babies while running against the offspring of other Florida stallions,” Orseno said. “It’s a good program for people who want to race Florida-breds and run them in South Florida.”

    The FSS series has produced national stars in the past, including two Jacks or Better Farm home-breds -- Awesome Feather, who swept the 2010 FSS series before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and an Eclipse Award, and Jackson Bend, who swept the FSS series in 2009 before going on to become a Gr. 1 stakes-winning millionaire. Harold Queen’s Big Drama, who swept the 2008 FSS series, went on to capture the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion sprinter.

    A field of 10 colts and geldings has been assembled for the Dr. Fager, including Leon King Stable Corp.’s undefeated Bentornato, who is coming off a sparkling 4 ½-length victory in the six-furlong Proud Man at Gulfstream, and BC Racing’s Dickens, a first-out winner who finished third in the Gr. III Sanford at Saratoga after setting a pressured pace.

    Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Harper Rose, who produced a dazzling a 6 ¼-length debut victory, will need to outrun seven other talented fillies to capture her stakes debut in the Desert Vixen.

Sunday, September 3, 2023
2 days in a row . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved for the second day in a row at Gulfstream Park Sunday. The multi-race wager, which yielded a $102,221 jackpot payoff Saturday after going unsolved for five days following a mandatory payout, paid $20,244 today without the benefit of a carryover.

    The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

    The winning combination on the single unique tickets with all six winners was 4-5-6-5-6-3 for the sequence that spanned Races 3-8.

    The Rainbow 6 will start anew Friday.
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Hit for more than $100,000 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot was hit for a $102,221 payoff Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for five days following a mandatory payout.

    The winning combination on the single unique ticket with all six winners was 1-6-6-3-4-10.

     The Rainbow 6 will start anew today, when the sequence will span Races 3-8, including a pair of well-stocked maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds in Races 5 and 7.

     Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Next On Stage, a daughter of Liam’s Map who finished third and second in his first two starts, and Jose D’Angelo-trained Ale’s Gift, a daughter of Girvin who has finished third, second and fourth in three starts, bring experience into Race 5, a six-furlong test for Florida-bred fillies. Juan Alvarado-trained Dreamy, a daughter of Brethren who has been working sharply, and David Fawkes-trained Unrelentless, a son of The Big Beast whose three siblings are all multi-race winners, will debut today.


    Mark Casse-trained Seat At the Table is one of several first-time starters in Race 7, a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race for fillies on Tapeta. The daughter of The Factor is a half-sister to Casse-trained Dear Dad, a 3-year-old son of Khozan who broke his maiden and finished second twice in optional claiming allowance company in his last three starts during the Royal Palm Meet. Trainer Jose D’Angelo has two entrants, Classic Ballad, a debuting daughter of Classic Empire, and Iron Shield, who finished second last time out.

Sunday, September 3, 2023
He's the latest OBS millionaire . . .

    Zedan Racing Stables’ Arabian Knight went straight to the lead in Del Mar’s $1,000,000, Gr. I Pacific Classic Stakes, set the pace, then turned back a late bid by Haskell winner Geaux Rocket Ride to score by a neck. It’s the second graded stakes win for the 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo and assures him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

    He was purchased by Gary Young on behalf of Zedan Racing for a sale-topping $2.3 million out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. Trained by Bob Baffert, he’s now 4-3-0-1 and the newest OBS millionaire with $1,244,275 in earnings.  

Monday, August 28, 2023
Reyes rides 93 winners, wins by 18 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Leonel Reyes collected his first riding title in the U.S. and Saffie Joseph Jr. captured his seventh consecutive training championship at Gulfstream Park, where the Royal Palm Meet came to a close Sunday.

    Reyes had ridden more than 1,400 winners in Venezuela before venturing to South Florida in 2016 and steadily gaining the respect of trainers and racing fans with each passing year. The 37-year-old riding veteran got off to a quick start for the meet that kicked off April 4 and never looked back, finishing with 93 victories, 18 more than runner-up Edwin Gonzalez.

    “It’s amazing. It’s been a lot of hard work,” Reyes said. “I’ve been riding new horses every day. I work hard every morning. I’m very happy for this.”

    Reyes, who rode 30 winners during the Championship Meet, has surpassed the 100-win mark in 2023 for the second year in a row.

    After being locked in a tight race with Jose D’Angelo for much of the meet, Joseph finished strongly to add another title at Gulfstream, where he has won the Championship Meet title the past two years. Joseph sent out 66 winners, 11 
more than D’Angelo.

    “This meet means a lot after what we went through in May and having to go through that experience,” Joseph said. “To keep the ball rolling and having our name cleared, which should have been done in the beginning, it means a lot. The title means a lot. They all mean something but this one is right up there with the Championship Meet ones.

    Michael Yates-trained Dean Delivers was the equine star of the Royal Palm Meet, during which he scored a 2 ¾-length triumph in the $100,000 Smile Sprint (G3) July 1 before going on to finish third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga. Smile Sprint runner-up Big and Classy was the winningest for the meeting that kicked off April 4 with five victories for trainer Bobby Dibona.

    The Sunshine Meet gets under way Friday and will run through Nov. 26 leading up to the Championship Meet opener Dec. 1.

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $75,000 Friday after the multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday for the fourth consecutive racing day following a mandatory payout. The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 3-8, featuring a first-level optional claiming allowance for 2-year-olds going 5 ½ furlongs on Tapeta. Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Grand Mo the First, a son of Uncle Mo, returns after graduating at first asking by 2 ¼ lengths on Tapeta. Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Big Effect, who finished off the board in the Proud Man on the main track last time out, is also entered. The son of The Big Beast lost a photo finish to highly regarded Bentornato in his debut on Tapeta before graduating by nearly seven lengths on dir
t.

Monday, August 28, 2023
3 at the Spa . . .

    From the Charles Town Classic (G2) on Friday through Del Mar’s Rancho Bernardo (G3) on Sunday, OBS graduates scored seven stakes victories.

    Baoma Corporation’s Eda (Munnings – Show Me) rolled a seven in the $125,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at Del Mar on Sunday, pressing the pace, taking the lead turning for home and easing away down the stretch to score by a length and a half. That’s seven straight wins for the 4-year-old grade one stakes winning daughter of Munnings. Trained by Bob Baffert, she’s a four-time graded stakes winner, has compiled a 10-8-1-0 career record and earned $667,600. At the 2021 OBS March Sale, she was purchased by Donato Lanni, Agent, for $550,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat.  

    Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking is the newest member of the OBS Million Club after his frontrunning five-length victory in the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic (G2) on Friday night. That’s three graded stakes wins for the 3-year-old colt by Exaggerator, now 19-6-2-3 with $1,507,185 in earnings for trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.  At the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5.  

OBS graduates captured a trio of stakes on Sunday at Saratoga.

    Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles’ City Man (Mucho Macho Man – City Scamper) was rated off the pace in the $194,000 West Point Stakes, swung outside to go after the leaders in the lane, reached the front in deep stretch and was best by a length and a quarter at the wire. It’s the tenth stakes victory for the 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winning son of Mucho Macho Man, sold to Reeves Thoroughbreds for $185,000 by Off the Hook LLC, Agent, at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Christophe Clement, he’s now 30-11-5-4 and has earned $1,189,870.  watch his under tack video

    Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s unbeaten The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso – Call  to Service) is three for three with two stakes wins after overcoming a stumbling start in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes. The 2-year son of Vino Rosso circled horses to reach contention after turning for home and was best by a head after a long stretch drive. Sold by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, for $340,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5, he’s trained by Mike Maker and has earned $274,010. watch his under tack video   March Sale walking video

    Robert S. Evans’ New Ginya (Tonalist – Rapid Rhythm) stepped into stakes company for the first time in the $200,000 Yaddo Stakes. Last early, she surged to the lead at the three-sixteenth pole, opened a big lead in the stretch and coasted home a winner by 3-3/4 lengths. Christophe Clement trains the 4-year-old daughter of Tonalist, now 12-4-4-2 with      $334,110 in earnings. Consigned by Six K’s Training & Sales LLC, Agent, she was sold for $250,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. 

    Richard Rennie’s Jamies Inheritance (Carpe Diem – Beth Ann’s Kitten) saved ground on the early going of Century Mile’s $99,000 Century Casino Oaks on Saturday, swung out for the drive, took over in the stretch and drew off to win by three lengths. That’s two straight stakes victories for the 3-year-old daughter of OBS graduate Carpe Diem, purchased for $40,00 out of the Azpurua Stables consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 11-3-2-2 for trainer Charles Essex, she has earned $109,461. 

    Men’s Grille Racing’s Response Time (Mosler – Dominus Effect) pressed the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 Timonium Distaff Stakes, took the lead in the turn and went on from there to score by a length and a quarter. It’s the first stakes victory for the 5-year-old mare by Mosler, trained by Hamilton Smith, now 30-8-8-2 with $445,658 in earnings. Consigned by Sennebec South Farm to the 2019 OBS October Sale, she was sold for $75,000.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Forte and Mage will be tough . . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - When the gates open for the 154th running of the Travers Stakes today, five of the seven starters will have started their 3-year-old seasons at Gulfstream Park during its Championship Meet.

    Champion Forte, 7-5 in the morning line, started his 2023 season at Gulfstream with victories in the Curlin Florida Derby  and the Fountain of Youth. Kentucky Derby winner Mage won his debut at Gulfstream in January before finishing fourth in the Fountain of Youth and second in the Florida Derby.

    In the same barn as Mage was Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo, who made his first three starts at Gulfstream for trainer Jena Antonucci. The colt raced in December and January before breaking his maiden in March.

   Two other starters in the Travers, Tapit Trice and Scotland, also started their 3-year-old seasons at Gulfstream. Tapit Trice won his 2023 debut in February, while Scotland won his debut in March.

    Previous Florida Derby winners who have gone on to win the Travers include Tiz the Law, Thunder Gulch and Holy Bull.

Big and Classy Stretches Out for Edwin T. Broome Memorial

    Big and Classy, the winner of seven of his last eight races, all coming at distances between 5 ½ furlongs and seven furlongs, will seek to continue his impressive run while stretching out to a mile for the first time in the $60,000 Edwin T. Broome Memorial.

    The Bobby Dibona-trained 4-year-old gelding is a son of The Big Beast, who never ran beyond seven furlongs during a nine-race career that included a victory in the 2014 King’s Bishop, a seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds that will be renewed as the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on the Travers undercard.

    “I think we found another good spot for him. We have to stretch out a little bit further, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” Dibona said.

    Big and Classy was claimed for $20,000 in March after winning his second straight race. The Florida-bred gelding went on to win his next four starts for Dibona and new owners Keith Johnston and Chris Aulds. He came up short while trying graded stakes company for the first time, finishing second behind Dean Delivers in the July 1 Smile Sprint. Returning in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance last time out, Big and Classy recovered from a troubled start to rally from off the pace to win going away by 2 ¾ lengths under Leonel Reyes.

    “I don’t know what he was doing in the gate, but he certainly wasn’t paying attention,” Dibona said. “They sprung it and he broke poorly, and I said, ‘Aw, geez.’” But, professionally, he settled down. Reyes knows him, and when he called upon him, he had a lot of horse, and he just drew away.”

    Big and Classy will be the co-highweight with Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Long Range Toddy at 123 pounds in the overnight handicap named in memory of trainer Eddie Broome, who passed away last fall.

    Long Range Toddy, who was on the 2019 Triple Crown trail after winning the Rebel at Oaklawn, returned to winning form in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream on July 16 in his first start for Barboza. The 7-year-old son of Take Charge Indy has two victories in two-turn mile races.
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Mage goes in Travers Saturday . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH – Kentucky Derby hero and Curlin Florida Derby runner-up Mage will carry the hopes of OGMA investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH in Saturday’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga. The 3-year-old son of Good Magic will also help champion the cause to find a cure for pediatric cancer while clashing with Curlin Florida Derby winner Forte, Preakness victor National Treasure and Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo.

    Earlier in the summer, Restrepo pledged to donate a portion of his share of Mage’s winnings for the rest of the 2023 racing season to the Dwoskin Children’s Cancer Research Fund at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, which was named to honor Steven Dwoskin, the Gulfstream Park-based owner and trainer who has donated many, many millions of dollars to the university’s cancer research.

    There is no doubt Dwoskin will be rooting for Mage, who finished second in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park following Restrepo’s pledge.

    “Absolutely,” Dwoskin said Wednesday morning. “The owner [Restrepo] went to the University of Miami and saw that I was a big contributor there to cancer research. He got in touch, and we had lunch. He wanted to give part of the horse’s earnings. Mage came in second after we met, and he donated part of his earnings to children’s cancer. Beautiful!”

    The 80-year-old horseman and auto parts businessman feels fortunate to be able to help fund the fight against pediatric cancer.

    “It’s very rewarding. It’s a beautiful thing. I’ve worked my butt off all my life,” said Dwoskin, whom the University of Miami had previously honored with the naming of the Dwoskin Proton Therapy Building. “God’s been good to me by giving me gifts to earn some money. It’s pay back time.”

    Dwoskin went on to describe a very special motivation for his dedication to find a cure for pediatric cancer.

     “I had this calling, when I saw this lady on TV who had a son who died of cancer. She started a place called Heroes Hangout,” he said. “We went to visit her and saw that she let all the kids go to her place to play games and take home little gifts. When I saw that, I got very moved and said, ‘We’ve got to cure children’s cancer.’”

    Dwoskin has somehow found the time between his philanthropy and business obligations to train the winners of 934 races, including Fay’s Rhonda Cares, a 2-year-old daughter of Mendelssohn who scored an impressive off-the-pace 5 ¼-length debut victory at Gulfstream Park last Sunday. Dwoskin had intended to pinhook the $100,000 yearling purchase at the OBS April sale, but the Kentucky-bred filly failed to meet her reserve.

    “Nobody wanted her. We raced her Sunday and now the phone is ringing off the hook,” Dwoskin said. “Her dam produced Flameaway, so the breeding is very good. We’ll run in her in a non-winners-of-a-race [other-than] and see what she does and then decide what to do in the futu
re.”
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Il Miracolo wins Gr. III Smarty Jones . . .
    Eduardo Soto’s Il Miracolo (Gun Runner – Tapit’s World) led a 1-2-3 OBS sweep of the $300,000, Gr. III Smarty Jones Stakes. Taking the lead on the turn, the 3-year-old colt by Gun Runner drew off down the stretch and was a three-length winner at the wire. OBS Spring Sale graduate Cagliostro (Upstart – A Rosefor Isabelle) finished second; June Sale grad Daydreaming Boy (Goldencents – Denali Dreamscape) checked in third. It was Il Miracolo's first stakes victory, leaving him with a 13-3-4-0 record with $311,625 in earnings for trainer Antonio Sano. At the 2022 OBS June Sale, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5 and was purchased for $70,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment. 

    Pine Brook Farm’s Foggy Night (Khozan – Settling Seas) saved ground early in the $200,000 Cathryn Sophia Stakes, found room on the rail to take command a furlong from home and drew away late to score by 2 1/4 lengths.  It’s the second stakes victory for the 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by Khozan, now 10-4-5-0 with $443,750 in earnings for trainer Robert E. Reid Jr. Consigned by Journeyman Bloodstock Services to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 3/5 and was purchased by Pine Brook for $20,000. 

    Matt Kwiatkowski, Jason Kaylor and Roger D. Browning’s Nobody Listens (Conveyance – Royalesque) rated just behind the pace in the $100,000 Parx Dash Stakes, wore down the leaders in a long stretch drive and was best by half a length at the wire. OBS June graduate Yes I Am Free (Uncaptured – Yes It’s Valid) finished third but was moved up to second by disqualification. That’s three straight wins and the fourth stakes victory for the 5-year-old son of Conveyance, trained by Tim Eggleston, now 25-13-7-1 with $572,230 in earnings. At the 2020 OBS Spring Sale, he breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 before being purchased for $40,000 out of the Southern Chase Farm consignment. 

Saturday, August 19, 2023
R Adios Jersey wins Sheer Drama . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool yielded multiple $11,351 payoffs today at Gulfstream Park, after the popular multi-race wager had gone unsolved for 20 consecutive programs.

    There was a Rainbow 6 jackpot pool carryover of $338,577 heading into the wagering on the six-race sequence that spanned Races 5-10. A total of $1,804,569 was wagered into the Rainbow 6 pool.

    War Cross (4) kicked off the sequence with an 18-1 upset victory in Race 5, followed by an impressive debut romp for juvenile Secret Chat (1) at 7-2 in Race 6.  Flag Woman (7) pull off a mild upset over even-money favorite Trust Me at 5-2 in Race 7. Volcanic (3) became the first favorite to succeed in the Rainbow 6 sequence in Race 8, scoring at 9-5.  The Sheer Drama Stakes went to even-money favorite R Adios Jersey (3) in the Race 9 feature. Macassa (1) closed out the sequence while scoring at 9-1 in Race 10.

    The Rainbow 6 will start anew Sunday, when the sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a mile optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta in Race 8. Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Time Passage, who came up less than a length short of victory after being caught up in traffic last time out, is rated as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a well-balanced field of nine.

R Adios Jersey Returns to Winning Form 

    Multiple stakes-winner R Adios Jersey returned to winning form while scoring a dominant front-running victory in the $65,000 Sheer Drama.

    In addition to her winner’s share of the base purse, the 5-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie earned a $25,000 win-only bonus offered to a Florida Sires Stakes-eligible winner of the seven-furlong stakes for Florida-bred fillies and mares.

    Winless in four starts since capturing a seven-furlong Florida-bred stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in December, the Georgina Baxter-trained R Adios Jersey looked like a winner from the start of the feature. The even-money favorite jumped to a clear early lead and was never threatened thereafter, scoring by 6 ½ lengths. She completed seven furlongs in 1:23.28 and gave jockey Edwin Gonzalez his third winning ride of the afternoon while racing without blinkers for the first time.

    “She was more like her old self today. I couldn’t be more proud,” said Baxter, who trains R Adios Jersey for Averill Racing, ATM Racing and Jayson Werth. “She has a big heart. Seven furlongs, blinkers off, and Edwin gave her a great ride.”

    Charlies Wish, a daughter of First Dude, finished second, 5 ½ lengths ahead of Race Day Speed
.

Monday, August 14, 2023
22-year-old Puerto Rican prepped in Ocala . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH – Jon Rivera celebrated the first win of his riding career after guiding Pesky to a 1 ¼-length victory in Race 2 of Sunday’s program at Gulfstream Park.

    The 22-year-old native of Puerto Rico got away from the gate sharply aboard the Arindel homebred 2-year-old colt to chase pacesetter Dudewithaname during the backstretch run of the 5 ½-furlong maiden claiming race. The 10-pound apprentice asked Pesky on the turn into the homestretch, and the Florida-bred son of Union Jackson responded to pass the tiring pacesetter and draw off to a comfortable victory.

    “I feel great. It’s a dream come true to be winning races out here and having fun,” said Rivera, whose family has been involved in racing in Puerto Rico for generations.

    Rivera ventured from Puerto Rico to Ocala to prepare for his riding career.

    “When I came here, I went to Ocala. I want to thank Abracadabra Farms for always giving me a chance,” said Rivera, who also worked for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse for a few years.

    Pesky ($9.20), Rivera’s fifth career mount, followed Juan Alvarado-trained stablemate Dot ($5.60) into the winner’s circle to complete an Arindel Daily Double ($31.60) to kick off Sunday’s card.
Monday, August 14, 2023
Florida-bred is 2-for-2 . . .

   HALLANDALE BEACH – Case Chambers’ Let Them Watch put on a show Sunday at Gulfstream Park while scoring a dominating victory in the $65,000 Sharp Susan.

    While remaining undefeated and unchallenged in her second career start, the Michael Maker trainee picked up a $25,000 win-only bonus available to a registered Florida-bred winner in the six-furlong race for juvenile fillies. Although the 4-5 favorite is a registered Florida-bred, the daughter of red-hot Kentucky stallion Maximus Mischief is not eligible for the upcoming $100,000 Desert Vixen, the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes for juvenile fillies at Gulfstream Park Sept. 9.

    Jockey Hector Diaz, who was aboard for Let Them Watch’s 6 ¼-length debut victory at Gulfstream on July 7, positioned his mount outside early pacesetter Avellino along the backstretch during a 21.90-second first quarter of a mile. Heading into the far turn, Let Them Watch kicked past the early pacesetter to quickly open a clear lead on the turn into the homestretch to virtually clinch the victory while well clear of her rivals. She shortened stride late but was never in danger of being caught and crossed the finish line 2 ¾ lengths in front.

    “When I was working her, I thought she didn’t need to be on the lead.  But she has so much speed, that she gets it. She got a little tired late because we moved a little early,” Diaz said. “I think she’s going to keep improving."

    Let Them Watch ran six furlongs in 1:12.73, Kiss rallied to finish second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Epona’s Hope.

    Diaz has made an impression since relocating to Gulfstream for the Royal Palm Meet while maintaining a 20-percent strike rate. “I wanted to try something new,” Diaz said. “I love it so far. I don’t mind the hot when I win."   

 

Monday, August 14, 2023
Dreamfyre scores by 3 1/2 . . .
    Danny A. Eplin’s Dreamfyre (Flameaway – Appreciating) took the lead at the start of the $201,000, Gr. III Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, set the pace, the drew away to score by 3 1/2 lengths over OBS 2023 March graduate Benedetta (City of Light – Tessie Flip), who rallied to be second. O. J. Jauregui trains the 2-year-old filly by Flameaway, a stakes-winner in her debut and now 2-for-2 with $165,000 in earnings. Consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds LLC (Steven Venosa), Agent to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, she was sold for $140,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. 

    Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato (Valiant Minister – Her Special Way) is 2-f-r2 and a stakes-winner after leading from wire-to-wire and taking the $90,000 Proud Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park by 4 1/4 lengths. A two-time OBS graduate, the 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Valiant Minister was sold by Stuart Morris at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 March Sale. Trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo he has earned $98,830. 

    Orpen Horses, Jack Hardin Towell Jr., and Alan Griffin’s Grannys Connection (Connect – Granny’s Drink) got the weekend off to a good start, going right to the lead in Friday’s $215,000 Union Avenue Handicap at Saratoga and never looking back en route to a 1 1/2 length victory. It’s the first stakes win for the 4-year-old daughter of Connect, trained by Thomas Morley, now 7-5-2-0 with $268,050 in earnings. At the 2021 OBS March Sale, she was purchased for $57,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. 




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Sunday, August 13, 2023
Earnings surpass $2.4 million . . .

    LRE Racing and JEH Racing’s ageless Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed – Achalaya) captured Saratoga’s $500,000, Gr. I Fourstardave Handicap for the second straight year on Saturday and earned a berth in the gate for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

    Rating off the pace on the outside, Casa Creed went after the leaders turning for home, caught familiar foe Annapolis a sixteenth from home, and was best by three-quarters of a length at the wire. The 7-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, trained by Bill Mott, is a six-time Gr. I stakes-winner. He has compiled a 33-9-5-5 career record and earned $2,460,308 since his purchase for $15,000 out of the Janie Roper consignment at the 2017 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. 

Friday, August 11, 2023
Both 2yo stakes are worth $65,000 . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Saturday’s Proud Man and Sunday’s Sharp Susan, although open stakes for 2-year-olds, will serve as unofficial preview races for the upcoming Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park.

    Seven of the eight entrants in the $65,000 Proud Man are FSS eligible, while five of the seven fillies entered in the $65,000 Sharp Susan are FSS-eligible.

    The $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies will kick off the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Sept. 9. The Proud Man and Sharp Susan will be contested at six furlongs, the distance of the first-leg races of the FSS series.

    Arindel’s Reaper, a FSS-eligible son of Brethren, enters the Proud Man as the only stakes winner in the field, having ventured to Prairie Meadows to capture the July 8 Prairie Gold Juvenile. The homebred colt dueled between horses before prevailing by a neck in the 5 ½-furlong sprint.

    Reaper is out of Horah for Bailey, whose 12 foals that have raced have all been winners, including Turbo, who finished second in both the Dr. Fager and Affirmed in last year’s FTBOA FSS series after winning first-time out.

    “Reaper’s been doing well. He came back right after he ran. He spent a week on the farm and then came down here. He’s had a couple of nice works and he’s acting like himself. I expect him to run another good race,” Arindel’s stable manager Brian Cohen said.

   “He’s got a lot of heart. There seems like they’ll be a lot of speed in the race, but we’ll let the jock decide what he wants to do,” he added. “This will probably be the toughest race he’s run. There are a couple other nice ones in there.”

    Hector Diaz Jr. is named to ride Reaper for the first time.

    Prevent, a son of Neolithic who is FSS-eligible, will run in the Proud Man for Cohen’s BC Racing LLC after graduating in his second career start.

    Arindel’s Lasso, a FSS-eligible son of Brethren who graduated by 3 ½ lengths going away in his June 3 debut, is entered in Saturday’s Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga.

    “He’s running on Saturday up there. He wants to run longer. Saratoga is 6 ½ [furlongs]. To me, he’s the best of all of them,” Cohen said. “He’s training outstanding for this race. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s [Dr. Fager] not out of the question, but we’re probably going to look at the second and third legs for him.”

   BC Racing LLC’s Dickens, who finished third in the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga after winning his debut at Gulfstream, is also an FSS candidate.

   Arindel will be represented in the Sharp Susan, by Kiss, a daughter of Army Mule who graduated at Ellis Park before finishing off the board in the Prairie Gold Lassie.

  Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., who has celebrated many FSS successes during the past 25 years, will be well-represented this weekend at Gulfstream Park by Big Effect in the Proud Man and Epona’s Hope in the Sharp Susan.

   Big Effect, a son of The Big Beast owned by Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Laurie Plesa, came up just short of winning his July 1 debut but came back to graduate impressively with a front-running 6 ¾-length romp at six furlongs July 22.

   “He showed a lot in the mornings, so I was expecting him to run good that day (July 1). I think he got out there all by himself and didn’t know what to do. For 2-year-olds, every race is an experience. He got out there and got nailed on the money. I think the horse that nailed him is a nice horse, but for my horse, part of it was just a case of experience,” Plesa said.

    In his second start, I made a point [to jockey Edgar Perez], ‘you don’t have to be on the lead.’ He broke sharp and another horse looked like he wanted the lead, so he eased him around that other horse and asked him about the quarter-pole. He ran the way I would have expected,” he added. “The first race was a lesson taught to him and he learned from it for his second start.”

    Epona’s Hope, who is also owned by Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Laurie Plesa, enters the Sharp Susan off a late-rallying victory in a 4 ½-furlong Florida-bred maiden special weight race June 9.

    “She broke OK and got shuffled back. She didn’t save any ground by any means. She came running at the end, so I think the longer the better,” Plesa said. “She’s been away for a while only because of her early success, but she’s been training really good coming into the race.”

   Plesa-trained Raging Fury, a son of Ami’s Flatter who graduated at first asking Saturday at Gulfstream Park, is also a Dr. Fager candidate.

    “We have some exciting 2-year-olds,” Plesa said. “For me anyways, when the young horses show promise this time of year, it’s a lot easier to get up in the morning. We’re right on target with these three horses.”

    Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato, who rallied to register a debut victory over Plesa-trained Big Effect, is slated to return in the Proud Man. The Jose D’Angelo-trained son of Valiant Minister is FSS eligible.

    “He’s a very nice horse we think wants to go long. We’re running him to get him ready for the Florida Sire stakes,” D’Angelo said. “He ran so good, and beat Big Effect, who will run in the race too. In his second race, Big Effect ran big. Bentornato is one of my best babies.”

    Jacks or Better Farm, Inc., which holds the FSS record with 19 series wins, will be represented in the Proud Man by Northshore Drive, who graduated last time out after finishing an even fifth in the Royal Palm Juvenile on turf. The Ralph Nicks trainee is a son of Fort Loudon, who swept the open division 2011 FFS series.

    Nicks will also saddle Stonehedge LLC’s Gentle Breeze, a 12 ¾-length debut winner in a $25,000 maiden claiming race June 25, for the Proud Man, as well as sending Stonehedge LLC’s Kitty’s Pretty into the Sharp Susan off a 5 ¾-length debut victory June 16.

   Stonehedge LLC will also be represented in the Proud Man by Keep On Coming, a Michael Yates-trained Khozan gelding who is coming off a May 3 debut victory by 5 ½ lengths.

    The only Proud Man entrant not FSS-eligible is Magic Stables LLC and Cairoli Racing Stable and Midnight Racing LLC’s highly promising Divieto, a son of Dialed In who turned in an i9mpressive 4 ½-length debut victory July 21. Divieto is trained by Antonio Sana, who trained another talented son of Dialed In, $5.5 million earner Gunnevera.

   All seven of the Proud Man entrants that are FSS eligible will also qualify for the $25,000 FTBOA bonus offered to a registered Florida-bred winner of Saturday’s six-furlong sprint. Four FSS-eligible fillies in the Sharp Susan are qualified for the $25,000 FTBOA bonus offered to a registered Florida-bred winner of Sunday’s six-furlong sprint for fillies.

    Case Chambers’ Let Them Watch is a registered Florida-bred that is eligible for the FTBOA bonus in the Sharp Susan, but the daughter of Maximus Mischief is not FSS-eligible. Michael Maker-trained Let Them Watch was a most impressive 6 ½-length debut winner at Gulfstream July 7. Christian Cruz’s She has Class, a daughter of Khozan, is FSS-eligible but is not a registered Florida-bred.

    Trainer Jena Antonucci, who saddled Arcangelo for a victory in this year’s Belmont Stakes (G1), will be represented in the Sharp Susan by John Grossi’s Racing Corp.’s Avellino, a front-running eight-length debut winner May 18. The daughter of Adios Charlie is FSS eligible.
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Wins by 6 1/2 . . .
   HALLANDALE BEACH  – Averill Racing LLC and Two Eight Racing LLC’s R Harper Rose stamped herself as a hot prospect for the upcoming FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series with a sizzling front-running debut victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

    R Harper Rose, who sported an eye-catching worktab heading into the 5 ½-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies, set fractions of 21.84 and 44.57 for the first half-mile over a sealed muddy track on her way to a final clocking in 1:04.11. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Khozan finished 6 ¼ lengths clear of Haunted under jockey Edgard Zayas.

    “I worked her last week out of the gate, and she was fast,” Zayas said. “I wasn’t expecting anything less than that. I was hoping she would win like that – pulling away – and she did. She’s Florida-bred by a Florida stallion, so hopefully we have a good one for those races.”

    The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series kicks off at Gulfstream Sept. 9 with the $100,000 Desert Vixen (fillies) and $100,000 Dr. Fager (open), a pair of six-furlong sprints for 2-year-olds sired by a nominated stallion standing in Florida. The series continues Oct. 21 with the $200,000 Susan’ Girl (Fillies) and $200,000 Affirmed (open), both at seven furlongs) and Dec. 2 with the $300,000 My Dear Girl (fillies) and $300,000 In Reality (open), both at 1 1/16 miles.

    BC Racing LLC’s Haunted, a FSS-eligible daughter of Khozan, rallied to finish second over Corinne and William Heiligbrodt’s Etrurian, a daughter of Bucchero who is also eligible for the FSS series.

    Zayas returned in Race 6 to guide Laurie Plesa and Donald Mensh’s Raging Fury to a debut victory in a 5 ½ furlong maiden special weight race for Florida-bred 2-year-olds. The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained son of Ami’s Flatter rallied from several lengths back to catch Love Unlimited Thoroughbreds Ltd.’s Arrogancy by a neck. Raging Fury is not eligible for the FSS series.

    Raging Fury, the 4-5 favorite, was the seventh of eight winners in the last two days for Zayas, who won four races each day. In addition to his successes aboard R Harper Rose and Raging Fury, he also visited the winner’s circle Saturday with the Joseph-trained Preemption in Race 3 and Plesa-trained Rockin Roller in Race 7.

    “Thankfully, I’ve been doing good. I’ve been getting a lot of good opportunities,” said Zayas, who has a 26-percent strike rate during the Royal Palm Meet. “I haven’t been traveling much lately. I’ll be around for the next several weeks, so hopefully we can keep rolling.”