HALLANDALE BEACH - Troy Johnson and Charles and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, a disappointing third as the favorite to open the Florida Sire Stakes series last month, slipped through an opening along the rail leaving the far turn and drew clear for a 4 ½-length victory in the $200,00 Susan’s Girl at Gulfstream Park.0

    The seven-furlong Susan’s Girl, second leg in the FSS series for juvenile fillies by accredited Florida stallions, was the last of three stakes on a 12-race program following Loco Abarrio’s mild upset of the $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap for 3-year-olds and up and undefeated Rated by Merit’s popular romp in the $200,000 Affirmed for 2-year-olds.

    Ridden by Miguel Vasquez for trainer Carlos David, Win N Your In ($6.80) completed the distance in 1:25.23 over a fast main track. It was a sharp bounce-back effort for the daughter of Win Win Win after being beaten 6 ¼ lengths in the six-furlong Desert Vixen on Sept. 7.

    “It was the heat. It was really hot that day,” David said. “Some horses don’t handle it well and she’s one of them. She just doesn’t like it. I told the guys that as long as we have good weather she’s going to rock it, and she did. Thank God for the good weather today.”

    Midwest shipper Rogue Diamond, making just her second career start, broke alertly from Post 2 in a field of seven and immediately sprang to the lead, going the opening quarter-mile in :22.39 seconds pressed to her outside by Desert Vixen winner and 3-5 favorite R Morning Brew. Vasquez settled Win N Your In along the rail in third with 30-1 shot I’malwaysthinking fourth.

    Rogue Diamond began to tire leaving the backstretch but Vasquez maintained his inside position and scooted past the fading leader approaching the stretch following a half-mile in :46.10. Win N Your In opened up once straightened for home and was unchallenged to the wire, with 45-1 shot Kip the Distance beating R Morning Brew by 2 ¾ lengths for second.

    Don’t Fool With Me, I’malwaysthinking, Rogue Diamond and Wiggle An’ Wine completed the order of finish.

    “The initial plan was to go to the lead,” David said. “Her best performances have been on the lead, so I told Miguel, ‘I would encourage you to go to the lead if you can get it and just kind of set the pace, but if they go just stay back a little bit and let them do their thing and come around.’

    “She does well taking back a little bit, too, and stalking,” he added. “I was a little worried coming around the turn because [Rogue Diamond] was stopping a little bit and I was like, ‘We’re going to get stopped.’ She’s gone to the rail before and she does well doing it, so we got lucky there. She drew off and she’s just great. She’s little, but she can run.”

    Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew, trained by Sunshine Meet leader Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Edgard Zayas, lost for the first time after winning her first two starts by 10 combined lengths.

    “It’s horse racing,” Zayas said. “Last time we beat that filly pretty easily. This time, she got the jump on us and opened up and kept on going. I guess that’s the way she wants to be ridden. Last time, she got in traffic and didn’t fire. Next time, in the third leg, hopefully our filly will run her race.”

    Saturday’s outcome means the juvenile filly series won’t be swept for the 11th straight year, since Scandalous Act in 2013. The series wraps up with the $400,000 My Dear Girl going 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 30.

    “I like her going farther,” David said. “I think she’s going to do well.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - St. Elias Stable’s Rated by Merit looms as a strong favorite in a field of seven entered  for the $200,000 Affirmed, next Saturday’s second leg of the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

    The homebred son of Battalion Runner is undefeated and untested in two career starts, including a 6 ¼-length romp in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the six-furlong first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series. The Michael Yates trainee scored by 9 ¾ lengths in his July 13 debut at six furlongs, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the fastest produced by a 2-year-old in 2024 at the time. He followed up with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure while setting a stakes record (1:09.45) in his Dr. Fager win. Jesus Rios, who was aboard for Rated by Merit’s two dominating wins, has the return mount.

    Ian Parsard, Stefania Farms and Shining Stables’ Neoequos, a son of Neolithic who contested the early pace early before settling for second in the Dr. Fager, is scheduled to return in the Affirmed. Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course, who finished third in the Dr. Fager after losing a photo finish for win in the Proud Man Stakes, is also entered.

    Arindel’s Lou, John Minchello’s Zizka, and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Big Paradise round out the field.

    Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew was entered to seek her third victory without defeat in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for juvenile fillies that will co-headline next Saturday’s program.
The daughter of Curlin’s Honor, who followed up a 4 ½-length debut victory with a 5 ½-length score in the $100,000 FSS Desert Vixen Sept. 7, is slated to face 6 rivals in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has awarded the return mount to Edgard Zayas.

    Christian Maingot and trainer Jose Pinchin’s Wiggle an’ Wine and Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Desert Vixen are scheduled to return in the Susan’s Girl.  Win N Your In finished three quarters of a length behind Wiggle an’ Wine after finishing 4 ¾ lengths clear of the Pinchin trainee while winning the Sharp Susan Aug. 10.

    Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Rogue Diamond, an impressive two-length debut winner for trainer Larry Rivelli at Hawthorne, is scheduled to make her FSS debut in the Susan’s Girl. Stonehedge’s Don’t Fool With Me, Shadybrook Farm’s I’malwaysthinking, and trainer Angel Rodriguez’s Kip the Distance round out the field.

    The two featured stakes will be supported on an 11-race program by the $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap, which drew a field of 7 including Arindel’s Octane, who won the Gr. III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn.

    Before she went through the ring at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 October Yearling Sale, Hip 459 already held a special place in the heart of Katie Liebe as the filly represented the first horse she had bred herself. Once the daughter of Complexity exited the auction arena, she carried with her another distinction for Liebe and her husband Norman Dellheim, that being the title of sales topper.

    Consigned by Thoroughstock, Agent, the dark bay or brown filly by Complexity sold to Jimbo and Torie Gladwell of Top Line Sales for $150,000 on Tuesday to top the two-day OBS October auction held Oct. 7-8.

    Out of the Badge of Silver mare Silver Lantana, the Complexity filly is a half-sister to stakes placed winner Six the Hard Way. Silver Lantana is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Lantana Mob.

    “This is my first time selling a horse like this. I’m from the hunter/jumper world and this is my first homebred, the first one where I had the mare and everything,” Liebe said. “I just think she has flawless conformation, and her dam line is really hot right now, as well as Complexity so it was just the perfect match. She does look the part, she’s a very classy filly. She’s like a puppy dog. Even my 4- and 6-year-old could lead her around. We’re very happy.”

    Torie Gladwell said the filly’s physical attributes and active family made her Top Line’s top choice of the OBS catalog. “She was our pick for the whole sale,” she said. “She was our favorite individual: early, fast, sound for a pinhook. We bought her for a partnership so some of our partners are really excited about buying into her. It will probably be March (that she’ll sell) if she’s early enough, maybe April. That’s where she’ll probably end up.”

    Hip 459 was one of seven horses to bring six figures during the OBS October auction, equaling the number of horses who broke that barrier at last year’s sale.

    The sale’s second highest price came when Hip 385, a gray or roan colt by Win Win Win, sold for $135,000 to No Money No Honey, Agent. Consigned by Kaizen Sales, the colt is out of the stakes winning Marciano mare Prize Informant, herself an OBS sales graduate.

    “He was just a very athletic individual,” Richard Kent of Kaizen Sales said of the colt. “His 3-year-old half-brother Jasper Robusto is running extremely well in Japan right now and running in a stakes race on the weekend. But it was the individual that sold. He is very well balanced for a big colt and people liked his athletic look.”

Three horses were hammered down for $130,000.

Hip No. 280, Boujify, a daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify, sold to D. J. Stable LLC for $130,000. The dark bay or brown filly, consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock, Agent, is out of stakes winner Financial Recovery, by Street Cry (IRE). The filly was the only offspring by Justify offered in the sale.

    “Bringing a Justify down here, he’s doing so well,” Brennan said. “She has a very good pedigree, it’s an active family. The family has sold really well in the past at 2-year-old sales and yearling sales. We felt that (this sale) was a good fit. She’s nearly a June foal. I think the good horsemen saw past the fact that she was a little immature and really has a lot of potential. I’m tickled.”

    BD. J. Stable LLC also paid $130,000 for Hip No. 462, a daughter of Vekoma consigned by Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy), Agent.  The dark bay or brown filly is out of Sinister Siren, by Empire Maker, from the family of champion and OBS graduate Delightful Mary.

    Other six figure horses included Champions Equine LLC going to $100,000 for Hip No. 249, a son of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Beth Bayer, Agent. The bay colt, a half-brother to graded stakes placed Golden Alchemist, is out of stakes placed Lemon de Oro, by Lemon Drop Kid.

    Hip No. 516, a son of Midshipman consigned by Abbie Road Farm (Lisa McGreevy), Agent, also brought $100,000, selling to Dilligaf. The bay colt is out of Thank You Note, by Uncle Mo, a daughter of stakes winner Coarsegold.

    Tuesday’s session generated a gross of $4,050,200 from 187 head sold with an average of $21,659 and median of $13,000. For the entire sale, 291 horses sold for a total of $5,804,100 compared with 384 grossing $7,670,600 a year ago. The average price was $19,945 compared with $19,976 in 2023, while the median price was $12,000 compared with $13,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 37.5% compared to 34.6% a year ago.

    The 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale had an abbreviated opening session on Oct. 7 when the sale was moved up one day due to severe weather concerns. After selling Hips 1-200 on Monday, Hips No’s 201 –595 were offered on Tuesday including those yearlings supplemented into the catalog.

    “I think one of the great things about OBS is the fact upper management and the team, they recognize when they need to alter a path and try and make things better not only for the buyers and the sellers but most importantly for the horses,” said Jon Green of D. J. Stable, who led all buyers by gross with four head purchased for a total of $355,000. “I think that in a perfect world, the sale would have gone off without a hitch but we’re not in a perfect world and sometimes you have to pivot and be flexible.”

    Abbie Road Farm was the leading consignor with 30 sold for a total of $841,600.

    Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company announced on Monday that award-winning writer Alicia Hughes has been named to the position of Director of Communications.

    Hughes comes to OBS with nearly three decades of experience covering and working in the Thoroughbred industry. A resident of Lexington, Hughes formerly served as the lead turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader, Racing Editor for BloodHorse publications, and Director of Communications for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

   Hughes is a past president of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters and was the 2021 recipient of the Charles W. Engelhard Award from the KTA-KTOB for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry. She was also honored with the 2020 Legacy Legends Awards at the Derby Diversity and Business Summit for being a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion.

    “OBS has a history that is synonymous with quality, and it is a privilege to join such a passionate and dedicated staff,” Hughes said. “I look forward to amplifying the exceptional work being done at OBS as well as the breeders, consignors, and buyers who drive the commercial marketplace.”

“We are excited to add Alicia to the OBS team,” said Tom Ventura, OBS President. “Her credentials speak volumes and we feel fortunate to add her talent with a depth of knowledge, experience and respect in the horse business.”

    Flanagan Racing’s Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie – Bernadreamy), last in the early going of the $500,000, Gr. I Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct, circled the field in the five path, took charge a sixteenth from home and eased away to score by 2 3/4 lengths. Fellow OBS Spring Sale graduate Mo Plex ( Complexity – Mo Joy) checked in third.

    Chancer McPatrick is three for three with two Gr. I victories for trainer Chad Brown, has earned $495,000 and a slot in the gate in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat and was purchased by Kimmel & Sallusto, Agent, for $725,000.

    Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable and Jorge R. Abreu’s Scottish Lassie (McKinzie – Bodebabe) went into the $400,000, Gr. I Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct a maiden and came back a Gr. I stakes- winner with an invitation to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The 2-year-old daughter of McKinzie tracked the leaders from third, took over after turning for home and drew away in the stretch to win by nine lengths. Consigned to the 2024 OBS March Sale by Gene Recio, Agent, she was sold for $85,000 to Parkland Thoroughbreds after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. 

    West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey’s millionaire Carson’s Run (Cupid – Hot N Hectic), last early in the $500,000, Gr. III Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct, rallied wide on the turn and into the stretch, took command a furlong out and was best by three quarters of a length. It’s the third stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Cupid trained by Christophe Clement, now 9-5-2-0 with $1,574,629 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $170,000 out of the Randy Miles consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Just two wins away from the 4,000-win milestone, jockey Paco Lopez has five scheduled mounts on Friday’s nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

    The 38-year-old South Florida mainstay, who rode three winners Wednesday at Parx, is slated to ride two morning-line favorites from his five mounts Friday at Gulfstream Park before moving on to Keeneland for the weekend.

    Lopez, a Veracruz, Mexico native who rode his first winner at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, FL in 2007, has enjoyed many of his career highlights at Gulfstream Park, including his first graded-stakes victory aboard Smooth Air in the 2009 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2), currently the Gulfstream Park Mile, and a Grade 1-stakes success aboard Lukes Alley in the 2016 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, currently contested as the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). He won his first Grade 1 race aboard Itsmyluckyday in the 2014 Woodward after guiding the Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee to victory in the Gulfstream Park Derby the year prior.

            Lopez, who won the 2008 Eclipse Award as North America’s champion apprentice while riding in South Florida, will get his day started Friday in Race 2 aboard Cajun Fool, the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven. The Luis Ramirez-trained son of Cajun Breeze will make his second start at the $8000 claiming level for non-winners of two lifetime while cutting back from seven to six-furlongs.

            Lopez will come right back in Race 3, a five-furlong maiden special weight event for Florida-bred 3-year-olds on Tapeta, aboard Asher’s Edge, the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven. The David Fawkes-trained Asher’s Edge is coming off back-to-back photo-finish runner-up finishes.

            Lopez is named aboard Roscoe Village, rated second at 3-1 on the morning-line in a field of eight, in Race 5, a 1 1/16-mile $30,000 filly & mare claimer on turf. Fernando Abreu-trained Roscoe Village, who drops from optional claiming allowance company, will challenge Jose D’Angelo-trained Catholika, the 2-1 morning-line favorite who is dropping from an even effort in the Miss Gracie Stakes.

            The fan-favorite rider will try to light up the toteboard following Race 6, a six-furlong maiden special weight sprint for 3-year-olds and up, aboard Abreu-trained Nando, rated 12-1 in a field of eight. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained God’s Timing, a debuting 3-year-old son of Catalina Cruiser, is rated as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

            Lopez will finish his one-day stopover at Gulfstream aboard Forwardly in Race 8, a mile run for 3-year-olds and up non-winners of three racing for an $8000 claiming price. Fawkes-trained Forwardly is rated second at 2-1 on the morning line coming off a second-place finish behind Starship Mocha, Friday’s even-money favorite who registered a front-running victory in their most recent encounter. Lopez was aboard Forwardly during his last visit to Gulfstream.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Attorney David Romanik and trainer Ron Spatz’s Most Handsome, a rallying winner in his recent debut, went right to the front in Saturday’s $95,000 Hollywood Beach and held on gamely to win his stakes debut by a head.

    The 9-5 favorite in a field of eight 2-year-olds, who debuted on Tapeta, was certainly not at a disadvantage when the five-furlong turf stakes was transferred to the all-weather surface earlier in the day. “I was happy about it. Why wouldn’t I be? He already won on Tapeta,” Spatz said. “But I think he’ll turf too.”

    Most Handsome broke from the outside post position and outsprinted Mila’s Wish and Moon Factor to grab the lead heading into the far turn. The gelded son of Pleasant Acres' stallion Neolithic traveled comfortably around the turn under Drayden Van Dyke and turned into the stretch with a clear lead. After turning in fractions of :21.23 and :44.96 for the first half mile, Most Handsome began to shorten stride late but managed to edge a resurgent Milo’s Wish for the win.

    “I was just going to let him break as-is. I could tell in the post parade that he was going to be more forward than he was last time. He was on the muscle, and I was happy with that,” Van Dyke said. “He broke running, and I was telling Ronnie that he was wanting to lean in a little bit with me today, and he did that a little bit his first time out, but he’s a 2-year-old, so he’ll grow out of that. But he’s got talent. He’s got a nice future ahead of him.”

    Most Handsome ran five furlongs on Tapeta in :57.10 seconds to remain undefeated in two starts. Milo’s Wish, a Michael Yates-trained son of Cajun Breeze, finished a length ahead of Noble N Magical. Ghostly Rose was another head back in fourth.

Rainbow 6 Solved for Jackpot Hit

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved for a $58,833 jackpot payoff Saturday. The multi-race wager had gone unsolved for only one day following a mandatory payout last Sunday. There was a jackpot carryover of $9,591 going into Rainbow 6 wagering Saturday.

    The Rainbow 6 will start anew today. The sequence will span Races 5-10, kicked off by a maiden special weight on turf for 2-year-olds.

    Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato (Valiant Minister – Her Special Way) battled for the lead from the start of Saturday’s $400,000, Gr. II Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing, surrendered the lead a quarter mile out then came again late and scored by a neck. It’s the first graded stakes victory for the four-time stakes-winner trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo, now 8-5-1-2 with $791,830 in earnings.

    The 3-year-old Florida-bred colt is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Stuart Morris at the 2022 October Yearling Sale then purchased for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 March Sale after turning in and Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5.

    OBS March graduate Ecoro Sieg (Twirling Candy – Lily Pod) could be on his way to Del Mar from Japan for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint after a 2 1/2-length record-breaking win at Nakayama on Saturday. The 2-year-old colt by Twirling Candy took over after a quarter and was never threatened on his way to victory in a track and Japanese 2-year-old record 1:07.2 for six furlongs. Unbeaten after two starts, the colt by Twirling Candy, trained by Hideyuki Mori for Mastatoshi Hakamura, was purchased for $250,000 by his trainer out of the GOP Racing Stable Corp. consignment at the 2024 March Sale after speeding an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. 

    Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford H. Robbins’ With the Angels (Omaha Beach – Sister Margaret) is two-or-two by a combined 22 lengths after a front-running 9 3/4-length victory in the $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday. Trained by Linda Rice, the 2-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach has earned $118,250. At the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 and was purchased for $350,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment.

    JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis’ Henro (Collected – Street Minstrel) was last of six early in Churchill’s $300,000 Harrods Creek Stakes, but came running in the stretch, took command a sixteenth from home and won going away by a length and a quarter. It’s the second stakes win for the 3-year-old son of OBS graduate Collected, trained by Chris Hartman, now 9-4-1-0 with $545,889 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS March Sale, he was purchased for $45,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.  

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Renzo Rojas, who won more than 800 races in Peru, rode his first winner in the U.S. on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The 25-year-old jockey guided Sultan the Great to victory in Race 6, a six-furlong $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up.

   “I’m very happy. This has been my dream since becoming a jockey in Peru,” Rojas said through an interpreter. Rojas, who connected on his 21st mount since arriving at Gulfstream during the summer, is represented by Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado.

Memory of Chuck Simon Honored in Gulfstream Winner’s Circle

    Friends of Chuck Simon gathered in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following Sunday’s Race 6 to honor the memory of the highly respected late trainer and unwavering advocate for Thoroughbred racing, aftercare, and workers on the backstretch. Simon used his role as co-host of the popular podcast ‘Going in Circles’ with Barry Spears as a platform for his passion to improve the lives of those horsemen, fans and bettors who form the backbone of the Thoroughbred sport.

    Simon was based his stable at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility, for several years prior to his retirement in 2019.

    A native of Saratoga Springs, Simon started in harness racing before graduating from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program and serving as an assistant to Hall of Famers Nick Zito, H. Allen Jerkens and D. Wayne Lukas. Simon’s stable was based year-round at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training center in Palm Beach County, for several years prior to his retirement from training.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - A brilliant debut winner seven weeks earlier, St. Elias Stable ‘s Rated by Merit offered an encore performance extraordinaire Saturday at Gulfstream Park, scoring a dominating 6 ¼-length victory in stakes-record time in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, kicking off the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series in style.

    The Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open division for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions, co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies won earlier in the day by R Morning Brew.

    Rated by Merit made a splash in his July 13 debut, scoring by 9 ¾ lengths and running six furlongs in 1:10.55. The son of Battalion Runner earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the highest produced by all 2-year-olds in the country until Ferocious, a $1.3 million yearling purchase, was credited with a 96 following his impressive debut at Saratoga two weeks later. Rated By Merit’s speed figure remains the second highest for a 2-year-old this year.

    Saturday, he returned to action with a thoroughly professional performance while running six furlongs in 1:09.45, bettering Three Rules’ 1:09.49 clocking in the 2016 Dr. Fager.

    The 2-5 favorite broke alertly from the No. 8 post position under jockey Jesus Rios to settle outside pacesetter Neoequos along the backstretch and into the far turn. Turning into the stretch, Classic of Course slipped through an opening inside Neoequos to take a brief lead into the stretch, while a three-wide Rated for Merit was asked for his kick. The Florida-bred colt, who was never far off sharp fractions of :21.73 and :44.93 during the first half-mile, responded instantly and drew off to score a comfortable victory.

    “It kind of went as I thought it would. He’s trained like he could do that. There was speed inside of him and he stalked the speed, and when it was time to run, he accelerated,” trainer Michael Yates said.

    Neoequos came back to edge Classic of Course by 1 ¾ lengths for second.

    In the aftermath of such a brilliant debut, Rated by Merit’s second career start had been widely anticipated, but Yates maintained his focus on developing the exciting prospect, who breezed four times since his first start.

    “I would say I felt like I was under a lot of pressure. The horse was doing well. I have a lot more horses that put more pressure on me than him,” Yates said. “He’s very uncomplicated. He does things very easily and he’s a fast horse. He’s one of the least complicated horses we have in the barn, so I haven’t felt a lot of pressure, honestly.”

    The Florida Sire Stakes series will continue on Oct. 19 with the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies. The final leg of the series will be held on the opening weekend of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet with the running of the $300,000 In Reality and the $300,000 My Dear Girl for fillies on Nov. 30. The Affirmed will be contested at seven-furlongs, while the In Reality will be run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.

            Yates is confident Rated By Merit will handle two turns, and said all options will be explored before deciding what’s next.

    “At the end of the day, it’s more about developing the horse. That’s the whole goal – to bring him along and develop him,” Yates said. “He’s getting quite developed.”

    Flanagan Racing’s Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie – Bernadreamy) trailed early after an eventful beginning at the start of Monday’s $300,000, Gr. I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, but circled horses on the turn and came seven wide into the lane. Sustaining his run down the stretch, he reached the lead inside the sixteenth pole and held off a late charge by fellow OBS graduate Ferocious (Flatter – Napier) to win by half a length.

    The 2-year-old colt by McKinzie, trained by Chad Brown, is unbeaten after two starts and has earned $220,000. At the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, he turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat and was purchased for $725,000 out of the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment by Kimmel & Sallusto, Agents.  

    Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth (Good Magic – Hoppa), on furlough since taking the Gr. I Arkansas Derby in March, returned to work on Sunday at Del Mar. Pressing the pace in the $156,000 Shared Belief Stakes, he took command a quarter mile out, eased away down the stretch and scored by two lengths. It’s the fourth stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Good Magic, trained by Bob Baffert, now 7-5-2-0 with $1,579,100 in earnings. 

    Arena Racing Company (“ARC”), Britain’s largest racing group, and 1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company, today announce a new partnership to open new opportunities across some of their feature races.

    The winners of a selection of prestigious races at Doncaster Racecourse, home of the Betfred St. Leger Stakes, the World’s Oldest Classic, will be offered free entry to races across 1/ST’s portfolio of elite tracks in the United States, including for the inaugural California Crown race day at Santa Anita Park on 28 September, and on the prestigious Pegasus World Cup program held at Gulfstream Park on 25 January 2025.

    At the upcoming Betfred St Leger Festival, the winners of the Group 2 Betfred May Hill Stakes will receive free entry to the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (GII), run over 1m 1/16f at Gulfstream Park in January 2025. Equally, the winner of the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes will receive free entry to the $750,000 California Crown Eddie D. Turf Sprint (GII), run over 6½ furlongs at Santa Anita Park at the end of September.

    For the first time, Season 12 of the All-Weather Championships will open Finals Day qualification to any horses to running three times over the season on an artificial surface in the USA, in addition to runs in the UK, Ireland or France.

    As such, the winner of the Carousel Club Handicap at Gulfstream Park on 25 January will receive free entry to the All-Weather Championships Mile Final at Newcastle Racecourse on Good Friday, with two other qualifying runs. Season 12 of the All-Weather Championships begins in October 2024 across the six all-weather racecourses in Britain culminating with £1,000,000 Finals Day at Newcastle on Good Friday, 18 April 2025.

    In addition to the free entry to each of these races, ARC and 1/ST will support the connections of any qualifying horse with a subsidy towards their travel.

    This agreement follows on from the recent announcement of a new strategic alliance between ARC, 1/ST, Tabcorp and Racecourse Media Group to create a network of rights holders that will distribute content across multiple international markets.

    Director of Media and International at ARC, Brendan Parnell, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with 1/ST to offer the winners of two of the most high-profile races during the Betfred St Leger Festival the opportunity to take up some exciting opportunities in the USA.

    “Likewise, in extending the qualification criteria for the All-Weather Championships, and the link with Gulfstream Park, we hope that we might look to add some further international interest in the £1,000,000 Good Friday fixture, alongside the long standing Irish and French participation.”

    Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST, said: “We’re thrilled to expand our existing partnership with ARC. Working with Doncaster and its revered St Leger Festival is truly a privilege, while we’re also looking forward to sending over a horse for the All-Weather Championships next Spring at Newcastle. Collectively, we’re playing our part to bring US and UK racing closer together across elite races on all surfaces.

    “By coupling timeless tradition to forward-thinking innovation, via newly-conceived concepts like the California Crown at Santa Anita Park on 28 September (California's richest day of racing outside the Breeders’ Cup), we will only build on this association and progressive program in the years ahead. At 1/ST, our goal is always the betterment of top-class international fields, a cornerstone project in growing and sustaining the sport we love on both sides of the pond.”

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 25 and the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 29, will launch its 2024-2025 season Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and run through March 30, 2025.

   The Championship Meet, winter home of the top horses, horsemen and jockeys in the world, will play host to 66 stakes races – 30 graded – totaling $15.025 million. Opening weekend begins with 2-year-old turf stakes Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Nov. 29, and the $600,000 finals of the Florida Sire Stakes Saturday, Nov. 30.

    Pegasus World Cup Day will offer eight stakes races – seven graded plus two overnight handicaps - totaling $5.55 million. Along with the $3 million World Cup and $1 million World Cup Turf, the day will also feature the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2), $200,000 Inside Information (G2) for fillies and mares, the $200,000 W.L. McKnight (G3) for 4-year-olds and up and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) for 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares, both at 1 ½ miles on the turf, and the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the main track.

    The $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, for 4-year-olds and up on the turf, is expected to draw a crowd as are two overnight handicaps run on Gulfstream’s Tapeta track – the $100,000 Carousel Club and $100,000 South Beach.

    In just eight years the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf have hosted Horses of the Year in Gun Runner, California Chrome, Knicks Go and Bricks and Mortar, as well as two-time Longines World’s Best Racehorse Arrogate. The race has also attracted runners from England, Ireland and Japan, as well as the world’s most noted celebrities and entertainers.

    The Curlin Florida Derby highlights 10 stakes totaling $2.5 million – five graded – including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, two 1 ½ mile turf events in the $200,000 Pan American (G2) for older horses and $150,000 Orchid (G3) for fillies and mares, and the $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up on the main track. The Florida Derby continues to be the leader in establishing classic winners. There have been 46 Florida Derby starters that have won a remarkable 59 Triple Crown events, including 25 Kentucky Derbys.

    Meanwhile, last winter’s Gulfstream Park Oaks produced Alabama (G1) winner Power Squeeze, Test (G1) winners Ways and Means, Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner Gun Song, and Monmouth Oaks (G2) winner Scalable.

    Two big days with major preps for the spring classics lead up to the Curlin Florida Derby.

    On Feb. 1, the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) is the featured event of a five stakes program that includes three other graded races - the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) on the main track, $150,000 Kitten’s Joy (G3) and $150,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) on turf.

    The final preps for the Curlin Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks is March 1. The nine stakes program – eight graded - is led by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), won by Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Dornoch last winter, and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2).

    Gulfstream’s renowned 3-year-old series begins Jan. 4 with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man followed by the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. The 3-year-old filly series begins Jan. 1 with the $100,000 Cash Run at a mile, followed by the Forward Gal, Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks on Derby Day.

    Gulfstream’s turf course will offer a plethora of opportunities for all horses during the Championship Meet. In December, 3-year-olds and up will have the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at two miles and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at 1 1/8 miles.

     From January through March, older turf horses and fillies and mares will each have eight turf stakes available at a mile or more. Five of the eight in both divisions will be graded. Turf sprinters will also have plenty of opportunities. Fillies and mares will contest the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint and $100,000 Captiva Island while 4-year-olds and up will contest the Gulfstream Turf Sprint and $100,000 Silks Run.

OBS grads enjoyed three stakes victories at Colonial Downs:     

    Amerman Racing’s Trikari (Oscar Performance – Dynamic Holiday) is the latest OBS millionaire after taking Sunday’s $500,000, Gr. II Secretariat Stakes.  The 3-year-old colt relaxed off the pace, advanced on the turn to reach contention, took command a furlong out and scored by 2 1/4 lengths for his third graded stakes victory. Trained by Graham Motion, he’s now 8-5-1-1 and has earned $1,303,530. Consigned by Ordonez Thoroughbreds, Agent, to the 2022 October Yearling Sale, he was purchased by Amerman Racing for $27,500.  

    Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Beauty of the Sea (Bucchero – Belong To Sea) pressed the pace between horses in the $150,000 Andy Guest Stakes, took charge a furlong from home and was best by a length and a half. It’s the third stakes victory for the 4-year-old Florida-bred filly, consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock to the 2022 OBS June Sale, where she went through the ring after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5. Trained by Joe Orseno, she’s now 11-6-2-0 with $334,410 in earnings.  

    Exline-Border Racing, Peter Eurton, Richard Hausman and Stonestreet Stables’s Dream Shake (Twirling Candy – Even Song), on furlough since last November, returned to the races in style on Sunday, rallying from off the pace in the $163,250 Van Clief Stakes, collaring the leaders in deep stretch and proving best by three quarters of a length. It’s the second stakes victory for the graded stakes-winning 6-year-old son of Twirling Candy, purchased for $75,000 out of the Cary Frommer consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale by Marette Farrell, Agent for Exline-Border Racing, after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Trained by Michael Stidham, he’s now 16-5-1-3 and has earned $583,010.  

    Zedan Racing Stables’ Nooni (Win Win Win – Unanimity) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner after a frontrunning 1 1/4-length victory in Del Mar’s $150,000, Gr. III Sorrento Stakes on Saturday. The 2-year-old daughter of Win Win Win  trained by Bob Baffert has earned $122,400. At the 2024 OBS Ma rch Sale, she breezed an Under Tack quarter in a track- record-equaling :20 1/5 and was purchased for a sale-topping $1.8 million by Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing.      

    FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming – New Narration), idle since March, returned to work on Sunday at Ellis Park in the $150,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Stakes. Going to the front at the start, the 4-year-old graded stakes-winning son of Always Dreaming shook loose in the stretch and eased away to a 1 3/4-length victory. Now 10-5-2-1 for trainer Brad Cox, he has earned $3,070,985. He was consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent, to the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, and sold for $240,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. 

    Rigney Racing’s Halina’s Forte (Mitole – Lunarlady) broke slowly at the start of Saturday’s $150,000 Galway Stakes at Saratoga, but tracked the leaders in the early going, moved inside for the stretch drive and was up late to win by a head. That’s two stakes victories for the 3-year-old Florida-bred filly by champion OBS graduate Mitole, sold for $130,000 by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), at the 2022 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Now 9-4-2-1 for trainer Philip A. Bauer, she has earned $331,870.   

    K E M Racing Stable’s Stormcast (Mitole – Scolara) took the lead at the start of Saturday’s $250,500 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine and never looked back en route to a 7 3/4-length victory. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of champion OBS graduate Mitole, now 6-2-3-1 with $202,870 in earnings for trainer Mark Casse.  At the 2023 OBS March Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in 10.1 and was purchased for $95,000 out of the Halcyon Hammock Farm consignment. 

A pair of OBS graduates scored stakes victories on Saturday at Gulfstream.

    Mr Pug and J.P.G. 2’s Naughty Rascal (Rogueish – Baby Doll) is two for two and a stakes-winner after taking Saturday’s $95,000 Proud Man Stakes, coming from off the pace, battling head-to-head down the stretch and scoring by a neck. Trained by Gerald Bennett, the 2-year-old colt has earned $77,650. At the 2024 OBS March Sale, he was purchased for $39,000 out of the de Meric Sales consignment after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat.   

    Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In (Win Win Win – Hello Rosie) took command after half a mile in the $95,000 Sharp Susan Stakes and romped to a 4 3/4-length victory with fellow OBS graduate Bee a Queen (Khozan – Queen Brunette) checking in third. It was the stakes debut for the 2-year-old Florida-bred filly, purchased for $12,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Trained by Carlos David she’s now 3-2-0-I and has earned $87,950.

    JR Ranch, Ramiro Restrepo, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments’ Ferocious (Flatter – Napier) broke a step slowly in his debut in a maiden special weight test at Saratoga, but moved quickly to reach contention, took charge after turning for home and drew off effortlessly to win by 7 3/4 lengths. Gustavo Delgado trains the 2-year-old son of Flatter, consigned to the 2024 OBS March Sale by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent, and sold to Marquee Bloodstock for $1,300,000 after breezing an eighth in :9 4/5 at the Under Tack Show.

    At Del Mar, trainer O. J. Jauregui sent Craig W. Drager, Rick Johnson and Jose Parga’s Jack’s Magic Girl (Good Magic – Stargirl) out for her maiden special debut and the 2-year-old daughter of Good Magic was much the best, coming from behind to charge past fellow OBS graduate Caitlin Fever (Caracaro – Caroline’s Spirit) in the stretch and win going away by 3 1/4 lengths. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale, she was sold for $100,000 after working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.    

    Qatar Racing’s Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief – Pearl River) sat just off the pace in the $400,000, Gr. III Pucker Up Stakes on Sunday at Ellis Park, but she rallied down the stretch and got up in the final strides to score by a head. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old daughter of OBS graduate and leading sire Into Mischief, purchased for $575,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 4-2-0-1 for trainer Brendan Walsh, she has earned $307,247.   

    Granpollo Stable’s Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo – Lilies So Fair) saved ground after a rough start in Saturday’s $85,000 Bear’s Den Stakes at Gulfstream, swung out for the drive, reached the lead a furlong out and was best by a neck at the wire. Fellow OBS graduate Prevent (Neolithic – Bossy Gal) settled for third. Trained by Victor Barboza Jr., the 3-year-old graded stakes-placed colt by Uncle Mo is now 8-3-0-4 and has earned $259,200. He was consigned by Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, Agent, to the 2023 OBS March Sale, and went through the ring after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat.   

    Jim and Susan Hill’s Highway Robber (Hard Spun – Yabba), well off the pace in Sunday’s $300,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes at Ellis Park, rallied wide to take command a quarter mile from home and was best by a length at the finish. It’s the first stakes victory for the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun, trained by Brian Lynch, now 9-4-1-1 with $441,013 in earnings. At the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, he breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 and was purchased out of the Vickers Racing consignment for $30,000.  

    Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables’ Governor Sam (Improbable – I’m Betty G) is two for three and a stakes- winner after charging down the stretch in Saturday’s $100,000 Tyro Stakes and getting up late to win by a neck, with fellow OBS graduate Kirin (Lord Nelson – Wealth Effect) checking in third. The 2-year-old colt by Improbable was sold for $275,000 by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale after speeding an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. He’s trained by George Weaver and has earned $117,850.

    OBS grads enjoyed a productive opening weekend at Del Mar with a pair of stakes victories and an impressive score by a first-time starter.

    Little Red Feather Racing, John Hundley Jr, Marsha Naify, John Snyder and Stacey Snyder’s Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy – Silver Screamer) is three for three and a graded stakes-winner after a game three-quarter length victory in the $202,500, Gr. II San Clemente Handicap on Saturday. The 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, trained by Philip D’Amato, has earned $189,600. Consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by GOP Racing Stable, she was sold for $145,000 after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5.  

    Bob Baffert unveiled Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Casalu (Caracaro – Key D’oro) on Sunday in a maiden special weight test and the 2-year-old daughter of Caracaro made no mistakes, taking the lead at the break, shaking loose on the turn and drawing away to a 5 1/2-length victory, attaining TDN “Rising Star” status.  Fellow OBS graduate Oveta’s Hobby (Army Mule – Bitzka) made a good stretch run to finish second. Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, Casalu was purchased for $775,000 by Three Amigos after speeding a quarter in :20 2/5 at the Under Tack show.

    Rancho Temescal, Red Baron’s Barn and Rodney E. Orr’s First Peace picked up his second stakes victory in the $133,000 Wickerr Stakes on Sunday, rating kindly off the pace, sweeping three-wide on the turn after the leaders, taking charge in the stretch and scoring by a length and a half. The 4-year-old graded stakes-placed colt by Funtastic was purchased for $75,000 out of the Lucan Bloodstock (Karl Keegan) consignment at the 2022 OBS June Sale after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat. Trained by Mark Glatt, he has compiled a 13-4-5-2 record and earned $328,020.   

    Colts Neck Stables’ Nothing Better (Munnings – One True Love (IRE), tracked the leaders from just off the pace in Monmouth’s $103,000 Wolf Hill Stakes on Saturday, turned in a strong run in the final furlong and was best by three quarters at the wire, with fellow OBS graduate Arzak (Not This Time – Delightful Melody) closing for third. It’s the second straight stakes victory and fifth stakes win for the 7-year-old son of Munnings, trained by Jorge Duarte, now 28-11-5-3 with earnings of $761,382. After working an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $230,000 out of the Brick City Thoroughbreds consignment.      

    Resolute Racing’s Mensa (Complexity – Lady Halite) was an impressive winner of the $150,000 Victoria Stakes on Friday at Woodbine, going straight to the lead and romping to a 7 1/4-length victory. Trained by Mark Casse, the 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Complexity has won two of three starts and earned $102,007. He was sold for $135,000 by Beth Bayer Agent, at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale.    

    Klaravich Stables’ Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince – Glide On By) went to the front and never looked back en route to victory by a length in Saratoga’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes on Friday. It was the stakes debut for the 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince, consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by White Lilac (Katie Miranda), Agent, and sold for $450,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Chad Brown, he has earned $178,750.  

    

    R and H Stable’s Mo Plex (Complexity – Mo Joy) is two for two and a graded stakes-winner after a front-running one length victory in Saturday’s $175,000, Gr. III Sanford Stakes at Saratoga, with fellow OBS graduate Three Echoes (Echo Town – Bayou Miss) finishing third.

    A 10-length winner in his debut at Aqueduct in June, Mo Plex has earned $137,500 for trainer Jeremiah C. Englehart. After breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5 at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale he was purchased for $45,000 out of the Hoppel consignment.   

    Resolute Racing’s Lucky Jeremy (Lookin At Lucky – Powder N Blush) set the pace in Saturday’s $150,000 Caesars Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis, was challenged by fellow OBS graduate Beyond Stoked (Into Mischief – Miss Southern Miss) in the stretch and was best by half a length at the wire. That’s two stakes victories for the 3-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, trained by Mike Maker, now 8-3-0-1 with $271,980 in earnings. At the 2023 OBS June Sale, he 

     HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Rohan Crichton, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Daniel Walters and Dennis Smith’s Real Macho captured his first stakes victory in Friday’s $95,000 Carry Back at Gulfstream Park by holding off a late rally by heavily favored Catalytic, who was making his first start in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds since running in the Kentucky Derby.

    Real Macho ($18.20), who won by a head, was re-equipped with blinkers for his first start since finishing fourth in the May 8 Sir Barton under Flavien Prat at Pimlico.

    “When he ran on Preakness Day, Flavien said he was just gazing. We had the blinkers on him before and he won. Then we took them off and he won, but he was getting distracted, so we put them back on,” Crichton said. “We were going to ship him out of town, but with the heat and the travel arrangements got so convoluted we decided to stay here.”

    Real Macho kept his mind on business in the Carry Back. After settling off a pace contested by Etendre, Saybrook and El Principito for the first half-mile in :45.52 seconds, the son of Mucho Macho Man was sent after the leaders by Emisael Jaramillo on the far turn. Real Macho made a three-wide sweep to the lead heading into the stretch and held on gamely to edge Catalytic, who raced far back in traffic before finding room and his stride under Drayden Van Dyke to close steadily through the stretch.

    Rey.al Macho, who finished fourth in the Gr. II Fountain of Youth and off the board in the Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby during the Championship Meet, ran seven furlongs in 1:23.37 to collect his third win in eight career starts.

    “We’re not sure where we’ll go next. Maybe we’ll stay one turn, a mile or something like,” Crichton said.

    Catalytic, who earned his way in the Kentucky Derby with a distant second-place finish behind Fierceness in the Florida Derby, finished 4 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Roar Read.

    The honor of getting the first winner by a 2024 Florida freshman sire goes to Ocala Stud Farm's Win Win Win, whose 2-year-old filly, Nooni, annihilated four rivals in a $54,000 maiden special at Santa Anita.

    The Bob Baffert trainee was a $1.8 million purchase for Zedan Racing out of the OBS March sale, consigned by Ocala Stud and the O'Farrell family. 

    Juan Hernandez was aboard the filly, who was sent off at 1/5 based on her morning trials at Santa Anita, which included three of the bullet variety. He shot Nooni out of the gate in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs, and she passed the poles in :22.07 and :45.44, while opening up by six lengths. Through the stretch, announcer Frank Miramahdi blared, "Welcome to the racing world, Nooni," as she cruised to the wire in front by 9 1/2 lengths, clocked in :58.21.

    She paid $2.40, earned an Equibase speed figure of 92, exceptionally high for a debuting 2-year-old, and collected a check of $32,400 for Zedan Racing. 

    Zedan Racing Stables’ Nooni (Win Win Win – Unanimity) was awarded TDN Rising Star status after her debut at Santa Anita, bouncing to the front in a maiden special and coasting to an effortless 9-1/2 length victory. She’s trained by Bob Baffert and picked up $32,400 for her effort.

    Consigned to the 2024 OBS March Sale, she sped an Under Tack quarter in a track-record-equaling :20 1/5 before going to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing, for a sale-topping $1.8 million.   

    Wathnan Racing’s Spiralizer (Twirling Candy – Jotown) scored a front-running two-length victory in his maiden special debut at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen, earning $42,000. The 2-year-old son of Twirling Candy was purchased at the 2024 March Sale for $550,000 out of the Eddie Woods consignment after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. 

    Clark O. Brewster, L. William Heiligbrodt and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Cogburn (Not This Time – In A Jif) went straight to lead in the $500,000, Gr. I Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga and never looked back, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths in a course record :59 4/5 for 5 1/2 furlongs, with fellow OBS graduate Arzak (Not This Time – Delightful Melody) closing for second.

    The 5-year-old son of Not This Time, trained by Steve Asmussen, has compiled a 14-8-2-0 career record, become the newest OBS millionaire with $1,237,730 in earnings and earned a berth in the starting gate in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in the fall. At the 2021 OBS Spring Sale, he was purchased for $150,000 out of the Pick View consignment after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5. 

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Heather Smullen has developed an extensive resume during her racing career. She can now add ‘winning trainer’ to her list of accomplishments.

    Smullen saddled her first winner as a head trainer today at Gulfstream Park, where Quester put her in the winner’s circle following a length victory in the Race 7 feature, a mile optional claiming allowance on turf for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up. Robert and Lawana Low’s Quester, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, was Smullen’s fourth starter since she went out on her own in April.

    “It feels great. I’ve been really lucky. I have a lot of owners and managers and people who have supported me over the years. I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to have nice horses,” she said.

    Smullen was the regular exercise rider for 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and 2-year-old filly champion Caledonia Road while working as an assistant for trainer Ralph Nicks. She also was the regular work rider for 2020 Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner Tiz the Law.

    Smullen’s exercise riding career came to an end following an accident on Labor Day morning at Saratoga in 2022 that left her with a broken fibula and tibia in her right leg. She has served at Gulfstream Park as an assistant for Arindel Farms, as well as for trainers Dale Romans and Phil Serpe over the past several years.

“I’ve worked as an assistant for about 20 years,” said Smullen, a niece of Tagg’s assistant trainer Robin Smullen. “I’ve been lucky to have been around good horses.” She currently has a stable of 12 horses at Gulfstream and is looking to add more.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Mark Casse looks doubly tough to beat in Saturday’s $95,000 Mr. Steele, in which the Hall of Fame trainer will be represented by a multiple graded stakes-placed veteran campaigner and a maturing in-form 4-year-old colt.

    The Mr. Steele, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up, will co-headline Saturday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park with the $100,000 Big Drama, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up.

    Win for the Money will make his 2024 debut after finishing his 2023 campaign with a second-place finish in the Autumn (G2) and a third-place finish in the Valedictory (G3) over Woodbine’s Tapeta course. The 5-year-old gelded son of Mohaymen, who is owned by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, started twice at Gulfstream last year, losing a photo finish over the Tapeta Course before winning an optional claiming allowance on turf. He went on to win an optional claiming allowance and finish fifth in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs before closing out his season at Woodbine.

    “Mrs. Weber likes to give her horses time. We just gave him some time,” Casse said. “He ran very hard in the Valedictory and he ran well in the Autumn. His race in the Arlington Million was pretty good, I thought. Our thoughts were to give him a little break and bring him back fresh. This is a way to stay in Florida and get a race into him.”

    M Racing Group LLC’s Eyes On the King, multiple stakes-placed at 3, has made a strong impression this year in three starts at Tampa Bay Downs, where the son of Street Sense lost a photo before scoring back-to-back optional claiming allowances on turf.

    “His races over at Tampa were very good. He’s a beautiful horse on the cusp of showing us that he’s a really good horse,” Casse said. “This will be a big challenge that he’ll partake in.”

    Edwin Gonzalez is scheduled to ride Win for the Money for the first time, while Emisael Jaramillo will get reacquainted with Eyes On the King.Harrell Ventures’s Main Event is expected to be involved in the early pace Saturday while trying to duplicate a front-running victory in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Dec. 30.  The 5-year-old son of Bernardini, who went on to finish off the board in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and Mac Diarmida (G2), is set to make his first start for trainer Fernando Abreu. Edgard Zayas has the call on Main Event.

    Me and Mr. C, a three-time stakes winner on turf and Tapeta last season, will seek to recapture his winning form in the Mr. Steele for trainer Michael Maker. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s 7-year-old gelding is coming off a third-place finish in the Turf Classic for Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs. Hector Diaz Jr. is slated to ride Me and Mr. C for the first time Saturday.

    Gentry Farm’s Eldon’s Prince, a multiple-stakes winner on Gulfstream turf; Rachid Racing LLC’s Marwad, who seeks relief following three straight graded-stakes appearances; in addition to Gods Glory Stables and Matthew Ciamei’s Love Me Not and Abel Rangel’s Benvolio, a pair of last-out optional claiming allowance winners; round out the field. 

Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $225,00

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $225,000 Friday at Gulfstream Park.  The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a seemingly wide-open five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up on turf in Race 8, followed by a five-furlong maiden special weight race on Tapeta for 3-year-olds and up.

    Amador Sanchez-trained Abrir Caminos, a multiple stakes-winning Chilean-bred 4-year-old, is scheduled to make his U.S. debut while facing eight rivals, including Joe Orseno-trained Portofino, the 8-5 morning-line favorite who lost his last in a photo finish.

    Morplay Racing, Rosedown Racing Stables and Kerri Radcliffe’s Urban Legend will make his first start for trainer Jose D’Angelo while making his 2024 debut. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, who was purchased for $1.3 million at the 2023 OBS April sale, made three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bab Baffert in Southern California, including a pair of runner-up finishes. One of those was behind undefeated Nysos.

    BALTIMORE - Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will run in the 149th Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, trainer Kenny McPeek announced Saturday morning. “All systems go,” McPeek said. “He’ll ship out in the morning.”

    Mystik Dan had a routine 1 1/2-mile gallop at Churchill Downs under retired jockey Robby Albarado, who will be part of the Derby winner’s travel team to Baltimore, much as he was in 2020 when he rode the filly Swiss Skydiver to victory for McPeek. The difference this time is that Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Mystik Dan in his races.

    Mystik Dan underwent an endoscopic exam and had bloodwork analyzed just to ensure everything was normal. When everything came back clean, McPeek confirmed everything was a go for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

     “The horse is doing fantastic,” he said after Mystik Dan trained. “I’ve already kind of arranged the logistics of it all.”

    Mystik Dan will get a rematch in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness with Arkansas Derby winner Muth. Mystik Dan finished third that day, his first race in seven weeks after he was a romping winner of Oaklawn Park’s Gr. III Southwest Stakes in the slop.

    “He was ready for the Arkansas Derby,” McPeek said. “I’m not going to use that as an excuse. But he did get turned sideways in that turn, and Brian felt that cost him three or four lengths. But the horse fought back, fortunately…. I’m optimistic we can give (Muth) another run.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Nolan Ramsey, the longtime assistant to trainer Michael Maker before going out on his own in April, saddled his first winner as a trainer Friday at Gulfstream Park.

    The 27-year-old Lexington native notched his first victory with Marshamarshamarsha ($5), who is owned by his grandfather, Ken Ramsey, the longtime owner who won four Eclipse Awards as North America’s outstanding owners with his late wife Sarah and was the leading owner during the 2023-2024 Championship Meet.

    Marshamarshamarsha, Ramsey’s fifth starter, stalked the early pace while saving ground before making a three-wide sweep on the turn into the homestretch on her way to a decisive score in Race 5, a mile turf event for 3-year-old fillies racing for a $16,000 claiming price.

   “It’s special. It’s the first one. It’s great to get off the duck. It’s nice doing it for family too,” said Ramsey, who was doused with water by a stable employee in celebration. “I wouldn’t be here without him (Ken Ramsey). My love for the horses and horseracing all came from him. I remember watching the races when I was 5 or 6. He taught me how to handicap and started bringing me around the horses. Without my grandparents I wouldn’t be here. To get where I’ve been and being able to knock off the first one for the family, that’s really special.”

   Ramsey started walking hots for Maker when he was 14 years old. “I was hands-on with them, and I really fell in love with the racetrack. The action and the speed of it really drew me in. It was full-blown from there on,” said Ramsey, who has assembled a 30-horse stable at Gulfstream with plans to train a small string in the Mid-Atlantic.

    “I was very grateful to work for Mike,” he added. “The thing about Mike is he has all the horses. He has the Grade 1s; he’s got the starter allowances; he’s got the ‘nickel’ claimers."

    BALTIMORE – For an eighth straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 stakes races during Preakness weekend, May 17 and 18, at Pimlico Race Course.

    The blockbuster weekend includes a total of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $4.4 million in purses. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.

    Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the 15 horoughbred stakes, led by the 149th running of the $2 million Preakness Stakes, Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 18. Trainers must have a minimum of five starts to qualify for the bonus.

    Other graded events on Preakness Day are the $500,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and older at 1 1/16 miles, each on turf, and the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up, both at six furlongs; and $100,000 UAE President Cup (G1) for older Arabian horses on the main track. The UAE President Cup is not part of the bonus.

    Supporting Preakness undercard stakes are the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-old non-winners of a sweepstakes going 1 1/16 miles and $100,000 Skipat for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs, both on dirt, along with the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds going one mile and $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at five furlongs, each on the grass.

    Preakness Eve, May 17, will be highlighted by the 100th running of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles and two supporting graded-stakes – the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs.

    The Black-Eyed Susan undercard also includes the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as well as the $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going one mile and $100,000 The Very One for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs, both on the turf.

    Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has been the leading Preakness weekend stakes trainer four times in its first seven years, earning the top bonus in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022. Brad Cox (2019), Mike Maker (2020) and Maryland-based Graham Motion (2023) have also won the top prize.

    Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 7. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at [email protected] or call 800-638-1859.

    There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus.

    Entries will be taken and post positions drawn on Sunday, May 12 for the Black-Eyed Susan Day program and Monday, May 13 for the Preakness Day program. The post-position draw for the Preakness will be held at Monarque on Fleet Street in Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The doors at Silks simulcast facility at Gulfstream Park will open at 9:30 a.m. today and Saturday to accommodate patrons wishing to watch on wager on races from Churchill Downs.

    The Kentucky Oaks will be run on today’s Churchill Downs program and will get underway at 10:30 a.m.  Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day program will also have a 10:30 a.m. first-race post time.

    Fierceness, who captured the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream by a record 13 ½ lengths, tops the field of 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby.  Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Power Squeeze will run in the Kentucky Oaks.

    Many other horses that competed during Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet will compete in stakes on both days at Churchill Downs.

    Today’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 pool at is expected to grow to an estimated $100,000 after going unsolved Thursday for the second day following last Saturday’s mandatory payout. 

    Jockey Edgard Zayas continued to win races in bunches Thursday. Zayas, who rode four winners on Saturday’s program, won another five races Thursday to push his Royal Palm meet-leading victory total to 27.

    Zayas rode back-to-back winners for trainer Joe Orseno, scoring aboard Magic Soul ($7) in Race 3 and Super Spin ($20.80) in Race 4. He also doubled for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. with back-to-back wins aboard Lady O’Brien ($2.60) in Race 6 and Goats On a Tree ($5) in Race 7. He finished his big day with a gate-to-wire score aboard Live High Live Low ($9.40) in Race 8 for trainer George Weaver.

             

    OLDSMAR - By winning the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs and the Gr. II Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30, 3-year-old filly Power Squeeze proved she belongs in next Friday’s $1.5-million Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

    So did her jockey, six-time Tampa Bay Downs riding champion Daniel Centeno.

    Following the 52-year-old Venezuela product’s outstanding performance in the Gulfstream Park Oaks – in which Centeno avoided an early squeeze play going into the first turn after breaking from the No. 1 post position, then timed her power stretch move perfectly to upset 1-2 favorite Ways and Means – owner Bill Cosgrove of Lea Farms and trainer Jorge Delgado agreed they need look no further for their filly’s rider under Churchill’s Twin Spires.
Centeno, who will be making his first-ever appearance at Churchill Downs, is still (figuratively) pinching himself to be sure it’s for real.

    “You never know in this business,” said Centeno, whose previous brush with the classic scene came in 2019 when he rode Alwaysmining to an unplaced finish in the Preakness at Pimlico. “You only have to get the opportunity to ride the right horse and try to keep on her for something like this to happen.

    “When I talked to the owner and he told me he wants me to come to Louisville and ride her again, I said ‘Sure, no problem. I’ll follow her wherever you want me to go.’ The filly and I get along real well, so now we’re going to the Oaks,” Centeno said.

    While Power Squeeze’s credentials are topnotch – she is 4-for-6 in her career, with a four-race winning streak – she is expected to face such standouts as 2023 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Just F Y I, Grade I Central Bank Ashland Stakes winner Leslie’s Rose, Grade II Fantasy Stakes winner Thorpedo Anna and Ways and Means, along with eight or nine others.

    Despite the imposing lineup, if Power Squeeze can duplicate her Florida form, she should be right in the mix for the garland of pink stargazer lilies awarded to the winner.

    “It’s very exciting,” said Centeno, who plans to fly to Louisville on Thursday with his wife Brooke and his father Enrique. “I’ve ridden a lot of nice horses in my career, and it’s never too late to get another one. I’m blessed and grateful to Jorge and Mr. Cosgrove to be going.”

    Power Squeeze completed the mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream in 1:44.19. Her winning time of 1:40.22 in the mile-and-40-yard Suncoast, the Oldsmar oval’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” prep race, was less than a second off Nest’s stakes record. Nest went on to finish second in the 2022 Longines Kentucky Oaks to Secret Oath. Centeno thinks Power Squeeze, a daughter of Union Rags out of the Awesome Again mare Callmethesqueeze, will welcome the added distance of the mile-and-an-eighth Longines Kentucky Oaks.

“I think the longer she goes, the

    HIP No. 915, a daughter of Nyquist consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne) Agent, was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp. for $850,000 to top the fourth and final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The dark bay or brown filly, whose Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5 was the Saturday session’s co-fastest, is out of Amagansett, by Tapit, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes winner Twirl (IRE).

    Kimmel & Sallusto, Agent, went to $725,000 for Hip No. 995, a son of McKinzie consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat, is out of Bernadreamy, by Bernardini, a daughter of Gr. I stakes-winner Dream Empress.

    Hip No. 1005, a son of Twirling Candy who breezed an eighth in a co-fastest :9 4/5 on Saturday was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock, Agent, for $700,000. Consigned by Global Thoroughbreds, Agent, the bay colt is out of Bite the Stars, by Flatter, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Stanford.

    Hip No. 1075, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, was sold to 30 Year Farm for $700,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Choir, by Pulpit, a daughter of graded stakes-placed stakes-winning two-time OBS graduate Emmy Darling.

    Hip No. 920, a son of Uncle Mo consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, went to D. J. Stable & Robert Cotran for $685,000. The bay colt, who galloped at the Under Tack Show, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner First Captain out of graded stakes- winner America, by A.P. Indy.

    Hip No. 974, a daughter of McKinzie consigned by Julie Davies, Agent, was sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds for $675,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Bay Harbor, by Speightstown, a daughter of graded stakes-winner Our Khrysty.

    Three Amiwgos ent to $600,000 for Hip No. 928, a daughter of Tiz the Law consigned by On Point Training & Sales. The chestnut filly, who breezed an eighth on Saturday in a co-fastest :9 4/5, is out of stakes-placed Animal Appeal, by Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), from the family of stakes-winner Triple Card.

    Hip No. 972, Metallix, a son of Quality Road consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent for Chester & Mary Broman, was sold to Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables, for $600,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Coinage out of Gr. I stakes-winner Bar of Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro.

    Hip No. 1143, a daughter of McKinzie whose Under Tack quarter in :20 1/5 equaled the track record, was sold to Bill Childs for $600,000. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, the bay filly is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed stakes -winner Strategic Dreams out of D’fashion, by D’Wildcat.

    Hip No. 936, a son of Not This Time consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, went to Lael Stable for $550,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed a quarter in :20 4/5, is a half brother to recent stakes-winner Laughing Boy out of Applauding, by Congrats, from the family of Gr. I stakes-winner Shedaresthedevil.

    Hip No. 1064, a son of Nyquist consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp. was sold to Donato Lanni, Agent for Zedan Racing Stable for $525,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Charlatana by Harlan’s Holiday,  a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Laoban.

    Hip No. 1056, a son of Omaha Beach consigned by Richardson Bloodstock, Agent, was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $510,000. The bay colt, who breezed a quarter in :21 flat, is out of Caxambas Pass, by Tiznow, a half-sister to Gr. I stakes-winner Point of Entry.

    Bow River Ranch, Hoby Kight, Agent, went to $500,000 for Hip No. 1044, a son of OBS graduate Into Mischief consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a full brother to graded stakes- winner Into Chocolate out of Candy Drawer, by Candy Ride (ARG).

    Hip No. 1191, a son of Tiz the Law consigned by Britton Peak, Agent, was purchased by Taproot Bloodstock, Agent, for $500,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is out of Enough, by Arch, a half-sister to stakes-winner Plenty of Vision.

    For the session, 141 horses sold for a total of $19,701,500 compared with 168 horses grossing $22,781,000 at last year’s final session. The average price was $139,727, compared with $135,601 a year ago, while the median price was $65,000, identical to 2023. The buyback percentage was 21.2%; it was 12.9% in 2023.

    For the entire Spring Sale, 633 horses sold for a total of $82,086,500, compared to 699 horses bringing $90,405,000, last year. The average was a sale record $129,679, eclipsing last year’s $129,335 while the median price was a sale record $70,000, compared with $65,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 19.2%; it was 16.8% in 2023.

    Hip No. 199, a daughter of Caracaro consigned by Global Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, was sold to Three Amigos for $775,000 top the first session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2024 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The bay filly, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was fastest at Monday’s Under Tack session, is a half sister to stakes placed Twirled out of Key d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro, from the family of graded one stakes winner Key Phrase.

    Hip No. 291, a son of Global Campaign consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold to  Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables for $650,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Maid in Heaven, by Yes It’s True, a full sister to graded stakes-winner Yesbyjimminy.

    Hip No. 166, a daughter of Uncle Mo consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, was sold to Justin Casse for M. V. Magnier for $600,000. The bay filly, whose Under Tack quarter in :20 3/5 was co-fastest at Sunday’s Under Tack session, is a half sister to grade one stakes placed Be You out of graded stakes winner Jacaranda, by Congrats, a half sister to grade one stakes winner Constitution.

    Hip No. 125, a son of Nyquist consigned by Thorostock LLC, Agent, was sold to Spendthrift Farm / MKW Racing and Breeding LLC for $550,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to graded stakes placed stakes winner Monday Morning QB out of How My Heart Works, by Not For Love, from the family of graded stakes winner Cyberknife. 

    Hip No. 153, a son of Nyquist consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was purchased by James Divito, Agent, for $460,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat, is a half brother to stakes placed Elle’s Town out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Irish Presence, by champion OBS graduate Midnight Lute.

    Hip No. 295, a daughter of Bolt d’Oro consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, was sold for $460,000 to Bregman Family Racing LLC. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :9 4/5, is out of Major Z, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of champion Shared Belief.

    Woodford Thoroughbreds went to $390,000 for Hip No. 127, a daughter of Omaha Beach consigned by JVC Training and Sales, Agent. The bay filly, who worked an eighth in :10 flat, is out of Humor Me Dixie, by Distorted Humor, a daughter of graded stakes winner Dixie City.

    Hip No. 302, a son of Not This Time consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, went to D. J. Stable LLC for $380,000. The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is a half brother to stakes winner Balandeen out of graded stakes winner Mama Kimbo, by Discreet Cat.

    Hip No. 143, a daughter of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC for $370,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5, is a half sister to graded stakes winner Lovely Bernadette out of Inlovewithlove, by Bernstein.

    Hip No. 136, a son of Street Sense who breezed an Under Tack quarter in :21 flat, went to Taproot Bloodstock, Agent, for $340,000. Consigned by Pick View LLC, Agent, the bay colt is out of In a Snit, by Lookin At Lucky, a half sister to graded stakes winner Blind Date.

    Hip No. 109, a son  Vekoma consigned by Kinsman Farm, went to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing for $325,000. The bay colt, who breezed an Undeofr Tack eighth in :10 flat, is out of Hidden Facts, by The Factor, a daughter of stakes winner Mystic City.

    Hip No. 106, a daughter of Win Win Win consigned by Ocala Stud, was sold for $310,000 to Champion Equine LLC. The bay filly, who worked a quarter in :21 1/5, is out of Hello Juliet, by Adios Charlie, a half sister to stakes winner Lisa’s Booby Trap.

    Speedway Stables also paid $300,000 for Hip No. 16, daughter of Good Magic consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - D. J. Stable LLC’s Mensa registered a professional three-length debut victory Friday at Gulfstream Park, becoming the first winning offspring of first-year sire Complexity in the Royal Palm Meet’s first race for 2-year-olds.

    Mensa ($10) broke alertly from his inside stall to quickly open up a clear lead on his six rivals and rolled to an impressive triumph under Patrick Husbands. The $135,000 2023 OBS October purchase ran 4 ½ furlongs in :51.86 seconds in Race 2.

    “He’s been extremely professional from Day 1,” said Nick Tomlinson, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. “He’s a beautiful horse. A lot of the credit goes to the guys in the barn. They did a lot of gate schooling with him. They’re the reason a lot of these babies are ready to roll. He’s far more advanced than anyone else. Hopefully, he continues to progress from here.”

    Mensa is only the second offspring of Complexity to run in a race. Chad Brown-trained Complexity, a son of Maclean’s Music, won the 2018 Gr. I Champagne and the 2020 Gr. II Kelso.

    Trainer Patrick Biancone’s Unchained Elaine, a homebred daughter of American Pharoah, finished second, 11 lengths clear of third-place finisher Tank. Wesley Ward-trained Delightful Flame, the 7-10 favorite, broke slowly and was never a factor.

    Catalytic Breezes  - Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaac’s Catalytic breezed four furlongs in :49.25 seconds Friday morning at in preparation for a start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby. The workout was the son of Catalina Cruiser’s first since his distant runner-up finish behind Fierceness in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby on March 30.

    “He went well. It was his first breeze back. It was an easy half in 49-and-1,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’ll work back here once more, most likely next Friday, and then he’ll ship and have his last work at Churchill.” Catalytic made only his third career start while making his stakes debut in the Florida Derby, in which he chased Fierceness throughout, holding on to finish second, 13 ½ lengths back and 2 ½ lengths over Grand Mo the First.

    “He bounced out of the race well for a horse that was only making his third start, second start in three weeks,” Joseph said. “He was a distant second behind a deserving favorite, but I feel like he’s a horse that can improve again, which he should.”

Trumpets a Heaven-Sent Filly for Owner/Trainer Joe Catanese III - Trumpets overcame a slow start to follow up an impressive maiden score with an even more eye-catching victory Friday. Catanese inherited the 3-year-old daughter of Neolithic upon the passing of lifelong friend and beloved South Florida horseman Larry Bates last year.

    “I just thank Larry. This is all for Larry,” Catanese said in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following Trumpet’s four-length score in Race 6, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old Florida-bred fillies on Tapeta.

    Trumpets broke last from her inside stall in the starting gate but took over the lead midway through the backstretch during a first-quarter of a mile in 21.73 seconds. The Florida-bred filly was never threatened thereafter, completing the five-furlong distance in 57.58 seconds. “I was a little surprised because the filly is usually fast from the gate,” jockey Edgar Perez said. “My filly is a very classy filly. After she broke slow, I push and push and push to put her on the lead and from the three-eighths pole, it was an easy way home.”

    The daughter of Neolithic was coming off a dazzling 5 ¾ length victory in a Feb. 14 maiden special weight event on the all-weather surface, over which she ran five-furlongs in :56.36 seconds. Trumpets previously finished second in her Dec. 23 debut, in which she was beaten three-quarters of a length by 3-5 favorite Karaya, who came right back to win an optional claiming allowance before finishing second in the March 24 Melody of Colors.

    In Race 7, a mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds on turf, BC Racing’s Prevent, a multiple stakes-placed son of Neolithic, held on to score by a nose over Ninja Star. The Juan Alvarado-trained 2-1 favorite provided Edgard Zayas with his second winning ride on Friday.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - JR Racing’s Slide Show put on quite a show today at Gulfstream Park while romping to a 12-length debut victory over the Tapeta surface.

    The son of Neolithic broke alertly from the gate and led his six rivals on a merry chase on his way to graduating in Race 3, a mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight event for 3-year-olds.

    Trainer Jose Garoffalo had confidence in Slide Show ($12.60), entering him in his debut in open company and around two turns, but the colt bred in Florida by the late NFL player Freddie Hyatt exceeded his expectations. “I always had faith in him and knew he was a good horse. The older he got the better he performed. I was impressed with his debut,” Garoffalo said. “I was expecting a good race but not that good.”

    Slide Show ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:40.50 under Miguel Vasquez, who rode three winners on today’s program.

    “We’re very happy with the horse. He did it easy,” said Garoffalo, who hopes to schedule an optional claiming allowance for Florida-breds for Slide Show’s next start. “We’ll take it step by step.”

    Kid Cairo, a Mark Casse-trained son of Cairo Prince, finished second in his debut, a neck ahead of Annointed, a son of Justify.

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park lowered the curtain on its 2023-2024 Championship Meet with an 11-race Easter Sunday program that saw jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. defend their respective titles at the prestigious winter stand.

    Ortiz won twice Sunday on Invigorated ($19) in Race 7 and Miss Speedy ($19.20) in Race 9 to finish with 119 winners and top the rider standings for the fifth time in the past six seasons and second straight after leading the way with 128 in 2022-2023. Ortiz, who accepted his fifth Eclipse Award and second straight in January for 2023, also led Gulfstream in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, when he won a record 140 races.

    Also tops with more than $5.9 million in purses earned, Ortiz won 13 stakes during the Championship Meet including graded triumphs in the Gr. II Inside Information, Gr. III Suwannee River, Gr. III William L. McKnight, Gr. III Sweetest Chant, Gr. III Canadian Turf, Gr. III Honey Fox and Gr. III Orchid. The Orchid and Sand Springs were among five wins on Saturday’s Florida Derby program.

    “It went very good for us. It means a lot to win another title here. They make me feel at home here,” Ortiz said. “The owners, everybody training here, the whole organization – security and the people who work here – they make me feel good. I have great support from the trainers and owners of Florida, and I appreciate it. I’m so happy to win another title here.”

    Ortiz’s brother, Jose, held off Paco Lopez for second in the rider standings. Jose He visited the winner’s circle Sunday on Broderie ($3) in Race 3, Far Bridge ($3.40) in Race 6 and Creed’s Gold ($21.80) in Race 11 to finish with 94 wins, two more than Lopez, who also registered three aboard Poliglota ($9.80) in Race 2, Turf Rocket ($8.60) in Race 4 and Classify ($4.20) in Race 9.

    Joseph collected his third straight Championship Meet training title following an 18-year reign by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who finished second with 37 winners including Invigorated. Joseph won with Classify ($4.20) in Race 9 to finish with 66 wins and more than $3.4 million in purse earnings.

    Seven of Joseph’s wins came in stakes, including O’Connor in the Gr. III Harlan’s Holiday, R Harper Rose in the Gr. III Forward Gal and Honor D Lady in the Gr. III Royal Delta. He also ran second in the $1 million Florida Derby with Kentucky Derby-bound Catalytic.

    Joseph led Gulfstream with 58 wins in 2021-2022 and 47 victories in 2022-2023. Pletcher still holds the Championship Meet record with 72 wins in 2017-2018.

    “The three titles – each one feels better than the other,” Joseph said. “We’re thankful for the opportunities from the owners, the team we have – how hard they work and all the effort they put in – and most importantly to have the horses we have. The horses are the biggest piece of the puzzle. The horses make everyone look good.” 

    Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse won three races Sunday, Boomin’ Belle ($11.20) in Race 8, Miss Speedy ($19.20) in Race 10 and Creed’s Gold ($21.80) in Race 11, to finish third with 30 wins.

    Ken Ramsey claimed the owner title with 27 winners. Among them were Joseph-trained Be My Sunshine in the Tropical Park Oaks and Abrumar in the Colonel Liam. Ramsey previously led the owner standings in 2021-2022, 2019-2020 and from 2012-2013 to 2017-2018.

    Gulfstream will open the Royal Palm Meet with an eight-race program Thursday starting at 1:10 p.m.

    Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth (Good Magic – Hoppa) again served notice he’s a force to be reckoned with in the 3-year-old division, scoring a two-length win in the $1.5-million, Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

    Pressing the pace from the start under Juan Hernandez, the son of Good Magic went after the lead leaving the backstretch, took command turning for home and eased away down the stretch to a decisive victory. It’s the second Gr. I win for Muth, consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by Top Line Sales, Agent, and purchased by Donato Lanni, Agent, for a sale record-equaling $2 million after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 3/5.

    The latest OBS millionaire, Muth is now 4-2-0 in six starts for trainer Bob Baffert and the check for $787,500 increased his earnings to $1,504,100.  

    HALLANDALE BEACH - D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s Hades, who captured the Feb. 3 Holy Bull (G3) breezed a half-mile in 50.21 seconds Friday morning in preparation for a return to action in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa March 30 at Gulfstream Park.

    Due to forecasts for heavy rain Friday and Saturday, trainer Joe Orseno opted to breeze Hades a day earlier than scheduled – a workout that was completed on Gulfstream’s fast main track.

    The 3-year-old gelded son of Awesome Slew will enter the Florida Derby undefeated in three starts. After rallying from far back to graduate at 5 ½ furlongs, Hades shook off heavy pressure in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance before drawing off to victory by six lengths. In the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Feb. 3, the Florida-bred gelding took control right from the start to set a pressured pace before again drawing off to win by two lengths.

    “He has exceeded my expectations,” Orseno said, “even with today’s last breeze going into the Florida Derby. “He did everything perfect. He just handles himself very professional. He gets things easily where other horses struggle.”

    At Palm Beach Downs, Repole Stable’s Fierceness, who finished a troubled third as the 1-5 favorite in the Holy Bull, breezed a half-mile in 47.43 seconds over a fast track at Palm Beach Downs Friday morning. After working in company with Be You, a Grade 1-placed Repole stablemate who is coming off an optional claiming allowance win, Fierceness galloped out five-furlongs in 1:00.63 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. “It went very well,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He looked great.”

    Fierceness was voted 2023 Eclipse Award 2-year-old male champion after winning the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita by 6 ¼ lengths, rebounding from a disappointing performance in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct in his prior start.

    Notes: Frank DeLuca’s Frankie’s Empire, who finished third in the Fountain of Youth (G2) after winning the Swale (G3), breezed a half-mile in 48.02 seconds at Gulfstream Friday morning. The son of Classic Empire worked in company with Stonehedge LLC’s Davona Dale (G2) winner Fiona’s Magic, a leading prospect for the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) who was timed in 48.12. Both 3-year-olds are trained by Michael Yates.

Jockey Jose Ortiz has been confirmed to ride Conquest Warrior in the Florida Derby after riding the Shug McGaughey-trained colt to back-to-back wins during the Championship Meet… Edwin Gonzalez will return aboard Fountain of Youth and Swale runner-up Le Dom Bro for trainer Eniel Cordero in the Florida Derby. Le Dom Bro breezed a half-mile in 49.45 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County Friday morning… Emisael Jaramillo has the mount on Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Grand Mo the First, who lost by a neck while finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    HALLANDALE BEACH - 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.”

    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.