HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following the $75,000 Back as expected, not with the previously undefeated 1-5 favorite, Here Comes Francis, but with 25-1 outsider Mati Gol. “The horse that won was a surprise at 25-1, but for me, the horse wasn’t a big surprise,” Barboza said. “The horse has been improving all the time.”
Here Comes Francis, who won his first two career starts in commanding front-running fashion, again went right to the front in the Carry Back, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds. He went on to set blistering fractions of :21.80 and :43.99 during the first half-mile over a sealed sloppy track, opening up on his five rivals by four lengths under Emisael Jaramillo. Meanwhile, Mati Gol settled far back in fourth under Jose Morelos along the backstretch. While the sizzling pace would prove to be the undoing of Here Comes Francis, it certainly benefited late-running Mati Gol, who accelerated on the far turn while hugging the rail before swinging to the outside entering the stretch. Here Comes Francis had no answer for the fresh legs that carried Mati Gol to a commanding 3 ½-length victory. “The race set up perfect. I was riding the horse the way the trainer told me – to stay off the speed. In the stretch, the horse came on strong on the outside to win the race. That was the plan, and we surprised everyone,” Morelos said. “The favorite was going very fast, so I was happy the pace was extremely fast. My horse was relaxed in the back of the pack, and I knew it was perfect for him to close.”
The Tiny Equestrian Group’s Mati Gol, who had finished a late-closing third in the five-furlong Roar on turf last time out, ran seven furlongs in 1:23.25. Insurmountable closed from off the pace to finish second, 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Forged Steel, who nosed out a tired Here Comes Francis for third. Mati Gol ($59.80) often ran into trouble while winning one of his first five starts but couldn’t have gotten a better trip than he received under a hot-riding Morelos. Here Comes Francis, a $250,000 2024 OBS April purchase, overcame early bumping to grab control of his March 15 Gulfstream debut and went on to score a 1 ½-length victory over next-out winner Pursuitneversleeps, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure while running six furlongs in 1:09 2/5. He came right back to run away with a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance April 26 at Tampa Bay Downs by a handy 5 ¼ lengths. Both victories came over fast tracks. “It’s too soon to have an analysis of his race. Was it the sloppy track, the 43-second half, the no Lasix? All very important,” Barboza said. “I need to check on the horse tomorrow.”
Rancho Temescal, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr.’s Roll On Big Joe (Prospective –Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) collared speedster Booth at the top of the stretch en route to a three-quarters of a length victory in the $220,000, Gr. III Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs, becoming one of three OBS grads to earn graded wins over the past week. Trained by Bob Hess Jr., the gelded son of Prospective earned his second graded stakes win, having previously annexed the $100,000, Gr. III Palos Verdes at Santa Anita in February. He was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat. At Woodbine on Saturday, Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Mansetti (Collected-Gidget Girl, by Sky Mesa) rebounded from a troubled fifth-place finish in his previous start, the Queenston Stakes, to post a stellar showing in the $150,000, Gr. III Marine Stakes. The Kevin Attard-trained colt previously notched stakes scores in this year’s Woodstock and the 2024 edition of the Clarendon. Consigned to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, Mansetti was sold for $40,000 to his owners after breezing in :20 4/5. D J Stable's Dream On (Not This Time – Mamma Kimbo, by Discreet Cat) earned his first graded stakes victory when he captured the Gr. III, $400,000 Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National Race Course. The Mark Casse-trained colt, third in the Gr. I Summer Stakes last September, was purchased by D. J. Stable for $380,000 out of the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5. Steve Asmussen’s Neom Beach (Omaha Beach – Giant’s Causey, by Giant’s Causeway) captured the $125,000 Wasted Tears at Lone Star Park for her second straight stakes win. Neom Beach was purchased by Nwadr Stables for $210,000 out of the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Julie Davies after breezing in :10 flat.
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1/ST joins the entire Thoroughbred community in mourning the loss of Hall of Fame legend D. Wayne Lukas. With a career that spanned seven decades and redefined excellence, Wayne stood as a true icon of the sport. Throughout his storied career, Wayne’s notable accomplishments included: 20 Breeders’ Cup victories including the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with Cat Thief. 15 Triple Crown race winners including seven Preakness Stakes triumphs Four Santa Anita Derby wins at Santa Anita Park Two Florida Derby wins at Gulfstream Park
In 2024, at 88 years old, he became the oldest trainer ever to win a Triple Crown race, securing the 149th Preakness Stakes with Seize the Grey.
Beyond the victories and trophies, Mr. Lukas inspired generations with his relentless work ethic, sharp eye for talent, and unwavering belief in what was possible. His legacy lives on not only in the horses he trained and the records he broke, but also in the many horsemen and women he mentored and elevated along the way Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched. Though we’ve lost a legend, the sport he shaped remains richer for his presence, and his rich legacy will endure.
As the final moments of the 2025 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale wound down, consignor Randy Miles couldn’t stop moving, darting from inside the pavilion to the back ring and back again, accepting all means of congratulatory wishes along the way. By the time Miles paused to take his whirlwind of a 15 minutes in, history had once again been made as one of the more productive juvenile sale seasons in OBS history came to a triumphant close. With both the OBS March and April auctions rewriting chapters in the sales company’s record books this year, the OBS June Sale wasn’t to be left out when it came to adding to the annals. In the last hour of the two-day exercise, Hip 850, a chestnut filly by Curlin consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, established a record price for the June sale when she sold for $975,000 to Miles on behalf of owner Gus King while the overall average and median also established new marks for the final 2-year-old sale of the year. Minutes after signing that lofty ticket, Miles was hustling to be part of more fireworks as he consigned Hip 857, a gray or roan filly by Gun Runner that brought the sale’s second highest price when she went for $525,000 to representatives of My RaceHorse. “It was a very busy 15 minutes,” Miles said. The lone offspring by Curlin selling during the June auction, the chestnut filly is out of the graded stakes winning Tapit mare Mufajaah, who is a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Carolyn’s Cat. During her star turn in the ring, she bested the previous all-time June mark set in 2019 for $900,000. The new high mark also continued a trend of market strength during this juvenile sale season. The OBS March sale posted year-to-year gains in gross and average while the April exercise produced year-over-year gains in gross and a record average. The OBS March auction also sold a sale-record seven horses for $1 million or more, including a son of Gun Runner – now named Brant – who hammered for a record $3 million. When the dust settled on June, the average of $51,172 had bested the previous sale record of $43,433 set in 2021 and the median of $25,000 topped the prior record of $23,500 established in 2022. This year’s sale was held over two days compared to last year’s three-day exercise. “We certainly saw the same pattern that we saw in the 2-year-old market all year and I’m glad that it held all the way to June,” said Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales for OBS. “This time of year, you worry about buyer fatigue but a lot of that was just worry. The market proved its resiliency again. Lots of records this year, it was an excellent season. We’re grateful to the buyers that came, grateful to the consignors who bring the quality horses they bring.” Bidding on behalf of King, a client of his for a handful of years now, Miles stayed diligent in his pursuit of the Curlin filly as the bidding opened at $25,000 and steadily jumped up from there. Though he stretched beyond the limits of past June sales, Miles said King was determined to do what was needed in order to own the youngster, who had breezed in :10 flat during the under-tack show. “Gus really just wants top quality,” said Miles, who added the filly was headed to the barn of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. “He had Publisher in the (Kentucky) Derby this year and really wants to continue that line with really top-quality horses, and we felt the Curlin was the best horse in the sale. “We thought the horse could be bought for a little bit less, but we were not going to stop. We wanted to give it our all to get that horse bought. We didn’t want to spend that much money but to get that kind of horse, you have to spend that money. And Gus was very willing.” Saul Marquez of Caliente Thoroughbreds, no stranger to selling high-quality prospects with multiple Grade 1 winner and OBS grad Chancer McPatrick among those on his honor roll, happily found himself at a loss as he tried to describe his latest commercial success. “The first time we saw this filly we fell in love with her. She’s always done everything right,” Marquez said. “She’s been smart, loves what she does, she’s just a racehorse. We brought her in April but my whole idea was pointing her here in June. I was confident in her. But…right now I don’t even have words.” Miles had to find adjectives for both of the top horses in the sale as his Gun Runner filly out of Grade 1 winner Restless Rider gained her share of attention when she hit the ring moments later. When she breezed in :10 flat during the under tack show, Miles knew the stage would be set for her to have her own wave of suitors. “She was just amazing. She came in here really light on training and what she did on her breeze show was remarkable to me,” Miles said of the Gun Runner filly. “We came into Ocala thinking we may gallop her because she was so far behind. What she did had nothing to do with anything we did. She did all of it. It was a real shock; it was a pleasant shock. “My RaceHorse bought her and it’s going to be a fun road to watch. I love watching my babies go on and do well.” After Hip 104, a dark bay or brown colt by Grade 1 winner and OBS June grad Yaupon, topped the first day of the June sale when he sold to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $300,000 from the consignment of Julie Davies, a total of seven horses sold for $300,000 or more during Wednesday’s session. On a day when consignor Ciaran Dunne was at Royal Ascot to witness OBS and Wavertree graduate Crimson Advocate score by 1 ¾ lengths in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, an effort that came after fellow OBS and Wavertree grad Lennilu finished a game third in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, his program notched another triumph when Hip 572, a bay colt by Bolt d’Oro sold to Gary Young, agent for $425,000. Though Lennliu, who is owned by a partnership that includes Amy Dunne and Caitlin Dunne, came up just short in her Royal Ascot try, the Bolt d’Oro colt provided a boost by justifying the patience and faith shown to him by his connections. Bred by Gil Masters, the colt is out of the Smart Strike mare Missile Belle, who is from the female family of graded stakes winner Fugitive Angel, and was earmarked for the June sale when it became evident his strong bodied frame would benefit from added time. “It’s the age-old story, you can’t hide a good one and he exceeded expectations,” Dunne said by phone from England. “But the way he performed; we weren’t surprised. He was a bit big and backwards early on. We had initially targeted April, but it was coming a little too soon, so we decided he was worth waiting a little bit longer for to give him the time to show himself at his best.” The colt first rewarded that patience during the under-tack show when he breezed in :9 4/5, catching Young’s eye with the way he was able to gather himself and finish up down the lane. “In his preview, he left the pole on his left lead, and he took about 7 or 8 strides to figure things out,” said Young, who purchased the colt on behalf of an undisclosed client. “But once he got into his stride and got over to his right lead, I thought he was a machine. We figured that there would be people on him, and we figured right about that (price) range is where we would have to go.” The day’s fourth highest price came when trainer George Weaver went to $375,000 for Hip 471, a son of OBS grad Into Mischief from Steven Venosa’s S G V Thoroughbred consignment who breezed in :10 flat. The appeal of six-time leading sire Into Mischief needs no justification as the Spendthrift Farm stallion continues to dominate both in the commercial arena and with his offspring on the track. “You see an Into Mischief that you like, and they look athletic and have a good look to them, you can’t go wrong,” Weaver said from Saratoga. “He’s a homerun type sire and has been for several years now. We’ll be glad to (have the colt) in the barn.” Out of the multiple stakes winning Kafwain mare Kadira and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Paola Queen, the Into Mischief colt added to an already standout year for Venosa, who sold the two highest priced horses at the OBS April sale. “He’s a horse we held back specifically for this sale. He’s a late May foal so we gave him the time that he needed,” Venosa said of the Into Mischief colt. “And he did everything right here and on the farm. The horse was slated for an earlier sale, but we felt like it wasn’t his time. To me the most important thing is to do right by the horse.” Other top prices included: Hip 563, a bay colt by Practical Joke consigned by de Meric Sales who sold for $350,000 to Donato Lanni, agent on behalf of Frank Fletcher. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the Drosselmeyer mare Midnight Girl, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Midnight Lucky, who is out of a full sister to Grade 1 winner and producer Hookedonthefeelin. Hip 654, a bay filly by Bolt d’Oro consigned by Woodside Ranch who sold for $325,000 to Legion Bloodstock, Agent. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Platonic Love and is from the female family of Grade 1 winner and producer Toussaud. Hip 734, a bay colt by Maclean’s Music consigned by de Meric Sales, who sold for $310,000 to Jeff Kresnak. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Mineshaft mare Sengekontacket, who is a full sister to stakes winner and OBS grad Wolf Man Rocket. Hip 512, a bay colt by Modernist consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock who sold for $300,000 to Bill Childs. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Sidney’s Candy mare Lila Ruth and is from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Win.
Total gross receipts for the June sale saw $25,688,500 generated from 502 head sold, up from last year when up from last year when 592 2-year-olds sold for $21,702,300. The average soared past the $36,659 established in 2024 while the median also bested the $20,000 put up a year ago. The leading consignor by gross was de Meric Sales who sold 14 horses for $1,494,000 while King’s purchase of the Curlin filly made him the leading buyer. “This ended up being a really good sale,” Miles said. “We’re looking forward to next year and the yearling owners are happy to see this was a vibrant market because it will carry over. We just need to keep it going.” A total of 101 horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 16.8% compared to 18.5% a year ago. The next sale on the OBS calendar is the October Yearling Sale taking place Oct. 7-8. Entries for the October sale close Aug. 5.
Six years after his sire stepped foot in the OBS sales pavilion and set his high-level career into motion, a son of Yaupon took his own turn in the ring at the 2025 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale - and departed with a highlight moment of his own. The opening session of the OBS June sale showcased both market strength and the demand for one its most famous graduates. Hip 104, a dark bay or brown colt by Grade 1 winner and Spendthrift stallion Yaupon, sold to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $300,000 to lead the first day of the final major 2-year-old sale of the year, which posted gains in average and median. With a stakes winner already to his credit, Yaupon – who sold at the 2019 OBS June Sale - has gotten off to hot start in his burgeoning stud career. The same precocity he showcased as a juvenile has shown itself in his offspring thus far with the session-topping colt the latest example of such. Out of the winning mare After the Party, by OBS grad Into Mischief, the Yaupon colt was originally entered in the OBS March Sale where he breezed in :9 4/5 but had a minor ankle issue. He duplicated that effort during the under-tack show for June, covering an eighth in :9 4/5 once more for consignor Julie Davies. “We came up here expecting him to sell well,” said Davies. “How well, you don’t know but he did have plenty of action. A lot of people liked his breeze and liked him on the shank. He’s very classy so he came out like he owns the place. He’s got a good mind to him, and he just presents himself well.” From the female family of Grade 1 winners Callback, Girolamo, and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, the Yaupon colt first caught Joseph’s eye back in March and the Grade 1 winning trainer was grateful for the opportunity to add him to his barn. “If I like them, I buy them and then I worry about selling them after,” Joseph said. “I had seen this horse in March and obviously, he worked fast there. He came back and duplicated it and for me, if he can duplicate that time, that means you’re pretty good.” The opening session got off to a strong start when Hip 35, a bay son of Constitution consigned by Cortez Racing & Sales, sold for $280,000 to Sleeper Thoroughbreds & Full of Run Racing LLC. Out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Traffic Blimp, the colt is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed winners Allworthy and Miss Mattie B and is from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Bellafina. The colt galloped during the under-tack show. “He’s a super nice horse. We brought him here in April and he bruised his foot in a workout,” said Alex Cortez of Cortez Racing & Sales. “But everyone was on him. I did the right thing for the horse, I gave him time off and he came over here and I told everyone about him. Thank God everyone listened. (The price) was not surprising, because I know how good he is.” Two youngsters posted the day’s third highest price: Hip 120, a chestnut colt by Munnings consigned by Paul Sharp, and Hip 410, a bay colt by Twirling Candy consigned by Tom McCrocklin, both of whom sold for $250,000. The Munnings colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, was purchased by trainer Dallas Stewart on behalf of John Hall. The colt is out of the Tapit mare Amagansett and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and OBS grad Tenma. The son of Twirling Candy, who worked in :20 4/5, was purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management. He is out of the Speightstown mare Brooke and Emory, who is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Like. Hip 421, a dark bay or brown colt by Charlatan consigned by Wavertree Stables, elicited the next highest price when he sold for $240,000 to JPM Bloodstock. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Scat Daddy mare Elandess, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Peace Achieved. Hip 399, a chestnut colt by Gun Runner consigned by Top Line Sales, brought the session’s fifth highest price when he was purchased for $220,000 by Salli Foushee. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the graded stakes winning After Market mare Volcat and is a half-brother to graded stakes placed winner Dream Friend, an OBS grad.
The session saw a total of 11 horses sell for $150,000 or more including:
Hip 390, a chestnut colt by Midshipman consigned by Top Line Sales who sold for $170,000 to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock LLC. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Gemologist mare The Girls, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Wink. The colt is a three-quarter sibling to Wink.
Hip 50, a bay colt by Vekoma consigned by Envision Equine who sold for $160,000 to Robert Hess Jr. The colt, who breezed in :10 1/5, is out of the Yes It’s True mare Twelve Jewels, a half-sister to Canadian champion Inglorious and graded stakes winner Dixie Strike.
Hip 174, a chestnut colt by Tiz the Law consigned by Navas Equine who sold for $160,000 to D. J. Stable. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the winning Bernstein mare Blake’s Magic, who is a half-sister to Canadian champion Mobil.
Hip 16, a dark bay or brown colt by Caracaro consigned by Global Thoroughbreds who sold for $150,000 to Tonja Terranova, agent. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Purge mare Texas to a Tee and is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Mississippi Delta.
Hip 125, a dark bay or brown colt by Rock Your World who sold for $150,000 to Jim Divito. Consigned by Cardozo’s Brothers, the colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of winning, stakes-placed Tribal Rule mare Anniversary Kitty. The strong returns yielded by the 2-year-old market this season added another notch to its belt Tuesday. The overall gross came in at $9,758,500 from 222 head sold while the average improved from $37,755 last year to $43,957 this session. The median came in $26,000, up from $20,000 one year ago.
The sale is being held over two days compared to last year’s auction which took place over three sessions. “Good solid day,” said Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales for OBS. “It felt like horses were moving and changing hands and there was good depth of buyers. Given the strength of the market coming in, we were hopeful and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.” Top Line Sales led all consignors by gross with 12 head sold for $832,000. C.H.P.R was the leading buyer with 32 purchased for $422,500.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Monster lived up to his name today at Gulfstream Park, graduating by nine lengths with a sizzling gate-to-wire performance in a five-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on turf. The Jose D’Angelo-trained colt also continued the impressive early-season success of Pleasant Acres' first-crop sire Leinster, while cutting out fractions of :20.82 and :43.21 seconds for the first half mile on his way to a final clocking of :55.14 under Edgard Zayas. Arindel’s Monster was making his third career start and his first on turf. He debuted at Keeneland with a troubled fourth-place finish at 4 ½ furlongs on April 7 at Keeneland. The Florida-bred colt showed speed while prompting the pace before fading to sixth in the five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Monster, the 7-10 favorite in a field of eight, prepared for the stellar effort with a five-furlong breeze in 33 seconds on the turf at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. “I really liked this horse from Day 1 – that’s why I brought him to Kentucky. He didn’t run the way I was expecting,” D’Angelo said. “I said, ‘Lets bring the horse back to Florida and work him on the grass.’ The horse worked in 33, showing he’s 100-percent grass.” Leinster was 100-percent grass, himself, winning four graded-stakes on turf, including his career finale in the 2021, Gr. III Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. The Rusty Arnold-trained son of Majestic Warrior had finished third in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in his prior start. Leinster is also the sire of Lennilu, who captured the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, and Squire, the runner-up in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, on the Gulfstream Park turf course. Leinster stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, where his 2025 stud fee was $2,500. Mandatory Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved at Gulfstream Park Thursday on the second racing day
following Sunday’s jackpot hit for $185,237.
A mandatory payout of the pool is scheduled for Sunday. Should the multi-race wager go unsolved
until Sunday, the pool is expected to grow to an estimated $750,000.
BALTIMORE – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism looms as a strong favorite for Saturday’s 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, two weeks after coming up short as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.
Saturday will mark the final running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at the current Pimlico facility, affectionately known as ‘Old Hilltop,’ before it is demolished to make way for a modern building that is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027 Preakness. Laurel Park will host next year’s 151st Preakness. Journalism, who endured traffic and a wide trip while finishing second behind Sovereignty as the 3-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, is rated at 8-5 on the morning-line in a field of nine assembled for the Preakness, in which the Derby winner will not compete. “He’s a wonderful athlete. He’s got the looks and size,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Wednesday morning while glancing in the direction of Journalism in his stall at the Pimlico Stakes Barn. “He’s got the mechanics of a very good horse. His resume speaks for itself. He’s a special, special talent.” Journalism entered the Kentucky Derby coming off four straight victories in Southern California, including a gritty score in the Santa Anita Derby, in which he was stopped in traffic on the turn into the homestretch before shaking loose and prevailing by three-quarters of a length. “The one thing you can’t measure for and can’t write down in a sales catalogue is ‘try,’ ‘heart,’” said McCarthy of the determination of the $825,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga sale. Umberto Rispoli, who was aboard for all four of his wins in addition to Journalism’s runner-up finish in the Derby, has the return call from Post 2. McCarthy achieved the ultimate success at Pimlico in 2021 when he saddled Rombauer for an 11-1 upset victory in the Preakness. “Rombauer seemed like he was getting good at the right time. He showed up here in Baltimore and had a great week. It looked like he was getting over the track really, really well,” McCarthy recalled. “The race set up in his favor Preakness Day. He was arguably the best horse that ran that day. The time stacked up. It was wonderful to participate in a Triple Crown race and win a Triple Crown race.” The 54-year-old’s quest for a second Preakness triumph will encounter challenges from five Hall of Fame trainers with 18 victories in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, among them – former boss Todd Pletcher, plus Ocala's Mark Casse, Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas. Pletcher, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2021, will seek his first Preakness victory with WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., Pantofel Stable and Wachtel Stable’s River Thames, who was withheld from the Derby to target the Preakness. River Thames, who was beaten by a neck in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream while finishing second behind Derby hero Sovereignty, is coming off a third-place finish in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Should the son of Maclean’s Music win the Preakness it would complete a personal Triple Crown for Pletcher, who has saddled two Derby winners and four Belmont Stakes winners. He has started only 10 horses in the Preakness. “I think any time you have the opportunity to win a Classic that’s definitely something you’d like to achieve,” Pletcher said. “It would be something we’d love to get done.” Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return call on River Thames, who ranks third on the morning line at 9-2. Casse, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame a year after saddling War of Will for a 2019 Preakness score, is scheduled to saddle D J Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Sandman for the Preakness. The son of Tapit, who is rated second on the morning line at 4-1, is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Derby, in which he dropped back to last after encountering early traffic before offering a nine-wide rally. “You hope you can draw a line through it,” CEO and President of West Point Thoroughbreds Terry Finley said. “Journalism obviously ran really hard. If he runs that same race, we’ve got a lot to make up. Maybe we can close the gap.” Sandman entered the Derby off an eye-catching victory in the Arkansas Derby, in which he rallied from eighth in a nine-horse field and drew away to a 2 ½-length score. “It’s been a whirlwind in a nutshell, getting with Sandman,” said mega-popular internet influencer Griffin Johnson, who owns a share of Sandman. “When you own a piece of a horse, you never know what you’re going to get. That’s part of the fun, right? Obviously, Sandman has been a fantastic horse with a supreme amount of talent, and he has taken me on arguably the best journey that I could ever experience. I’m really just glad to be here. I’m soaking it in. Most importantly, I’m trying to share that dream with everyone I can and be authentic and experiential as I can.” Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is scheduled to ride the striking gray colt for the first time. Asmussen, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, will seek his third Preakness victory with Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Clever Again. He found the Preakness winner’s circle with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Clever Again, who is rated fourth at 5-1 on the morning line, will make his graded stakes debut in the Preakness in only his fourth career start. The son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, who was narrowly beaten in his debut at Keeneland in his only start as a 2-year-old, has won his two races this year, both at Oaklawn Park. After breaking his maiden with a front-running 3 ½-length score at 1 1/16 miles, he ran off with the mile Hot Springs by four lengths. Jose Ortiz has the return call on Clever Again. Baffert, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, will have the opportunity to extend his record for most Preakness winners for a trainer when he saddles SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables’, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan’s Goal Oriented for his stakes debut. Goal Oriented is 2-for-2, entering the Preakness off a 3 ½-length debut score at six furlongs April 6 at Santa Anita and a front-running triumph in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Baffert is well aware of the challenge that awaits Goal Oriented in the Preakness while racing against the likes of Journalism. “[Journalism] is a really good horse. Watching him, it was a great Derby,” Baffert said. “These are important races. If you feel your horse fits in this kind of race … I think he fits. You have Journalism. He is a real good horse and ran a big race in the Derby. Horses with good Derby form run good in the Preakness. My horse had good form two weeks ago. He is a big strong horse.” Flavien Prat has the return mount on the son of Not This Time, who is 6-1 on the morning line. Baffert established his Preakness record with National Treasure (2023), Justify (2018), American Pharoah (2015), Lookin At Lucky (2010), War Emblem (2002), Point Given (2001), Real Quiet (1998) and Silver Charm (1997). Lukas, a 1999 Hall of Fame inductee, could tie Baffert’s record should BC Stables' American Promise rebound from a 16th-place finish in the Derby with a winning performance in the Preakness. American Promise earned his stall in the starting gate for the Derby by winning the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. Rated at 20-1 on the morning line, the son of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify will be ridden back by Nik Juarez. Lukas notched his seventh Preakness success last year with Seize the Grey, who was preceded by Oxbow (2013), Charismatic (1999), Timber Country (1995), Tabasco Cat (1994), Tank’s Prospect (1985), and Codex (1980). Jim and Claire Limited’s Heart of Honor is scheduled to make his U.S. debut in the Preakness following a trans-Atlantic flight from Great Britain. The Jamie Osborne-trained son of Honor A.P. is coming off a runner-up finish in the April 5 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse. Set at 12-1 on the morning line, Heart of Honor will be ridden back by Osborne’s 23-year-old daughter, Saffie Osborne. Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables’ Gosger and RKTN Racing’s Pay Billy are both rated at 20-1 on the morning line. Brendan Walsh-trained Gosger, who won the April 12 Lexington at Keenland last time out, will be ridden for the first time Saturday by Luis Saez. Michael Gorham-trained Pay Billy, who earned his berth in the Preakness by winning the April 19 Federico Tesio at Laurel, will be ridden back by Raul Mena.
Ocala - Mystic Lake has been named the 2024 Florida-bred Horse of the Year in a vote by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association board of directors and announced at the FTBOA Awards Gala held Monday night at the Circle Square Cultural Center. Bred by Peggy Costanzo and owned by C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms, Mystic Lake was also named the Florida-bred Champion 3-Year-old Filly and Florida-bred Champion Female Sprinter after winning the Gr. II Charles Town Classic, Gr. III Miss Preakness at Pimlico, Sugar Swirl (Listed) at Gulfstream Park and Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs. Costanzo was also presented the Needles Award, recognizing the Small Breeder of the Year in Florida. The Florida Breeder of the Year goes to Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge Farm, which boasts earnings of $2,929,004 from 33 wins, 67 seconds and 67 thirds in 601 starts. This is the fifth time Stonehedge has been recognized as the Breeder of the Year, also being honored in 1997, 2013, 2016 and 2023. Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation was named the leading owner of Florida-breds by earnings with $1,683,452 from 31 wins, 25 seconds and 18 thirds. This is the seventh time Live Oak has earned the title, previously topping the standings in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Live Oak took home the trophy as the owner of Champion Older Male and Champion Male Turf Horse, Forever Souper. For a record fifth consecutive year, Khozan is Florida Stallion of Year with progeny earnings of $5,679,578. He earned the titles in 2020 ($3,521,813), 2021 ($3,671,794), 2022 ($4,513,950) and 2023 ($6,292,158). Khozan passes Montbrook (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009) and Wildcat Heir (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014) with four titles each going back to 1991. Khozan stood the 2024 season at Journeyman Stud and for the 2025 season he's at Ocala Stud. Khozan was represented by three stakes-winners and his leading earner with $144,897 was Wildwood Bye. He is property of Al Shaqab Racing and Stonehedge. Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win is the leading freshman sire and leading juvenile sire with progeny earnings of $797,233. His leading money earner with $218,950 was multiple stakes-winner Win N Your In. He is also represented by graded stakes-winner Nooni ($212,400), the Florida-bred Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. Win Win Win is property of Live Oak Stud, Brereton Jones and Ocala Stud. Other Florida-bred Champions recognized are 2-Year-Old Male Rated by Merit, Bentornato the 3-Year-Old Male and Male Sprinter; Spirit Wind Older Female, and Female Turf Horse, Dancing N Dixie. Points of Grace, the dam of Florida-bred Arthur’s Ride, winner of the Gr. I Whitney at Saratoga Race Course, is the Florida Broodmare of the Year. She is currently owned by Joe and Helen Barbazon, owners of Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, who bred Arthur’s Ride with the Tapit Syndicate. The Joseph M. O’Farrell Memorial Award presented by Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company went to Tom McCrocklin and Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, consignors of Florida-bred Horse of the Year Mystic Lake. Summerfield consigned her at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale while McCrocklin sold her at the 2023 OBS March Sale. Saffie Joseph Jr. is honored as the leading trainer of Florida-breds by black-type wins (10), total wins (83) and Florida-bred earnings ($3,446,942.)
HALLANDALE BEACH - Lennilu, owned by Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farm, Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington, punched her ticket to Royal Ascot in impressive fashion, overcoming some early trouble to romp by 3 ¾ lengths as the favorite in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park. The race co-headlined the program with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, both sprinting five furlongs on the grass. Each race winner earns an automatic berth in one of six juvenile stakes during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in mid-June, plus a $25,000 travel stipend. “The plan is Royal Ascot as long as she is healthy and everything goes right,” winning trainer Patrick Biancone said. “But I don’t see why it would be a problem.” With two-time Championship Meet leading rider Luis Saez in town for the race, Lennilu ($3.60) completed the distance in :56.99 seconds over a firm turf course. It was her second race following a one-length debut triumph going 4 ½ furlongs over a sloppy main track on April 6 at Keeneland. “Luis loved her from the day he rode her at Keeneland. He said he wanted to ride her at Ascot and I said, ‘Easy, we have to do one stop at Gulfsteam first,’” Biancone said. “She’s a machine. She’s very relaxed. She traveled to Keeneland, it was bad weather. She shed-rowed two days, jogged one day and ran like a monster,” Biancone said. “The father [Leinster] was a very good sprinter on turf so I had a lot of confidence in her coming into this race. The plan all along was to get to Ascot. That’s why so many partners joined in for that trip.” Saturday’s race saw Wesley Ward-trained Satisfied Mind, a 3 ¼-length winner of her April 16 unveiling at Keeneland, break running and establish the early lead after an opening quarter-mile in :22.03 seconds. Lennilu, who bumped with Satisfied Mind at the break, pressed in second joined by 50-1 shot Le Sunshine to her immediate outside in third. The half-mile went in :45.25 seconds as Lennilu came off the far turn racing two wide to take over the top spot and powered through the lane to separate from her rivals while under a hold from Saez. Bibi Dahl, a $1.35 million yearling making her first start, got up for second, 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Strada Del Sogno in third. “She’s a very nice filly,” Saez said. “She broke from there well [and] put herself in a good position. At the top of the stretch she was a little green first time on turf, but she’s got a lot of ability. I had a lot of horse at the end. I was pretty confident after I rode at Keeneland. She won that race very professionally. I had a lot of horse left that day, too. Now I’m looking forward to going to Ascot. That’s why we came here today.”
The connections are hoping to follow in the footsteps of inaugural Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner Crimson Advocate, who used the race as a steppingstone to victory in the 2023, Gr. II Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot for trainer George Weaver and jockey John Velazquez. “We were on the one hand very confident, because all the horses she beat at Keeneland won their next start, but that makes you a bit anxious, too,” Biancone said. “She’s a baby, but she will learn. She was a little bit green coming to the stretch, but she’s learning and, hopefully, she’ll be even better in six weeks.”
Aside from half the field having received their early training at Ocala farms, here are the Kentucky Derby entrants who have current Marion County ties.
1. Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Has 10 owners, one of them Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stable, which owns a branch in Summerfield.
2. Neoequos (Florida-bred by Neolithic). Bred at Pleasant Acres Stallions by the farm's owners, Joe and Helen Barbazon, in partnership with Matalona Thoroughbreds.
4. (Scratched). Rodriguez (Not This Time). Same 10 owners as Citizen Bull, including Stonestreet Stables.
8. Journalism (3-1, by Curlin). Has 5 owners, including Ocala's Bridlewood Farm (John & Leslie Malone).
15. Render Judgment (Blame). Trained by Ken McPeek, owner of the Summerfield Training Center.
17. Sandman (Tapit). Trained by Ocalan Mark Casse, owner of the Casse Training Center.
HALLANDALE BEACH - C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos breezed a half-mile this morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a desired start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Florida-bred colt, who finished third in both the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby and $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth 1 at Gulfstream, sits 21st in the qualifying points standings for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old son of Neolithic will need a defection from the current Top 20 to run in the 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses. Neoequos worked in company with Mr. Narcissistic and finished on even terms with his veteran stablemate in 48.43 seconds, the fastest four-furlong clocking of the morning. “It went good. He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance,” Joseph said. “It went well. He’s in good form.” Joseph reported that Neoequos will ship to Churchill Downs Friday morning. “We feel like we can get into the Derby, but if he doesn’t get in, he’ll run in one of the other races Derby Day,” he said. If unsuccessful drawing into the Derby field, Neoequos would run in either the Gr. I American Turf or the Gr. II Pat Day Mile on the undercard.
“Right now, we’re leaning to the American Turf, but the Pat Day Mile, I’d say, is also in contention,” said Joseph. Flavien Prat will be named on Neoequos and would ride him in the Derby unless Baeza, who sits 23rd in the points standings, also drew into the field.
Neoequos’ career got off to a rocky start last July when he stumbled and lost his rider early in his debut at five furlongs. The Florida-bred colt bounced back to graduate in his next start before finishing second in the first two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series behind undefeated Rated by Merit, who produced the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (99) of all 2025 juveniles in the seven-furlong FSS Affirmed.
Neoequos was sharp off a layoff to win a Jan. 23 allowance by 3 ½ lengths before finishing third behind Sovereignty and River Thames in the 1 1/16-mile Coolmore Fountain of Youth and again in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby behind Tappan Street and Sovereignty, both of whom are Kentucky Derby-bound. Joseph-trained Early On has secured a start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill on the strength of a second-place finish in the March 15 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs and a runner-up finish in the April 5 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. The New York-bred daughter of Union Rags graduated at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut on Feb. 5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 13 at Gulfstream Park. Originally scheduled for last Sunday, the multi-race wager’s mandatory payout was postponed due to heavy rains and windy conditions that forced the cancellation of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet’s closing-day card following Race 5. The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the fifth day on Thursday’s Royal Palm Meet’s opening-day program. Today’s Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $450,000. The sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on Tapeta carded as Race 7, in which Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Time Passage will make her 2025 debut. The 5-year-old daughter of Tunwoo, who will run for a $62,500 claiming tag, has won three stakes on the all-weather surface. Kevin Rice-trained Ms. Tart enters the feature with a victory while cutting back to 5 ½ furlongs last time out. Silks to Open at 9 a.m. for Dubai World Cup Card Simulcast The doors of the Silks simulcast center will open at 9 a.m. Saturday for the convenience of fans wishing to watch and wager on the $30 million Dubai World Cup Day program. Gulfstream will be represented by Il Miracolo, Super Chow and Steal Sunshine at Meydan Racecourse. Antonio Sano-trained Il Miracolo, a multiple graded-stakes winner who’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, will run in the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the 1 ¼-mile feature that is scheduled to close out the action at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
Jorge Delgado-trained Super Chow, a multiple graded stakes-winner who captured the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in his 2025 debut, will be reunited with jockey Chantal Sutherland in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, a six-furlong test for older horses with an 11:40 a.m. post time. Bobby Dibona-conditioned Steal Sunshine, a Grade 2 winner who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, will run in the $1 million Godolphin Mile, a stakes for older horses that is slated for 9:45 a.m.
Mark Casse trainee and OBS graduate Sandman (Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor) used the final Saturday in March to book his plans for the first Saturday in May when he rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $1.5 million, Gr. I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, headlining a weekend that saw three OBS grads earn graded stakes victories. Sandman took advantage of wicked early fractions to unleash his closing kick and collected 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The son of Tapit notched his third win in eight lifetime starts and improved his lifetime earnings to $1,254,595. “I couldn’t believe it, actually (early fractions),” Casse told the Oaklawn publicity team. “I said: ‘Well, they’ll have to be superstars to keep going.’ The farther they went, the more confident I was."
A $1.2 million purchase at the 2024 OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training sale, Sandman races for D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables. He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin as part of a complete dispersal for his breeder, Lothenbach Stables. The busy slate of stakes across the country on March 29 also saw C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio (Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) make a triumphant return from his victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational with a handy 5 ¼-length score in the $165,000, Gr. III Ghostzapper over fellow Gr. 1-winning OBS grad Power Squeeze at Gulfstream Park.
White Abarrio, who had captured the Pegasus World Cup by 6 ¼ lengths, is scheduled to run next in the Gr. I Met Mile on June 7 at Saratoga. A two-time OBS graduate, White Abarrio was sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2020 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $40,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 March Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5. At Santa Anita Park, CSLR Racing Partners’ Pilot Commander (Justify-Rebuke, by Carson City) earned his first stakes win when he prevailed in the $100,000, Gr. III San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs. A 4-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert, he was purchased by his owners for $700,000 out of the 2025 OBS March sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after breezing in :9 4/5. Other OBS graduates who earned stakes victories: March 29: Appleton Stakes: Brad Grady and David Grund’s Seminole Chief (Girvin – Secret Song, by Dunkirk) earned his second stakes victory when he annexed the $165,000 Appleton at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Seminole Chief was consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, to the 2023 OBS June Sale and sold to HND Bloodstock for $80,000 after breezing in :10 1/5. March 30: Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes: Macho Music (Maclean’s Music-Southern Girl, by Tapit) drew off to an 11 ¼-length victory over fellow OBS graduate P Four to take the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore going seven furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs, lowering the former stakes mark of 1:22.13 set in 2011 by Manicero to 1:21.30. Macho Music is owned by Mark Fletcher Taylor, Rohan Crichton and Daniel L. Walters and trained by Crichton. The partners purchased him for $60,000 from the Pick View consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after breezing in :10 2/5. Sophomore Fillies Stakes: Win N Your In (Win Win Win-Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True) powered to a 7-length victory in the $110,000 Sophomore Fillies Stakes over fellow OBS graduate Bella Cleopatra at Tampa Bay Downs. The victory was the fourth from nine lifetime starts for Win N Your In, who is owned by Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston, and her third stakes victory. Trained by Carlos David, she was purchased by Johnson for $12,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
One day after being the underbidder on the session topper, agents John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto were able to snag the most sought-after offering yet during a strong second session of the 2025 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Bidding on behalf of owner Sean Flanagan, Kimmel and Sallusto stretched themselves just beyond the million-dollar mark when they landed a bay daughter of champion Good Magic for $1.1 million, the highest priced horse to sell during the first two days of the OBS March sale. Catalogued as Hip 486, the Good Magic filly was one of two horses to crack the seven-figure barrier on Wednesday with the other being Hip 404, a bay colt by Independence Hall who sold to JPM Bloodstock for $1 million. Having been outbid Tuesday on Hip 119, a bay colt by freshman sire Maxfield who brought $1 million, Kimmel and Sallusto were diligent in their pursuit of the Good Magic filly, who breezed in :9 4/5 during the under tack show. Consigned by Top Line Sales, LLC, Agent, the filly is from the female family of champion Escena and is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Rose Mine. “We got outbid on the Maxfield yesterday…but this filly was the highest graded filly I saw,” Kimmel said. “These good fillies that breeze well and have the physical that she has, you really have to pay for. Her physical attributes are something where if you could produce offspring that look like her, she’ll be a hell of a broodmare. I’ve had many good fillies over the years and this filly exudes that kind of quality.” The Good Magic filly highlighted an exceptional day for Top Line Sales as they led all consignors with nine sold for a total of $4,060,000, including the day’s third highest price, Hip 343, a bay colt by Charlatan purchased by trainer Brad Cox on behalf of Prime Bloodstock for $660,000. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the stakes winning Street Sense mare Miss Interpret and hails from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winners Paulassilverlining and Dads Caps. “We’re having a great day. A lot of it was how the horses drew up in the catalogue,” said Jimbo Gladwell of Top Line Sales. “We just had some excellent horses go on the second day of the breeze show. The sale seems a lot more positive today, some faster times and a little more for the buyers to look after. It’s a good vibe around here and things are going well. “The Good Magic filly, everyone on the sales grounds loved her. She’s just been a queen. We had high hopes. You never know if they’re going to go for a million, but we were very happy with the price.” The Independence Hall colt was the first to hit seven figures on the day with JPM Bloodstock prevailing in a spirited bidding duel. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, the colt is out of the winning stakes-placed Harlan’s Holiday mare Orecchiette, an OBS graduate, and will head to trainer Mark Glatt in California to begin his on-track career. “It makes me nervous (with a first-crop sire) because you never know which way they’re going to go but we looked up (Independence Hall) and he ran very, very fast - he was consistently fast in all his races,” Glatt said. “At these 2-year-old sales, you’re here to buy the best athlete you possibly can. You look at the pedigree but we’re here to buy what we think are the best athletes. I’m extremely excited (to have the colt in the barn). Hopefully it was all worth it.” The colt showcased his talent when he breezed in :9 4/5 during the under tack show. In addition to the time itself, Woods said the way the colt moved during the breeze is what helped make him a standout. “The best thing about this horse was that if you look at his video, it’s spectacular,” Woods said. “It almost gets better every time you look at it. He gets quicker and quicker and quicker in the work, he looked wonderful. He vetted well and he’s beyond handsome.” Wednesday’s session saw 10 horses sell for $550,000 or more including: Hip 325, a chestnut colt by Midshipman consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds, Agent, and purchased by Kimmel & Sallusto for Flanagan Racing, LLC for $650,000. The colt, who breezed in :20 2/5 – tying for the fastest time of the day at the distance - is out of the Line of David mare Meetmeonline, who is a half sister to graded stakes winner, sire, and OBS graduate Bucchero. Hip 498, a bay colt by Tiz the Law consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent and purchased by Hideyuki Mori for $610,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, hails from the female family of Grade 1 winner Vicar and is out of the winning First Samurai mare Saucy Symphony. Hip 405, a dark bay or brown filly by Bolt d’Oro consigned by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon and Ali Rice), Agent and purchased by AMO Racing USA LLC for $600,000. The filly, who breezed in :9 4/5, hails from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Affirmed Success and is out of the stakes-placed Fed Biz mare Orquidias Biz, an OBS March graduate. Hip 491, a bay colt by Authentic consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent and purchased for $600,000 by Pedro Lanz, Agent for KAS Stables. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Congrats mare Rumandice and is from the female family of Grade 1 winners Albertus Maximus and Daredevil. Hip 392, a dark bay or brown colt by Good Magic consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Agent and purchased by Yoshihisa Ozasa for $575,000. The colt, who breezed in :9 4/5, is out of the winning Flatter mare Nightlife Baby, who has produced two winners from four to race. Hip 295, a bay filly by Tiz the Law consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc (Ciaran Dunne) who breezed in :9 4/5. The filly was purchased for $550,000 by Three Amigos and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Lucky Song, a daughter of graded stakes winner Caminadora. Hip 419, a bay colt by Tapit consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent and purchased by Spendthrift Farm and Epic Racing for $550,000. The colt, who breezed in :10 flat, is out of the Violence mare Peace Corps, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Her Smile.
Wednesday’s session saw 143 head sell for $22,998,500, just a tick off last year’s second session which generated $23,976,000 from 156 head sold. The session average of $160,829 was up from $153,692 in 2024 while the median dipped to $70,000, down from $75,000 last year.
A total of 31 horses failed to meet their reserve during the second session for an RNA rate of 17.8%. Last year’s RNA rate for the session was 26%. Overall, the total gross through the first two days of selling came in at $39,588,000 from 269 sold, down from $45,835,000 from 323 sold in 2024. The average of $147,167 is up from $141,904 in 2024 with the median of $70,000 is equal to this point last year. Top Line Sales leads all consignors through the first two days with 15 sold for $5,390,000. Kimmel and Sallusto for Flanagan Racing, LLC lead all buyers by gross with two purchased for $1,750,000.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Godolphin’s Sovereignty made a last-to-first sweep to overtake previously undefeated River Thames nearing the finish of Saturday’s $415,000, Gr. II Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. The son of Into Mischief, who closed out his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Gr. III Street Sense at Churchill Downs, stamped himself as a most promising prospect for the Triple Crown campaign while winning his 2025 debut by a neck. The 79th running of the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds offered qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
Sovereignty ($8.40) settled into stride as Neoequos was rushed out of the starting gate by Irad Ortiz Jr. to challenge River Thames for the lead and take early command entering the backstretch. Neoequos set fractions of :23.12 and :47.07 seconds for the first half-mile while the long-striding Sovereignty continued to trail the six-horse field. John Velazquez asked River Thames and the son of Maclean’s Music put in his challenge to the pacesetter on the far turn. Meanwhile, jockey Junior Alvarado also asked Sovereignty for his run, and the strapping colt responded, making a three-wide sweep to loom boldly while passing a struggling 9-5 favorite Burnham Square. Neoequos maintained a lead at the top of the stretch before River Thames changed leads and took charge in mid-stretch, only to be caught late by the fast-closing Sovereignty. “It was a great run. He had a good trip. We had a good post inside, saved some ground on the first turn,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “Fortunately, we didn’t get an outside post and have to be wide on the first turn. He saved some ground, he was able to tip out, and he’s got some acceleration.” Sovereignty, who broke his maiden in his third career start in the Street Sense, ran 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.12 to provide Alvarado with his second Fountain of Youth win, joining Mohaymen (2016). “I was just trying to give him a good race,” Alvarado said. “We’ve been running second and third and I wanted to make sure he could finish. At the three-eighths pole I found myself trying to save ground, but I don’t think the inside’s the best place to be, so I thought, ‘let me lose a little ground here and put him on the outside.’ I was already riding him a little bit and when I put him in the clear, it seemed like everything came back to his head and he turned it on. After that it was like, ‘I hope we get there in time,’ and he did. He kept grinding his way there. He’s such a nice horse.” The $1 million, Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream is a strong possibility for Sovereignty’s next start on the Triple Crown trail. “We got one under our belt and now we get with the team and see where we go. I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve shown that we can run over the track,” Mott said. “Naturally, [the Florida Derby] is on the list of things to be considered very strongly.” WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.’s River Thames, the 2-1 second betting choice, was making his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth following a pair of dominating races to launch his career during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet. “He kind of got to looking around a little bit late. [Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he was looking at the screen and just got a little bit complacent on the lead. He showed that he’s still maturing.” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We actually got a perfect trip, stalking the horse that we thought would show speed. We were able to put him away and it looked like he was maybe home, and I think he got a little complacent. The winner ran a very good race.” River Thames finished 2 ½ lengths clear of Neoequos, who finished a neck ahead of Burnham Square, the impressive Holy Bull winner last time out but who was never a factor in the Fountain of Youth. “He didn't break that good, like always," said Burnham Square's jockey, Edgard Zayas. "Last time, he made a nice move on the backstretch. But today he wasn't there. He's just still learning. It looked like in the turn he was going nowhere. But all of a sudden when I got him back to the outside, he really picked it up again. At the end he just got beat by two lengths, I think. He didn't get beat by much. I thought, ‘wow, if he had given me this from the turn going into the stretch.’ He definitely needs more distance and a longer stretch. Last time it was probably a weaker field. But he's going to keep improving.”
At the beginning of the 1979-80 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, when the track was still known as Florida Downs and Sam F. Davis was the president, Sam hired Ocalan David Goldman to act as publicity, advertising and marketing director for the Oldsmar track. David had years of experience in the field in New England, and then at old Tropical Park, Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park in South Florida.
At the time, before the advent of simulcasting, the track was averaging less than $300,000 a day in handle and Sam was determined to do something about it. Aside from his salary, Sam told David he would give him a bonus of $10,000 if David could get Florida Downs over the $300,000 mark. David's first move was to have the maintenance crew nail signs on telephone poles all over town giving directions to the track. The track announcer then was a young Tom Durkin, destined to become one of the nation's best a short time later.
Among the new ideas David came up with was to name races after many of the local personalities from newspapers, TV and radio stations and invite them to present the winner's trophy after their respective races. It generated a great deal of publicity from each of the media organizations when their presenter's race came up.
(Another genius idea David instituted was to hire a racing writer named Bernie Dickman to conduct handicapping seminars on the ground floor, first on Saturdays and years later on Sundays after Sunday racing was approved).
With two weeks remaining in the meeting, which ended in April in those days, the daily average handle was up to about $309,000 a day and the bonus appeared to be safe. But - it was that time when the snowbirds began heading north, and by closing day the average dropped to $297,000. Goodbye bonus.
Then, the track was turned over to Stella Thayer and George Steinbrenner for the 1980-81 season and it became Tampa Bay Downs, with myriad improvements. That partnership lasted six years before Mrs. Thayer bought out the New York Yankees owner, and the track has prospered ever since, becoming one of the simulcasting leaders in the country.
On Sam F. Davis day a few weeks ago, with a crowd of 5,401, there was on-track handle of $552,673, while ITW handle reached $419,695 and ISW handle an eye-opening $11,198,488. That's an all-sources figure of $12,170,856. The same day, Gulfstream's all-sources handle was $11,853,973.
Sam F. Davis would be proud. So would David Goldman.
As the old Virginia Slims commercial used to say, "You've come a long way, baby."
HALLANDALE BEACH - Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square, exiting an eye-catching maiden win at the course and distance four weeks ago, proved that effort was no fluke by putting away favored front-runner Tappan Street at the top of the stretch and edging clear for a 1 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $265,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The 36th running of the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull headlined a 12-race program featuring five stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds worth $925,000 in purses anchored by Eclatant’s rallying triumph in the $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Forward Gal (G3) for fillies.
Other stakes Saturday saw Vixen register a popular victory in the $165,000 Sweetest Chant and California shipper Charlie’s to Blame take the $165,000 Kitten’s Joy on the turf, and Gate to Wire spring a 13-1 upset in the $165,000 Swale sprinting seven furlongs on the main track.
The second step on Gulfstream’s road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29, preceded by the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man, the Holy Bull offered Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the first five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.
Burnham Square completed the distance in 1:43.60 over a fast main track to capture his stakes debut. It was the second straight win for the gelded bay son of Liam’s Map since adding blinkers to his training and racing equipment. “The key is the blinkers. I had to put the blinkers on because he wasn’t helping me at all. I had to help him,” winning trainer Ian Wilkes said. “He wouldn’t help the jockey. He wouldn’t start running in the race. He’d run away from horses, wouldn’t run into the dirt. He did everything wrong.” Appearing somewhat anxious before the race, Burnham Square broke evenly and settled in fourth position as 13-1 longshot Kinetic Control quickly established command from his rail post and went in 23.42 seconds for the opening quarter-mile. Mucho Macho Man winner Guns Loaded pressed in his outside in second, with Ferocious – making his highly anticipated season debut – racing third. Guns Loaded took over the top spot as Kinetic Control began to retreat following a half-mile in 47.60 seconds, with Ferocious holding third and million-dollar yearling and 8-5 favorite Tappan Street gaining ground into fourth. Tappan Street inherited the lead after going six furlongs in 1:11.69 but Edgard Zayas was following his move around the far turn on Burnham Square, setting his sights on the leader. “Last time he broke a little sharp, so I really thought he’d break a little sharp and be close to the pace, but I feel like he was a little worked up before the race, a little nervous, so he broke out of there a little slow and I had to go to Plan B,” Zayas said. “I dropped to the rail and let him do his thing. He’s a horse that doesn’t get tired, has a really good stride, steady. Once I was closing in on the quarter pole, I knew I had a really good shot of winning.”
Burnham Square straightened for home with full momentum and surged past Tappan Street, digging in to hit the wire 1 ¾ lengths in front. It was another 9 ¼ lengths back to Burning Glory in third, followed by Ferocious, He’s Not Joking, Kinetic Control and Guns Loaded. “This horse doesn’t get tired, and that’s an asset you saw today,” Wilkes said. “He overcame a lot of adversity today and still won.” Wilkes spent many years as an exercise rider and assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger, who won the first Holy Bull with Home At Last in 1990 when it was known as the Preview Stakes. Nafzger was in attendance Saturday. Next up on Gulfstream’s stakes schedule for 3-year-olds on dirt is the $415,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, also going 1 1/16 miles. “That’s a strong possibility. First, I’m going to enjoy the night,” Wilkes said. “I’ll talk to Mrs. [Janis] Whitham and [her son and racing manager] Clay after this.” Trainer Brad Cox, who ran 1-2 in the Forward Gal with Eclatant and Stunner, was pleased with Tappan Street’s effort. “I thought he ran really big,” Cox said. “He was wide throughout. Youn horse, still learning, second start of is life. He’s going to really move forward off this, I believe.” A dominant debut winner last summer that ran second in back-to-back Grade 1 stakes before finishing a troubled fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 in his most recent start, Ferocious went off the 2-1 second choice from Post 2 in his season opener. It was his first race since adding blinkers.
“I had a great trip. I liked the way he settled behind horses on the first turn. I saved all the ground, and on the backside I gave him a little break. I stepped up outside and let him keep track of those pacemaker horses and he traveled good,” Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano said. “He hadn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup and we tried to put a couple works together to make him fit for this race, but it seemed to me like he got tired a little bit.”
The connections, including trainer Gustavo Delgado and co-owner Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock, were encouraged by how the blinkers helped Ferocious, who had three breezes since the Breeders’ Cup leading up to the Holy Bull. “He seemed more focused [with the blinkers], right on the bridle from the beginning the whole time,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to both his father and Restrepo “He was going good until the quarter pole and then he got a little tired. You have to start running. This horse seemed to be fit and you have to carry on and keep going. We were expecting to be a little closer. We’ll regroup and look forward.”
It's been quite a while since we checked out which of Florida's casinos were faring best, so following is a synopsis of the eight, with statistics from July 1, beginning of the fiscal year, through Nov. 30.
Credits in (amount of money sent through the machines):
1. Gretna Racing - DBA Magic City Casino (formerly Flagler dogs). $770,373,722.
2. PPL Inc. - DBA Pompano Park. $574,150,396.
3. Casino Miami (formerly Miami Jai-Alai). $561,913.203.
4. South Florida Racing (Hialeah Park). $559,878,399.
5. Calder Race Course. $542,032,644.
6. Gulfstream Park. $362,237,516.
7. Dania Jai-Alai. $339,642,231.
8. Big Easy Casino (formerly Hollywood dogs). $276,643,614.
Total betting for 8 casinos - $3,986,871,725.
Net Slot Revenue (positions are skewed due to different takeouts - takeouts listed)
1. Flagler dogs - $48,928,502 - 7.12%
2. Pompano Park - $47,788,923. - 9.51%
3. Hialeah Park - $41,319,430. - 8.04%
4. Calder Race Course - $37,250,251. - 8.90%.
5. Miami Jai-Alai - $36,893,574. - 8.41%.
6. Gulfstream Park - $22,753,863. - 8.61%.
7. Dania Jai-Alai - $20,134,091. - 8.71%.
8. Hollywood dogs - $15,421,033. - 8.11%.
(Note that Flagler dogs, with the lowest takeout, is the betting leader. The total net slots revenue comes to $270,489,667. The state takes 35%, or $94,671,384).
HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. called Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park as “one of the best days of my career.” Not only did Joseph saddle Be Your Best to victory in the Gr. II TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf presentation by Sir Davis American Whisky, and Mystic Lake in the Gr. II Inside Information, but he capped off his day by winning the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational with White Abarrio. “In general, you win with Mystic Lake and you win with Be Your Best, that would be a great day in its own right,” Joseph said. “To have the story unfold with White Abarrio. It comes full circle and to end like that, it’s almost like a movie. A dream, basically.” Joseph said White Abarrio, Be Your Best, Mystic Lake and Skippylongstocking, who finished third in the Pegasus World Cup, “all bounced out well.” “The ownership group is going to speak to each other and decide on what happens with [White] Abarrio. The Saudi Cup is possible.”
Mandatory Payout of Rainbow 6 Sunday’s mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 returned $37,865. There was $4,115,143 of new money in the pool and a carryover of $559,027.
The all-sources handle for the Pegasus program was a monumental $41,700,226.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Two starts after being claimed for the bargain price of $8,000 Wallace Moore Jr.’s Ashima became stakes winner on her first try with a front-running 1 ¼-length triumph in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 23rd running of the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf was the first of two stakes for Florida-breds age 4 and up, followed by the $75,000 Sunshine Classic going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Ashima ($17), a 4-year-old daughter of The Big Beast, was racing for just the fourth time on turf in her 13th start, and first in nine months. Her prior two starts were wins over Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta course, both going longer, including a 4 ½-length triumph Nov. 17 when she was taken by trainer Sal Santoro. “I liked her and I just felt something towards her. I said, ‘You know what, we need to claim this horse,’” Santoro said. “All this horse wanted was, ‘I love you, too.’ That’s all we did.” As they did in a front-running optional claiming allowance together Dec. 12, jockey Emisael Jaramillo got Ashima comfortable on the front end from outside all but two of her six rivals and settled through a quarter-mile in 23.36 seconds and a half in 47.16 tracked to her outside by 6-5 favorite Great Venezuela, riding a four-race win streak.
Six furlongs went in 1:10.45 with Ashima still in command, and put away Great Venezuela once set down for a drive after straightening for home and finished up in 1:33.73 over a firm turf course. Great Venezuela held second, with Princess Bettina third.
Love Mami Love, Maryquitecontrary, Beach Ready and My Sunny Valentine completed the order of finish. Parallel was scratched.
Dating back to last October, Ashima has now won four straight races for three different trainers, and improved her career record to 6-1-2 with $150,590 in purse earnings. Currently, she makes up the entirety of Santoro’s Gulfstream-based stable. “Right now he’s my only horse,” said Santoro, who won the 2012 Delta Downs Princess (G3) and 2013 Honeybee (G3) and Fantasy (G3) with Rose to Gold. “I’ve got like five or six others that are probably coming in.” JC Racing Stables’ Lightning Tones ($15.40), facing Florida-breds for the first time in his 26th career start, reeled in pacesetting One Sharp Cookie in deep stretch and edged clear to register a last-to-first victory in the Sunshine Classic.
Winner of the seven-furlong Carry Back in 2023 at Gulfstream for previous trainer Danny Hurtak, late-running Lightning Tones earned his first victory in three tries since being claimed for $16,000 last July. One Sharp Cookie, racing for the first time since mid-October, was eager for the lead and held it through splits of :23.61, :47.48 and 1:12.21. Jockey Jorge Ruiz began to move up on the far outside leaving the backstretch, rolled up near the leaders rounding the far turn and closed steadily through the stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:44.34 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track. One Sharp Cookie held second, followed by 2-1 favorite Secret Chat, Shaq Diesel, Awesome Train, Souper Watson and Khozeiress. Defending champion Lure Him In was scratched, along with Power Humor, Belts ‘n Brooks, Holiday Pay and Big Martini.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Fifteen years after leaving his native Venezuela as the country’s winningest trainer, Antonio Sano reached a milestone Sunday at Gulfstream Park when he saddled his 1,000th winner in North America. A day after Sano celebrated his 62nd birthday, Big Boy Jak ($11.60), a 3-year-old gelding, provided the popular trainer with the milestone when he led throughout to win the seventh race. “I am so happy. I am proud to be here in the United States. It’s my home now,” said Sano, surrounded by friends and family in Gulfstream’s winner’s circle. “I won over 3,000 races in Venezuela and now 1,000 races here. I am very thankful for every opportunity in 14 years to win 1,000. I have to thank all my owners, my team, my family, my son, everybody that have shown support for me. I hope to win another 1,000.” A third-generation horsemen - a champion conditioner in Venezuela with a stable upward of 150 horses - Sano was kidnapped twice in his native country – once for 36 days – before coming to the U.S. After winning his first race in April of 2010, Sano has found success at all levels of the sport. He is the winningest Venezuelan trainer in the U.S., surpassing Manny Azpurua in September of 2023. Sano’s first major success was Gunnevera, a $16,000 yearling who would win the 2017 Fountain of Youth (G2) and finish second in the Travers (G1) as a 3-year-old and run third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as a 4-year-old and retire with $5.5 million in earnings.
Simplification would reward Sano with his second victory in the Fountain of Youth in 2022 and run fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Il Miracolo won the 2023 Gr. III Smarty Jones and Gr. III Ghostzapper and was third in the 2023 Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby.
HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool yielded multiple payoffs of $36,102 Sunday at Gulfstream Park. It was the first mandatory Rainbow 6 payout of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet, which began Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. The multi-race wager had been solved twice, for life-changing payoffs of $489,592 Dec. 15 and $244,071 Dec. 21. The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved for nine days. A total of $2,511,879 was bet into the pool Sunday on top of a $337,274 carryover from Saturday’s 11-race program. Cat Eyes ($33) captured Sunday’s Race 10 finale to complete the winning 1-7-10-2-6-4 combination. Other winners in the sequence were Sol d’Oro ($9) in Race 5, Tiz Romantic ($9.80) in Race 6, Big Boy Jak ($11.60) in Race 7, Brees ($19.60) in Race 8 and War Signal ($4.40) in Race 9. The Rainbow 6 begins anew spanning Races 4-9 when the Championship Meet resumes Wednesday. First race post time is 12:20 p.m. Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 sequence includes a maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather Tapeta course featuring a pair of first-time starters from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Amande and Cantora, as well as Mischief in Motion, a $525,000 debut runner by Into Mischief trainer for trainer Mike Trombetta. Race 8 is an optional claiming allowance going five furlongs on the Tapeta that drew eight 3-year-old fillies including last-out maiden winner Mattinata; Laurice, unraced since finishing fifth in the six-furlong Matron (G3) last fall at Aqueduct; and Rohan Crichton-trained stablemates Sweet Sash and Bad Gal Party, both with wins over the Gulfstream Tapeta. Gulfstream Well-Represented Among Eclipse Award Finalists Led by Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Soul of an Angel, Gulfstream Park was well represented among the 2024 Eclipse Award finalists announced Sunday. Soul of an Angel won Gulfstream’s Princess Rooney (G3) last summer to earn an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup, where she rallied from the clouds for a 19-1 upset. Her trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., has won 11 consecutive meet titles at Gulfstream including each of the last three Championship Meets.
Other finalists in the female sprinter category are Society and Ways and Means, a 2023 maiden winner at Gulfstream.
National Treasure is one of three finalists in the older dirt male category. National Treasure won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) last January as a preview for his victory in the Met Mile (G1). He was ridden by Flavien Prat, expected to earn his first Eclipse as top jockey off a record-setting season with 82 stakes wins, 56 graded.
The 3-year-old male category has both Fierceness and Dornoch among the finalists. Fierceness won the Florida Derby (G1) in his second sophomore start and went on to win the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1) and run second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Dornoch captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) in his season debut before winning the Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1). Joining Prat as jockey finalists are Gulfstream regulars Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione. Ortiz won his fifth Championship Meet title and seven graded-stakes at the 2023-2024 stand and has won five prior Eclipse Awards. Gaffalione, the champion apprentice of 2015, is a native of nearby Davie. That ranked sixth with 51 wins, four graded, and $2.9 million in purse earnings last winter.
The Eclipse Award winners will be announced Jan. 23 from Palm Beach.
HALLANDALE BEACH - There will be a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park on Sunday. If there is no unique winner of the wager through tomorrow, the estimated pool of Sunday’s mandatory payout is $3 million. Sunday’s sequence will begin with Race 5, a $94,000 maiden special weight event for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf. Post time is approximately 2:14 ET for the Rainbow 6. The dozen entered include Just Silvia (trainer Todd Pletcher), Sol d’Oro (Christophe Clement), Tellus Mater (Graham Motion), In the Wild (Shug McGaughey), Crystalaire (George Weaver), Sweet Surrender (Bill Mott), Close Up (Cherie DeVaux), and Cocktail Kisses and Goal, both from the barn of Mark Casse.
The sequence concludes with Race 10, another $94,000 turf event for maiden fillies and mares at a mile. Just So Pretty was beaten a head and two lengths in maiden special weight events on the turf at Saratoga and Aqueduct. El Zain is a $700,000 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro making her debut. Sunday’s first race post is 12:20. The Rainbow 6 will have an estimated pool of $400,000 for today’s nine-race program. Who’s Hot: Jockey Miguel Vasquez won twice Thursday with Mywifeknowsitall ($6.60) in Race 2 and Win With Faith ($23.20) in Race 5 … Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher notched back-to-back wins with El Megeeth ($8.60) in Race 7 and Autumn Evening ($8) in Race 8.
HALLANDALE BEACH - The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Assocation (FTHA) held its 5th annual awards and membership dinner on Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park’s Ten Palms Restaurant. This event gives FTHA the opportunity to recognize excellence in the thoroughbred racing industry and at Gulfstream Park. “This year our winners consist of outstanding Florida- and Kentucky-bred horses who performed exceptionally in 2024,” said FTHA Executive Director Herb Oster. “Congratulations to their talented trainers, owners, and breeders.” The 2024 FTHA Annual Award Winners: 2YO COLT / GELDING Rated by Merit FL (Battalion Runner / Banner Waving, by Speightstown) Trainer: Michael Yates Owner: St. Elias Stable Breeder: St. Elias Stable
CO-2YO FILLY Win N Your In FL (Win Win Win / Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True) Trainer: Carlos A. David Owners: Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston Breeder: Marion G. Montanari CO-2 YO FILLY
R Morning Brew FL (Curlin’s Honor / Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Owner: Averill Racing
Breeder: Dori Morgan Hyatt
CO-3YO COLT / GELDING Real Macho KY (Mucho Macho Man / Hedonism, by Curlin) Trainer: Rohan Crichton Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith
Breeder: Poe Racing Stable
CO-3YO COLT / GELDING Grand Mo the First KY (Uncle Mo / Lilies So Fair, by Giant’s Causeway) Trainer: Victor Barboza, Jr. Owner: Granpollo Stable Breeder: John D. Gunther 3YO FILLY
De Regreso KY (Audible / Texas Gem, by Tiznow) Trainer: Antonio Sano Owner: Cairoli Racing Stable and Magic Stables, Inc. Breeder: Baron Thoroughbreds OLDER HORSE or GELDING Comedy Town FL (Speightstown / Unbridled Humor, by Distorted Humor) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Owner: Ten Twenty Racing and Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Breeder: Live Oak Stud OLDER FILLY or MARE Soul of an Angel KY (Atreides / Factor One, by The Factor) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Owner: C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable, and Ken T. Reimer Breeder: Westbrook Stables TURF HORSE or GELDING Win for the Money KY (Mohaymen / Mayakoba, by War Chant) Trainer: Mark E. Casse Owner: Live Oak Plantation Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey TURF FILLY or MARE Charlie’s Wish FL (First Dude / Superior Sarah, by Werblin) Trainer: David Fawkes Owner: Royalight Racing Breeder: Three Gin Guys Stable OLDER TAPETA HORSE or GELDING K.C. Chief FL (Noble Bird / Ashley River, by Deputy Wild Cat) Trainer: Jose Francisco D’Angelo Owner: Leon King Stables Corp. and David Bernsen, LLC Breeder: J D Farms OLDER TAPETA FILLY or MARE Batucada KY (Union Rags / Lady Pamela, by Tapit) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Owner: Morgan L. Joseph and Carrie Brogden Breeder: Wygod Equine
HALLANDALE BEACH - The first day of racing in the new year at Gulfstream Park Wednesday will offer bettors an estimated pool in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 of $400,000. The Rainbow 6 will include two stakes races – the Fasig-Tipton Cash Run for 3-year-old fillies on the main track and the Dania Beach for 3-year-olds on the turf. The sequence will begin with Race 5 at approximately 2:19 ET and conclude with Race 10. Both are maiden claiming events on the Tapeta.
Ron Nicoletti and Samantha Perry Preview the Rainbow 6: Leg 1 (Race 5): 5 ½ furlongs Tapeta, $35,000 maiden claimer, 3-year-olds. An evenly matched field of eight is led by the 5-2 favorite Ayman, who finished fourth in his debut over the main track on Dec. 6 for trainer Joe Orseno. Iron Sword (7-2), an $85,000 son of City of Light, makes his debut for trainer Jose D’Angelo. Luis Saez is named to ride. Davola was beaten only a length in his debut at Delaware in October but finished eighth in his last here on Dec. 6. The gelding drops from maiden special weight company for trainer John Servis. Leg 2 (Race 6): 5 furlongs turf, $97,000 allowance optional claimer, 4-year-olds and up. There’s an 8-5 favorite in this nine-horse field in Capture the Lion, who comes out of a sixth-place finish on Nov. 23 over the Tapeta in the Extravagant Kid. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. stays aboard for trainer Mark Casse. Orseno saddles Horsepower, who has two wins and three seconds in six starts on the turf. Tyler Gaffalione rides. They might all have to catch High Limit Room, who has seven wins on the turf. Fourth in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, the 7-year-old will be saddled by Rohan Crichton. Leg 3 (Race 7): mile and 70 yards Tapeta, $25,000 claimer, 4-year-olds and up. From the rail out, there doesn’t seem to be much separating Space Launch (2-1) and Lights of Broadway (8-5). Ortiz Jr. gets the mount on D’Angelo’s Space Launch, while John Velazquez is on Lights of Broadway, who is 3-4-2 in 12 Tapeta starts. Peter Walder saddles Lights of Broadway and Thethrillofvictory with Luis Saez. Grand David has been on the front in his last three and he will likely be the one to run down. The 6-year-old is 4-3-4 in 15 Tapeta starts. Leg 4 (Race 8): one mile, $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run, 3-year-old fillies.
Paradise City, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Ortiz Jr., could go off the favorite. She finished fourth on Dec. 7 against the boys under allowance conditions at Gulfstream. Previously, the daughter of McKinzie was fourth at Keeneland after breaking her maiden here Sept. 6. Blinkers are off for the Cash Run. Five G leaves from the rail for trainer George Weaver and Velazquez. The Vekoma filly broke her maiden against New York-breds in November at Aqueduct before finishing second there on Nov. 17 in the Tepin. Both those races were on the turf. Yellow broke her maiden in her fourth attempt last time out for trainer Todd Pletcher. Andrea, another Joseph runner, won her debut and came back to win the Hallandale Beach. She has since finished sixth at Keeneland in the Myrtlewood and fifth in Tampa in the Sandpiper. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount. Leg 5 (Race 9): one mile turf, $165,000 Dania Beach, 3-year-olds. The key and possible single to the sequence could be Dream On, the 6-5 favorite for Casse and Ortiz Jr. The Not This Time filly makes her first start since finishing fifth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). She was previously third in the Summer (G1) and second in the Soaring Free, both at Woodbine. Casse also saddles Mi Bago, who led throughout when winning the Pulpit on Nov. 29 here on the turf by five lengths. Edwin Gonzalez rides. Joel Rosario is named on Bucaro. Trained by Michael Trombetta, the filly was third here in the Pulpit and second in the Display over Woodbine’s synthetic surface in October.
Leg 6 (Race 10): 1 1/16-mile Tapeta, $17,500 maiden claimer, 3-year-olds. Trainer Antonio Sano saddles two in Stone Cold Flex (3-1, Saez) and Flag Officer (10-1, Edgard Zayas). Stone Cold Flex drops from maiden $35,000 while Flag Officer drops from $25,000. Skull Honor, who has a second and two thirds from four starts, goes out first time off the claim for D’Angelo. Ortiz Jr. rides. Risen Sun, who was no factor in his debut in October, is a first-time gelding, trained by Nolan Ramsey. Otter Mischief drops from $50,000 company and gets Gaffalione for trainer Jeff Hiles.
Great Friends Stable and Mark Davis’ Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief – Violent Wave, by Violence) pressed the pace from the start of the $300,500 Malibu Stakes (G1), took charge in the stretch and eased away to score by 1-1/4 lengths.
It’s the third stakes win for the 3-year-old colt by Maximus Mischief, consigned by Randy Bradshaw, Agent, to the 2023 OBS Spring Sale, and sold for $75,000 after turning in Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Now 10-5-1-2 for trainer Doug O’Neill, he exits the race with $667,400 in earnings.
Purple Rein Racing’s J B Strikes Back (Goldencents – Allanah, by Scat Daddy) turned for home battling for the lead in the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2), took control a furlong from home and was best by a length and a quarter at the wire.
It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old son of OBS graduate Goldencents, trained by Doug O’Neill, now 9-4-0-0 with $191,660 in earnings. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2023 OBS March Sale, he was sold for $52,000 after breezing an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet resumes Thursday, Dec. 26 with a 10-race program featuring two stakes and three turf races.
The program begins at approximately 12:20 ET with Race 1, a maiden special weight event at five furlongs on the turf for 11 2-year-old fillies. The race includes two fillies from the barn of Mark Casse in Wellness and Baby Lala, JR Ranch’s Thankfully, Snitch Dorada, a daughter of Maximus Mischief to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., and first-time starter Starship Impulsive from the barn of Steve Dwoskin. The $140,000 Rampart, for fillies and mares at a mile, will be run as Race 6 and feature a couple of Gr. 1 winners. Soul of an Angel makes her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint while Gr. I Alabama winner Power Squeeze makes her first start since September when finishing seventh behind Thorpedo Anna in the Gr. I Cotillion Sept. 21 at Parx. Fillies and mares go 1 3/8 miles in the Via Borghese in Race 8. Forever After All and Marksman Queen go out after finishing second and third, respectively, in Del Mar’s Gr. III Red Carpet. Avenue Niel goes out first time for trainer Michael Trombetta after finishing fourth in the Gr. III Waya and Gr. III Long Island. La Mehana, winner of the Waya and seventh in the Long Island, goes out first time for trainer Christophe Clement. Graham Motion has entered Three Priests and Marskman Queen, out of the multiple graded stakes-winner Sharp Susan. Via Borghese, a daughter of Seattle Dancer trained by Angel Penna Jr., won 11 of 22 starts and was a multiple graded stakes-winner on the turf. White Abarrio to Meet 11 in Gr. III Mr. Prospector White Abarrio, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2022 Florida Derby, will face a full field Saturday in the $165,000 Mr. Prospector at seven furlongs. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio worked a ‘bullet’ three furlongs Sunday :35.42. The field includes three-time Gr. III winner Super Chow and Gr. III Vosburgh winner Mufasa. Saturday’s 11-race program also includes the $115,000 Abundantia for fillies and mares at five furlongs on the turf, and the $100,000 St. Augustine at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta. The first of the weekend’s Tropical Turf Pick 3 wagers begins Friday with Race 1, a $25,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds going 7 ½ furlongs. Leading trainer Joseph saddles two in Salto Angel, seventh in his debut on Tapeta, and first-time starter Chill the J. Change At Jamaica gets blinkers and drops in company off a ninth-place finish in his debut for trainer Mark Casse. The second leg of the Tropical Turf Pick 3 is Race 6, a $35,000 claiming event for fillies and mares. Miss Taptress broke her maiden on the turf and was third over the green last time out at this level. Sassy Allie has a win and two seconds in four turf starts for trainer Robert Falcone Jr. The Pick 3 concludes with Race 9, a starter allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Sarah’s Dream, trained by Jose D’Angelo, is on a four-race winning streak, with one of those being over the turf. Silver Moonlight, trained by Joseph, is seeking her third consecutive victory over the green.
Stephen Rousseau’s Nic’s Style (Uncaptured – Sense When) tracked the leaders from the inside in the $100,000 City Of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes, battled to the lead a furlong out and was best by 2-1/2 lengths at the wire.
That’s two straight stakes wins for the 4-year-old Florida-bred graded stakes-placed daughter of Uncaptured, purchased by Stephen Rousseau for $25,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2021 October Yearling Sale. She’s trained by Bill Mott and is now 6-5-1-0 with $328,400 in earnings. Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith’s Big Martini (The Big Beast – Dirty Martini) scored his first stakes win with a frontrunning two length victory in in the $100,000 Marion County Florida Sire Stakes. Rohan Crichton trains the 4-year-old Florida-bred son of The Big Beast, now 18-4-6-2 with $268,308 in earnings.
He’s a two-time OBS graduate, sold first at the 2021 Winter Mixed Sale and then purchased for $87,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at the 2022 June Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus – Mystic Blue) went to the front in Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes at Fair Grounds, was headed from the inside past the eighth pole, then came again to score by a head.
It’s the first stakes victory for the 2-year-old daughter of Aurelius Maximus, trained by Steve Asmussen, now 3-2-0-0 with $95,120 in earnings. She was purchased for $32,000 out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.
HALLANDALE BEACH - St. Elias Stable’s Rated by Merit completed a sweep of the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday at Gulfstream Park, putting forth the dominating performance that was expected of him by those who sent him to post as the 1-5 favorite in the $300,000 In Reality.
“It’s been such an amazing trip with this horse,” said Monique Delk, executive director of racehorse development for Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable. “Mr. and Mrs. Viola let him have the time to develop on his own and he dances every dance. I couldn’t be more proud.” Rated by Merit exited the 1 1/16-mile final leg of the series for 2-year-old colts and geldings undefeated in four career start, providing jockey Jesus Rios with a sweep of the Florida Sire Stakes co-features on Saturday’s program. Earlier in the day, Rios guided Just For Fun Stable's My Denysse ($72.80) for an upset victory in the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile final for fillies. Making his first start around two turns, Rated by Merit broke alertly from his rail post position to quickly assume pacesetting duties heading into the first turn. The homebred son of Battalion Runner set comfortable fractions of :24.13 and :48.92 for the first half mile under a motionless Rios. As early stalkers Latch the Hatch and Roar of the Beast weakened, Classic of Course made a sweeping move on the turn to loom as the only danger, but Rated by Merit had yet to be asked. When Rios finally got to riding the Michael Yates-trained favorite, the Florida-bred colt responded, drawing away for a six-length victory. “At the beginning of the race I decided to put the horse in the best position possible. When I took the lead at the beginning I was expecting some pressure, but I didn’t get any. For that reason, I was very relaxed with the horse and in the final stretch he got wide a little bit but the horse was very strong in the last part of the race,” Rios said. “He is a very special horse. I feel very blessed to win this race and win the Triple Crown of the Florida Sire Stakes.” Rated by Merit became the 11th colt or gelding to sweep the series since its inception in 1982. He covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.71. Classic of Course finished second, nine lengths ahead of Just Relax. “It’s a hard thing to do. Only a handful of horses have done it. I feel quite honored to be honest with you to have a horse to do it with,” Yates said. Heading into the In Reality, Rated by Merit held the distinction of being the fastest 2-year-old in North America based on speed figures. He earned a 99 Beyer while winning the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the series on Oct. 19, by 3 ¾ lengths. Rated by Merit debuted on July 13 with a 9 ¾-length victory that earned a 92 Beyer that was the highest produced by all 2-year-olds at the time. He came right back in the Sept. 7 Dr. Fager, earning a 93 Beyer for his 6 ¼-length romp in the six-furlong first leg of the series. “We’ll freshen him and then map up a plan for the winter meet here,” Yates said.
HALLANDALE BEACH - Having split the first two legs of the Sire Stakes Series for 2-year-old fillies, Win N Your In and R Morning Brew will face a new challenger in stakes-winning shipper Stunner for their rubber match in Saturday’s $300,000 My Dear Girl at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl for juvenile fillies by accredited Florida stallions co-headlines an 11-race program with the $300,000 In Reality for 2-year-olds on opening weekend of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet. First race post time is 12:20 p.m. Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, winner of the open Sharp Susan sprinting six furlongs on Aug. 10, avenged her third-place finish in the opening leg of the FSS series, the Sept. 7 Desert Vixen, with an authoritative 4 ½-length triumph in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl on Oct. 19. While she won the Sharp Susan all the way on the lead, Win N Your In came from off the pace in the Susan’s Girl under regular rider Miguel Vasquez, who gets the return call from Post 6 at co-topweight of 122 pounds. They are rated second choice on the morning line at 3-1. “She’s rateable. She can go to the lead or she can stay back. I’m going to leave it up to Miguel,” trainer Carlos David said. “He came and breezed her [Sunday] morning and he thinks she feels awesome. We’re going to go into the race with confidence and hopefully we come through.” Win N Your In figures to lay off the speed of fellow stakes-winners R Morning Brew and Stunner, who takes a two-race win streak into the My Dear Girl for trainer Brad Cox. It will be the first time around two turns for all three horses.
“I think she’s going to stretch out pretty good,” David said. “Obviously, we have Brad Cox’s filly coming from out of town with huge numbers. But it’s like when we go to Churchill, we go out west. Horses, sometimes they don’t handle the traveling well and maybe they don’t like the track as much.
“My filly has won here three times, two stakes, and she’s going to love the two turns, I think. She’ll be OK,” he added. “She’s doing really, really good. Hopefully we’ll finish her 2-year-old campaign on top and I’ll be excited to see what she’s got as a 3-year-old.” LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Stunner is the 3-5 program favorite, and the Girvin filly drew the rail and will have Edgard Zayas in the irons. After finishing second in a six-furlong maiden special on Aug. 23 at Saratoga in her debut, she graduated in a similar spot going 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 26 at Aqueduct, where she cruised by 3 ½ lengths in the one-mile Tempted Nov. 2. Both wins came in front-running fashion.
Stunner will have company on the front end in Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew, winner of each of her first two career starts in impressive, wire-to-wire style – romping by 5 ½ lengths in the Desert Vixen – before finishing third as the favorite in the Susan’s Girl after encountering some early trouble. “Her first race was a bit of a surprise and her second race was awesome,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “The last time she didn’t fire for whatever reason, whether it be because she needs to get the lead or not. But we’re going to take care of that and try to put her on the lead and eliminate that excuse.” Joseph is coming off his 11th consecutive title at Gulfstream during the recently concluded Sunshine Meet, including the past three Championship Meet crowns. Sunshine Meet leading rider Edwin Gonzalez replaces Zayas aboard R Morning Brew, third choice on the morning line at 9-2. They will break from Post 5.
“She’s not the best breaker, but she got a perfect trip last time for a normal horse, you know? But, she failed to fire. That’s why if we’re going to lose we want to do it this time on the lead and we’re going to get there at all costs,” Joseph said. “Hopefully she breaks well and she gets there and if she gets beat, she gets beat. She ran disappointing last time. She’s going to have to come back to her best, and even if she comes back to the best it might not be good enough. Cox’s filly looks pretty tough in there,” he added. “We’re going to be on the lead. If we go far enough, we go far enough; if not, we accept getting beat that way.” “
Stephen Screnci homebred Fede is the only other horse in single-digit odds at 8-1. The bay daughter of Adios Charlie ran fourth behind R Morning Brew in her Aug. 9 unveiling, beaten 7 ¼ lengths, before overcoming an early bump to break her maiden by five lengths going seven furlongs on Nov. 10. Leonel Reyes rides from Post 7. Completing the field are Susan’s Girl runner-up Kip the Distance, also third in the open one-mile Hallandale Beach Sept. 14, and maidens My Denysse and Bee a Queen.
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company has announced that Andrew Fernung has been named to the position of Assistant Sales Coordinator. A lifelong Ocala resident, Fernung is continuing a family tradition of horsemanship. The son of the late renowned horseman John Fernung, Andrew joins OBS after spending eight years as assistant trainer for Eddie Woods Stable.
Prior to joining Angela and Eddie Woods, Fernung served as farm trainer at Journeyman Bloodstock from 2009-16 working alongside his aunt and uncle, Crystal and Brent Fernung. "Being around good horseman and businesspeople alike on a daily basis is something I’m proud of and I look forward to using the traits learned in future endeavors," the 35-year-old Fernung said. "To become a part of something so influential as OBS means the world to me. OBS has always been an integral part of me, and my family’s life and I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be a part of the team." "Andrew is a welcome addition to the OBS team," added OBS President Tom Ventura. "He is not only an excellent horseman but the experience that he gained working with Eddie Woods and Journeyman Bloodstock on the selling end at the sales brings a valuable perspective to his role at OBS. He can build on the relationships he has developed interacting with buyers from around the world. Horses are in his blood and his passion to gain a deeper knowledge of the horse business will benefit OBS for years to come."