Watchyourownbobber wins Showing Up at GP West.
Houston Bull at 30-1 wins eighth.\
Cellars Shiraz on turf for 3-YO filllies is next
Quiet kitten from the Crossed Sabres-Marcus Vitali-Matt Rispoli team is likely faorite
--Jim Freer
Saturday, October 31, 2015
courtir Favored in Showing Up at GP Wert
The $75,000 Showing Up is next at GP West.
It is one mile on turf for 3YOs
Scratches of Rizwan, Tiz My Valentine and My Cowboy leave a field of nine
Courtier, Bill Mott-trained graded stakes placed invader, is the 2-1 favorite. We like Abounding Legacy, 13-1 from Ralph Nicks barn, if he takes to the turf.
-- Jim Freer
It is one mile on turf for 3YOs
Scratches of Rizwan, Tiz My Valentine and My Cowboy leave a field of nine
Courtier, Bill Mott-trained graded stakes placed invader, is the 2-1 favorite. We like Abounding Legacy, 13-1 from Ralph Nicks barn, if he takes to the turf.
-- Jim Freer
Saturday at GP West: Two Turf Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
The Gulfstream Park West meet will have two stakes races today, both on turf for 3-year-olds, and simulcasts of the Breeders’ Cup races from Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens under a lease agreement with that track.
The first post is 11:55 a.m. for the 11-race GP West card.
Keeneland will have 12 races with first post of 11:00 a.m. The Breeders’ Cup races are the third through 11th, starting at 12:05 p.m. and culminating with the Breeders’ Cup Classic with scheduled post of 5:35 p.m.
Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs will have simulcast wagering on all of the GP West races and all of the Keeneland races.
Gulfstream’s stakes races are;
* $75,000 Showing Up — seventh race at 3:58 p.m.; one mile on turf for 3-YO males
$75,000 Cellars Shiraz — ninth race at 5:18 p.m.; one mile on turf for 3-YO fillies
We will be at GP West and will have coverage of the GP West races and of Florida-related news of the Breeders’ Cup races on our blog
http://insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com/.
On Sunday GP West will have ten races with a new earlier first post of 12:35 p.m. That will be the first post through the
Saturday at GP West: Two Turf Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
Friday, October 30, 2015
Breeders' Cup:Friday Florida Wrap Up
In the Distaff, we thought Stopchargingmaria should have been taken down and Stellar Wind made the winner,
The order of finish was: Stopchargingmaria; Stellar Wind; Curalina and Sheer Drama. All but Stellar Wind have raced at Gulfstream.
* In the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Gulfstream horse Andrerya's Reward faded to finish last. Look for her to come back strong when the water is not as deep.
* In the Dirt Mile, the finish was Liam's Map; Lea, Red Vine, Wicked Strong and Valid. All but Red Vine have raced at Gulfstream.
We'll be back tomorrow morning with previews of the two stakes at Gulfstream Park West (Calder) and of Florida aspects of tomorrow's Breeders' Cup races.
The GP West stakes are:
*Showing Up--$75,000, one mile on turf, 3-YO males
*Cellars Shiraz--$75,000, one mile on turf; 3-YO fillies
-- Jim Freer
The order of finish was: Stopchargingmaria; Stellar Wind; Curalina and Sheer Drama. All but Stellar Wind have raced at Gulfstream.
* In the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Gulfstream horse Andrerya's Reward faded to finish last. Look for her to come back strong when the water is not as deep.
* In the Dirt Mile, the finish was Liam's Map; Lea, Red Vine, Wicked Strong and Valid. All but Red Vine have raced at Gulfstream.
We'll be back tomorrow morning with previews of the two stakes at Gulfstream Park West (Calder) and of Florida aspects of tomorrow's Breeders' Cup races.
The GP West stakes are:
*Showing Up--$75,000, one mile on turf, 3-YO males
*Cellars Shiraz--$75,000, one mile on turf; 3-YO fillies
-- Jim Freer
Racing Reviews Today On Our Blog
Race fans:
Be sure to visit and bookmark our BLOG, as we post to it more frequently than this site.
The address is: insidefloridahorseracing.BlogSpot.com
Racing Reviews Today On Our Blog
Milt Wolfson Seeking Long Shot BC Win
Trainer Milt Wolfson turned 83 on Oct. 22, and this afternoon he is hoping that Andreya's Reward will give him a belated birthday present--and a longshot one at that.
Andreya's Reward is one of 14 2-year-old fillies getting ready to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with post time of 4:53 p.m. She is the longest shot on the board at 72-1.
We aren't saying that Andreya's Reward will hit the board, let alone win. But that looks like an overlay based on a split horses move and long stride she showed in winning the one-mile Our Dear Peggy at Gulfstream on Oct. 3.
Wolfson and his assistant trainer Kathy Davey own Andreya's Reward through their N.T.S. Stable.
"Why not take a shot?," Wolfson said last Saturday at Calder.
Here's wishing you good racing luck, Milt and Kathy.
--Jim Freer
Andreya's Reward is one of 14 2-year-old fillies getting ready to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with post time of 4:53 p.m. She is the longest shot on the board at 72-1.
We aren't saying that Andreya's Reward will hit the board, let alone win. But that looks like an overlay based on a split horses move and long stride she showed in winning the one-mile Our Dear Peggy at Gulfstream on Oct. 3.
Wolfson and his assistant trainer Kathy Davey own Andreya's Reward through their N.T.S. Stable.
"Why not take a shot?," Wolfson said last Saturday at Calder.
Here's wishing you good racing luck, Milt and Kathy.
--Jim Freer
Lea's Price Looks Attractive in dirt Mile
The 4:10 post time is approaching and Liam's Map is 1-5 in 11-horse field. The speedy Pletcher-trainee 's wins include last year's Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream.
Three-time Gulfstream graded stakes winner Lea is 6-1 and our pick to win, as other speed coulftake toll on Liam's Map. Red Vine also could benefit.
GP multiple stakes winner Valid is 47-1 and a good chance to be in exotics for trainer Marcus Vitali. So does GP alum Wicked Strong at 10-1.
--Jim Freer
Three-time Gulfstream graded stakes winner Lea is 6-1 and our pick to win, as other speed coulftake toll on Liam's Map. Red Vine also could benefit.
GP multiple stakes winner Valid is 47-1 and a good chance to be in exotics for trainer Marcus Vitali. So does GP alum Wicked Strong at 10-1.
--Jim Freer
O'Connell and Lopez Team up for a Win at Keeneland
Early Entry won today's third race at Keeneland for trainer Kathleen O'Connell and jockey Paco Lopez--both known for their success in Florida.
O'Connell will send out the 3-year-old Lady Shipman in Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Lady Shipman will be among the favorites in a full field of 14 where all the other runners are males.
Lopez has five stakes mounts over the next two days at Keeneland starting with Encryption in the fifth race with post at 2;48.
Today's win for Early Entry, a 4-tear-old son of Keyed Entry, wns at seven furlongs in a $62,500 optional claimer with a $75,000 purse
At that distance early this year he won once at Gulfstream Park and once at Tampa Bay Downs
-- Jim Freer
O'Connell will send out the 3-year-old Lady Shipman in Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Lady Shipman will be among the favorites in a full field of 14 where all the other runners are males.
Lopez has five stakes mounts over the next two days at Keeneland starting with Encryption in the fifth race with post at 2;48.
Today's win for Early Entry, a 4-tear-old son of Keyed Entry, wns at seven furlongs in a $62,500 optional claimer with a $75,000 purse
At that distance early this year he won once at Gulfstream Park and once at Tampa Bay Downs
-- Jim Freer
Sweet Kitten Wins Bryant Station
Sweet Kitten (15-1) won the Bryant Station. Tale of Verve did not take to the turf well and finished tenth in the field of 12.
At Keeneland, Tale of Verve is 17-1 on yielding turf
Tale of Verve, the 7 horse, could be live in the 4th at Keeneland at 1 1/8 miles on yielding turf. It is the Bryant Station.
This is Tale of Verve's first time on turf. Everyone remembers that he finished second in the slop to American Pharoah in the Preakness. Brian Hernandez rides for Dallas Stewart, known for big prices on off track.
The 5-2 favorite Closing Bell, trained by Bill Mott, is 5-2 favorite in a 12-horse field. His last win was on turf listed as good at Kentucky Downs,
--Jim Freer
This is Tale of Verve's first time on turf. Everyone remembers that he finished second in the slop to American Pharoah in the Preakness. Brian Hernandez rides for Dallas Stewart, known for big prices on off track.
The 5-2 favorite Closing Bell, trained by Bill Mott, is 5-2 favorite in a 12-horse field. His last win was on turf listed as good at Kentucky Downs,
--Jim Freer
Friday at GP West: first post at 12:20, with BC simulcasts
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
At the Gulfstream Park West meet this afternoon, there will be ten live races and simulcasts of the day’s four Breeders’ Cup races at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Today’s race of highest interest for fans in Florida could be the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Likely favorite Liam’s Map and contenders Lea, Valid , Wicked Strong and Barbados all raced at Gulfstream park during the past 12 months
(Note– in the photo in the preview for this story, Liam’s Map is shown winning the 2014 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder Casino & Race Course under a lease arrangement with that track.
First post time for today’s GP West races is 12:20 p.m.
We will have coverage of GP West and the Breeders’ Cup this afternoon on this Web site and on our blog http://insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com/
Our focus in the Breeders’ Cup races will be on horses that are stabled year-round in Florida and/or have raced at Gulfstream Park or at Tampa Bay Downs.
Early this afternoon on our blog, we will have previews and analysis of three of this today’s races.
Our focus will include these 2015 Gulfstream stakes winners: favored Liam’s Map and contender Valid in the Dirt Mile; longshot Andreya’s Reward in the Juvenile Fillies Turf; and contender Sheer Drama in the Distaff.
sheer Drama wins the Royal Delta at Gulfstream 3-21-15
The Breeders’ Cup races are today and tomorrow (Friday) at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. There will be four Breeders’ Cup races today, starting at 3:30 p.m. with the Juvenile Turf, and nine Breeders’ Cup races tomorrow (Saturday).
GP West will have simulcast betting on all ten of today’s Keeneland races, including the Breeders’ Cup races.
Gulfstream and Tampa Bay Downs will have simulcasts and wagering on all of today’s GP West races and Keeneland races.
The three Florida locations also will have advance wagering on Saturday’s nine Breeders’ Cup races.
Andreya’s Reward wins Our Dear Peggy at Gulfstream, 10-3-15
Here is the schedule for today’s Breeders’ Cup races All four races are Grade 1.
* 3:30 p.m.– $1 million Juvenile Turf, one mile,
It is the only Breeders’ Cup race without at least one horse that has raced in Florida.
* 4;10 p.m.–$1 million Dirt Mile, 3-year-olds and up
* 4:50 p.m. — $1 million Fillies Juvenile turf, one mile
* 5:35 p.m.–Distaff, 1 1/8 miles on dirt, fillies and mares 3-years-old and up
Photos courtesy of Gulfstream Park
Sheer Drama and Andreya’s Reward by Lauren King
Liam’s Map by Natalie Fawkes
Friday at GP West: first post at 12:20, with BC simulcasts
This Week at the Florida
Tracks: Oct. 26 to Nov.1
The Breeders’ Cup races will
be run this Friday Oct. 30 and Saturday Oct. 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Meanwhile, Eastern Standard
Time will begin at 2:00 a.m. this Sunday
Nov. 1.
To accommodate the times of
the simulcasts of Breeders’ Cup races, the Gulfstream Park West meet being held at Calder will have special early first post
times this Friday and Saturday.
Because of the switch from
Daylight to Standard time, GP West will
have a first post time of 12:45 p from this Sunday through the end of the meet
on Nov. 28.
Simulcast betting on GP West
races and on the Breeders’ Cup and other Keeneland races also will
be available at Gulfstream Park
and at Tampa Bay Downs.
The schedule for GP West and
the Breeders’ Cup:
* Wednesday Oct. 28
Regular first post of 1:15
p.m. at GP West
* Thursday Oct. 29
Regular first post of 1:15
p.m. at GP West
* Friday Oct. 30
First post time will be 12:20
p.m. at GP West
There will be four Breeders’
Cup races, starting at 3:30 p.m. Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is
5:35 p.m.
* Saturday, Oct. 30
First post time will be 11:55
a.m. at GP West.
There will be two GP West
stakes aces, both one mie on turf with
$75,000 purses. The Showing Up is for
3-year-old males, and the Cellars Shiraz is for
3-year-old fillies.
There will be nine Breeders’
Cup races, starting at 11:30 a.m.
Scheduled post for the Breeders’ Cup
Classic is 5:35 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1
GP West will begin a new first
post of 12:45 p.m.
Gulfstream Events
The Silks simulcast area on
Gulfstream’s first floor will open at its regular 11 a.m. time on October 30,
and Ten Palms will be open with an a la carte menu only, $25 minimum.
The following day, Silks will
be open at 10 a.m. and Ten Palms is offering a Breeders’ Cup Buffet for $34.99.
Also on October 31, fans will
receive an official Breeders’ Cup T-shirt with purchase of a handicapper
program at Gulfstream Park from noon to 3 p.m., while supplies last. Spin &
Win Drawings to win a bet on a Breeders’ Cup race will be available to GP
Advantage members.
Gulfstream in Hallandale
Beach is open daily for simulcasting,
including the Gulfstream Park West races, during the GP West meet.
Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar is
in the midst of physical and operational preparations for its opening day on
Nov. 28.
Calder Casino
21001 N.W.
27th Ave.
Miami Gardens, FL
33056
(305) 206-6309
Calder Web site
For information on the racing
at GP West (Calder), use the Gulfstream
Park contact information listed below.
* Live racing -- Wednesdays
through Sundays, first post is 1:15 p.m.
Casino -- Open from 9 a.m. to
3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays
Gulfstream Park
901 S. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach, Fla. 33009
Phones -- (954) 454-7000
Gulfstream Park Website
* Simulcast wagering -- seven
days a week with more than 30 thoroughbred and harness tracks; open for
simulcasting from 11 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.
* Casino -- the two casino
rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours
on Fridays and Saturdays
* Poker -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tampa Bay Downs
11225 Race Track Road, Tampa,
Florida 33626
Main Phone (813) 855-4401
Toll Free (In Florida)
(866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967)
Tampa Bay Downs Website
Tampa Bay Downs will resume
live racing on Nov.28th.
Prior to then, it is open
seven days a week for afternoon and evening simulcasts of thoroughbred races
from more than 20 tracks. A schedule may be obtained by calling the numbers
listed above.
*The Silks Poker Room hours
of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m.
The Downs Golf Practice
Facility hours of operation:
Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00
p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)
Range: 8:30 a.m. - dusk daily.
Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. -
dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
GP West Preview: Turf Stakes on Saturday; Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
Conditions are fast and firm at the Gulfstream Park West meet today for an eight-race card that got underway at 1:15 p.m.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder under a lease arrangement with that track.
For bettors and other fans, today also is a day to prepare for the two stakes races that GP West will have on Saturday and for the simulcasts of Breeders’ Cup races on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday’s GP West stakes are the $75,000 Showing Up at one mile on turf for 3-year-old males and the $75,000 Cellars Shiraz at one mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies.
We will have previews of both races on Saturday morning, and stories with detailed results on Saturday evening
The Breeders’ Cup races will be this Friday and Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Starting this afternoon we will have previews of Breeders’ Cup races with a focus on horses whose trainers and owners have close ties to Gulfstream Park and to Tampa Bay Downs.
This is in keeping with our mission of continually covering Florida horse racing, including stories that other media outlets might not be covering extensively or covering at all.
Our stories will be on this Web site and on our blog’
http://insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com/
GP West on Friday and Saturday will have simulcast betting on all of the Keeneland races. On those days, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs will have simulcast betting on all of the GP West races and all of the Keeneland races.
On Friday, all three of those Florida locations will offer advance betting on all of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races.
Here is the GP West schedule
Thursday Oct. 29
GP West will have eight races with first post of 1:15 p.m.
Friday Oct. 30
GP West will have ten races with first post time of 12:20 p.m.
There will be four Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 3:30 p.m. Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is 5:35 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31
GP West will have 11 races. First post time will be 11:55 a.m. at GP West.
The Showing Up is the seventh race, with scheduled post of 3:58 p.m.
The Cellars Shiraz is the ninth race, with scheduled post time of 5:18 p.m.
There will be nine Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 11:30 a.m. Scheduled post for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is 5:35 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 1
GP West will change its first post to 12.45 p.m. and keep that first post time through the end of its meet on Nov. 28.
Gulfstream Events
The Silks simulcast area on Gulfstream’s first floor will open at its regular 11 a.m. time on Friday Oct. 30. Ten Palms will be open with an a la carte menu only, at $25 minimum per person.
On Saturday Oct. 31, Silks will be open at 10 a.m. and Ten Palms is offering a Breeders’ Cup Buffet for $34.99.
Also on Saturday, fans will receive an official Breeders’ Cup T-shirt with purchase of a handicapper program at Gulfstream Park from noon to 3 p.m., while supplies last. Spin & Win Drawings to win a bet on a Breeders’ Cup race will be available to GP Advantage members.
GP West Preview: Turf Stakes on Saturday; Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
Conditions are fast and firm at the Gulfstream Park West meet today for an eight-race card that got underway at 1:15 p.m.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder under a lease arrangement with that track.
For bettors and other fans, today also is a day to prepare for the two stakes races that GP West will have on Saturday and for the simulcasts of Breeders’ Cup races on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday’s GP West stakes are the $75,000 Showing Up at one mile on turf for 3-year-old males and the $75,000 Cellars Shiraz at one mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies.
We will have previews of both races on Saturday morning, and stories with detailed results on Saturday evening
The Breeders’ Cup races will be this Friday and Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Starting this afternoon we will have previews of Breeders’ Cup races with a focus on horses whose trainers and owners have close ties to Gulfstream Park and to Tampa Bay Downs.
This is in keeping with our mission of continually covering Florida horse racing, including stories that other media outlets might not be covering extensively or covering at all.
Our stories will be on this Web site and on our blog’
http://insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com/
GP West on Friday and Saturday will have simulcast betting on all of the Keeneland races. On those days, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs will have simulcast betting on all of the GP West races and all of the Keeneland races.
On Friday, all three of those Florida locations will offer advance betting on all of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races.
Here is the GP West schedule
Thursday Oct. 29
GP West will have eight races with first post of 1:15 p.m.
Friday Oct. 30
GP West will have ten races with first post time of 12:20 p.m.
There will be four Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 3:30 p.m. Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is 5:35 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31
GP West will have 11 races. First post time will be 11:55 a.m. at GP West.
The Showing Up is the seventh race, with scheduled post of 3:58 p.m.
The Cellars Shiraz is the ninth race, with scheduled post time of 5:18 p.m.
There will be nine Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 11:30 a.m. Scheduled post for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is 5:35 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 1
GP West will change its first post to 12.45 p.m. and keep that first post time through the end of its meet on Nov. 28.
Gulfstream Events
The Silks simulcast area on Gulfstream’s first floor will open at its regular 11 a.m. time on Friday Oct. 30. Ten Palms will be open with an a la carte menu only, at $25 minimum per person.
On Saturday Oct. 31, Silks will be open at 10 a.m. and Ten Palms is offering a Breeders’ Cup Buffet for $34.99.
Also on Saturday, fans will receive an official Breeders’ Cup T-shirt with purchase of a handicapper program at Gulfstream Park from noon to 3 p.m., while supplies last. Spin & Win Drawings to win a bet on a Breeders’ Cup race will be available to GP Advantage members.
GP West Preview: Turf Stakes on Saturday; Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
GP West Notebook: Pletcher Gains Fourth Win at Meet
By Jim Freer
JS Bach beat Tiger of Wales by a neck in Wednesday’s feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth win after 17 days of the meet.
Pletcher is tied for fifth place in trainer wins at the GP West meet, which Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder Casino & Race Course as part of a lease arrangement with that track. During the past week, several other prominent South Florida winter time trainers have joined him in running horses at the GP West meet.
JS Bach, the 1-5 favorite, won the one mile dirt race in 1:40.51 on a track listed as fast. It was a $16,000 optional claimer with a $39,000 purse. Titanor (24-1) finished third, followed by Empower (8-1) in the seven-horse field.
Pletcher also sent out Wild Zambezi as a separate betting interest in the race, which was the fourth on Wednesday’s card. That horse finished fifth.
(Note: The photo in the Preview of this story is of Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park in March 2915)
The 3-year-old colts JS Bach and Wild Zambezi are among the first wave of horses that Pletcher has sent from tracks in northern states to the Palm Beach Downs training center in Delray Beach.
Pletcher has been sending horses south at a faster pace than usual. That flow will pick up even more starting in early November, including some of his top-tier horses. That indicates he could exceed the ten wins he had during last year’s eight-week GP West meet.
Most, like JS Bach and Wild Zambezi, are part of what can be described as Pletcher’s strong second string.
Trainers Shipping In
n recent days, Eddie Plesa Jr., Tom Albertrani, David Jacobson and Bobby Dibona have all returned and are running horses at GP West.
Meanwhile, we are hearing that Gulfstream has received more applications than the number of stalls it has available for its championship meet that will begin Dec. 7. Pletcher has led trainers in wins 12 consecutive times at those meets.
Gulfstream controls about 3,000 stalls. That is a combination of the stables at its track in Hallandale Beach and its affiliate Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach and stalls it has leased at Calder.
Other stalls could be available at training centers in South Florida.
Tampa Bay Downs also has more demand than stalls available for its meet that will begin Nov. 28. Some trainers will be able to find stalls at farms and training centers in Ocala, and van horses 100 miles to race at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar.
Pletcher probably won’t arrive full-time in South Florida until early December.
He is in Lexington, Ky., for the Breeders’ Cup races that will be run this Friday and Saturday at Keeneland. He has 11 horses entered in BC races.
Assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta is coordinating Pletcher’s operations in South Florida.
The Pletcher team has no horses entered Thursday at GP West, two on Friday and four on Saturday.
Through Wednesday, Marcus Vitali leads GP West trainers with eight wins. Antonio Sano has seven, followed by Ralph Nicks and Rodolfo Garcia with five each.
Wednesday’s Race
JS Bach had to battle back in the final yards to win Wednesday’s race.
With Edgard Zayas riding, JS Bach took the lead coming out of the final turn and appeared to be pulling away.
But Tiger of Wales, the 8-1 second choice, rallied on the inside as JS Bach began drifting outward
Tiger of Wales, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, took the lead about 100 yards from the wire.
JS Bach then re-rallied for his third win in four career starts. His other two wins and a second place finish were this year at Gulfstream Park.
JS Bach, a son of Tale of the Cat, is a Florida-bred homebred of Donald Dizney.
The second place finish was the fifth in-the-money showing for Tiger of Wales in ten career starts. He is trained by Mike Maker and owned by J. Armando Rodriquez Racing.
Pletcher and Maker can be expected to move JS Bach and Tiger of Wales to higher level optional claiming races.
Jockey Standings
Emisael Jaramillo rode three winners at GP West on Wednesday.
That gives him 11 for the meet and places him third in jockey wins behind Gaffalione who has 17 and Zayas who has 16. Zayas rode two winners and Gaffalione rode one winner on Wednesday’s eight-race card.
For several years, Jaramillo has been one of the leading jockeys in Venezuela. He began riding in Florida during the recent summer meet at Gulfstream. He rode 19 winners at that meet, placing him 12th in the standings.
Jaramillo has been getting mounts from a wide variety of trainers, including some in the large South Florida contingent who are native Venezuelans.
Photo Credits:
— Todd Pletcher and GP West fans by Barry Unterbrink’
— Edgard Zayas courtesy of Gulfstream Park
GP West Notebook: Pletcher Gains Fourth Win at Meet
JS Bach beat Tiger of Wales by a neck in Wednesday’s feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth win after 17 days of the meet.
Pletcher is tied for fifth place in trainer wins at the GP West meet, which Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder Casino & Race Course as part of a lease arrangement with that track. During the past week, several other prominent South Florida winter time trainers have joined him in running horses at the GP West meet.
JS Bach, the 1-5 favorite, won the one mile dirt race in 1:40.51 on a track listed as fast. It was a $16,000 optional claimer with a $39,000 purse. Titanor (24-1) finished third, followed by Empower (8-1) in the seven-horse field.
Pletcher also sent out Wild Zambezi as a separate betting interest in the race, which was the fourth on Wednesday’s card. That horse finished fifth.
(Note: The photo in the Preview of this story is of Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park in March 2915)
The 3-year-old colts JS Bach and Wild Zambezi are among the first wave of horses that Pletcher has sent from tracks in northern states to the Palm Beach Downs training center in Delray Beach.
Racing at Gulfstream Park West
Pletcher has been sending horses south at a faster pace than usual. That flow will pick up even more starting in early November, including some of his top-tier horses. That indicates he could exceed the ten wins he had during last year’s eight-week GP West meet.
Most, like JS Bach and Wild Zambezi, are part of what can be described as Pletcher’s strong second string.
Trainers Shipping In
n recent days, Eddie Plesa Jr., Tom Albertrani, David Jacobson and Bobby Dibona have all returned and are running horses at GP West.
Meanwhile, we are hearing that Gulfstream has received more applications than the number of stalls it has available for its championship meet that will begin Dec. 7. Pletcher has led trainers in wins 12 consecutive times at those meets.
Gulfstream controls about 3,000 stalls. That is a combination of the stables at its track in Hallandale Beach and its affiliate Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach and stalls it has leased at Calder.
Other stalls could be available at training centers in South Florida.
Tampa Bay Downs also has more demand than stalls available for its meet that will begin Nov. 28. Some trainers will be able to find stalls at farms and training centers in Ocala, and van horses 100 miles to race at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar.
Pletcher probably won’t arrive full-time in South Florida until early December.
He is in Lexington, Ky., for the Breeders’ Cup races that will be run this Friday and Saturday at Keeneland. He has 11 horses entered in BC races.
Assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta is coordinating Pletcher’s operations in South Florida.
The Pletcher team has no horses entered Thursday at GP West, two on Friday and four on Saturday.
Through Wednesday, Marcus Vitali leads GP West trainers with eight wins. Antonio Sano has seven, followed by Ralph Nicks and Rodolfo Garcia with five each.
Wednesday’s Race
JS Bach had to battle back in the final yards to win Wednesday’s race.
Jockey Edgard Zayas
With Edgard Zayas riding, JS Bach took the lead coming out of the final turn and appeared to be pulling away.
But Tiger of Wales, the 8-1 second choice, rallied on the inside as JS Bach began drifting outward
Tiger of Wales, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, took the lead about 100 yards from the wire.
JS Bach then re-rallied for his third win in four career starts. His other two wins and a second place finish were this year at Gulfstream Park.
JS Bach, a son of Tale of the Cat, is a Florida-bred homebred of Donald Dizney.
The second place finish was the fifth in-the-money showing for Tiger of Wales in ten career starts. He is trained by Mike Maker and owned by J. Armando Rodriquez Racing.
Pletcher and Maker can be expected to move JS Bach and Tiger of Wales to higher level optional claiming races.
Jockey Standings
Emisael Jaramillo rode three winners at GP West on Wednesday.
That gives him 11 for the meet and places him third in jockey wins behind Gaffalione who has 17 and Zayas who has 16. Zayas rode two winners and Gaffalione rode one winner on Wednesday’s eight-race card.
For several years, Jaramillo has been one of the leading jockeys in Venezuela. He began riding in Florida during the recent summer meet at Gulfstream. He rode 19 winners at that meet, placing him 12th in the standings.
Jaramillo has been getting mounts from a wide variety of trainers, including some in the large South Florida contingent who are native Venezuelans.
Photo Credits:
— Todd Pletcher and GP West fans by Barry Unterbrink’
— Edgard Zayas courtesy of Gulfstream Park
GP West Notebook: Pletcher Gains Fourth Win at Meet
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Pletcher's J.S. Bach Favored in GP West Feature
The fourth race feature is coming up at GP West. It is one mile on dirt for 3-YOs and up, a $16,000 optional claimer with as $39,000 purse.
J.S. Bach from the Pletcher barn is 1-5. The speedy 3-YO has won two of three career starts--all cross town at Gulfstream.
Point Made is a late runner--now at 60-1 and a big overlay to hit the board
--Jim Freer
J.S. Bach from the Pletcher barn is 1-5. The speedy 3-YO has won two of three career starts--all cross town at Gulfstream.
Point Made is a late runner--now at 60-1 and a big overlay to hit the board
--Jim Freer
This Week at Florida’s Tracks: GP West Post Times, Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
The Breeders’ Cup races are this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, and Daylight Savings time will begin at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday Nov. 1.
So, racing fans should note that there will be early first post times on Friday and Saturday at the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens.
The first post at GP West will be 12:40 on Friday and 11:55 a.m. on Saturday.
First post has been at 1:15 p.m. at GP West since opening day Oct. 7.
First post will be 12:45 p.m. from this Sunday through the end of the meet on Nov. 28.
The Breeders’ Cup races will be on Friday and Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
GP West will have simulcast betting on all Keeneland races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Simulcast betting on GP West races and on the Breeders’ Cup and other Keeneland races also will be available each day at Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Hialeah Park.
Wednesday Oct. 28
GP West will have eight races with first post of 1:15 p.m.
Thursday Oct. 29
GP West will have eight races with first post of 1:15 p.m.
Friday Oct. 30
GP West will have ten races with first post time of 12:20 p.m.
There will be four Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 3:30 p.m. Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is 5:35 p.m.
* Saturday, Oct. 31
First post time will be 11:55 a.m. at GP West.
GP West will have two stakes races, both one mile on turf with $75,000 purses. The Showing Up is for 3-year-old males and the Cellars Shiraz is for 3-year-old fillies.
There will be nine Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 11:30 a.m. Scheduled post for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is 5:35 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 1
New GP West first post time of 12:45 p.m.
Gulfstream Events
The Silks simulcast area on Gulfstream’s first floor will open at its regular 11 a.m. time on October 30, and Ten Palms will be open with an a la carte menu only, $25 minimum.
The following day, Silks will be open at 10 a.m. and Ten Palms is offering a Breeders’ Cup Buffet for $34.99.
Also on October 31, fans will receive an official Breeders’ Cup T-shirt with purchase of a handicapper program at Gulfstream Park from noon to 3 p.m., while supplies last. Spin & Win Drawings to win a bet on a Breeders’ Cup race will be available to GP Advantage members.
This Week at Florida’s Tracks: GP West Post Times, Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
The Breeders’ Cup races are this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, and Daylight Savings time will begin at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday Nov. 1.
So, racing fans should note that there will be early first post times on Friday and Saturday at the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens.
The first post at GP West will be 12:40 on Friday and 11:55 a.m. on Saturday.
First post has been at 1:15 p.m. at GP West since opening day Oct. 7.
First post will be 12:45 p.m. from this Sunday through the end of the meet on Nov. 28.
The Breeders’ Cup races will be on Friday and Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
GP West will have simulcast betting on all Keeneland races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Simulcast betting on GP West races and on the Breeders’ Cup and other Keeneland races also will be available each day at Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Hialeah Park.
Wednesday Oct. 28
GP West will have eight races with first post of 1:15 p.m.
Thursday Oct. 29
GP West will have eight races with first post of 1:15 p.m.
Friday Oct. 30
GP West will have ten races with first post time of 12:20 p.m.
There will be four Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 3:30 p.m. Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is 5:35 p.m.
* Saturday, Oct. 31
First post time will be 11:55 a.m. at GP West.
GP West will have two stakes races, both one mile on turf with $75,000 purses. The Showing Up is for 3-year-old males and the Cellars Shiraz is for 3-year-old fillies.
There will be nine Breeders’ Cup races, starting at 11:30 a.m. Scheduled post for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is 5:35 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 1
New GP West first post time of 12:45 p.m.
Gulfstream Events
The Silks simulcast area on Gulfstream’s first floor will open at its regular 11 a.m. time on October 30, and Ten Palms will be open with an a la carte menu only, $25 minimum.
The following day, Silks will be open at 10 a.m. and Ten Palms is offering a Breeders’ Cup Buffet for $34.99.
Also on October 31, fans will receive an official Breeders’ Cup T-shirt with purchase of a handicapper program at Gulfstream Park from noon to 3 p.m., while supplies last. Spin & Win Drawings to win a bet on a Breeders’ Cup race will be available to GP Advantage members.
This Week at Florida’s Tracks: GP West Post Times, Breeders’ Cup Simulcasts
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Hear Us at 4:00 p.m. Today on WDBFradio.com
By Jim Freer, editor
HorseracingFLA.com business manager Barry Unterbrink and I will be guests from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. this afternoon on It’s Post Time on WDBFradio.com
WDBF is an Internet station that has extensive coverage of Thoroughbred racing and has a worldwide audience.
The hosts of It’s Post Time are JJ Graci and Anita (Samm) Saint Clair.
This afternoon, we will join JJ and Samm in talking about this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup races and about the Gulfstream Park West race meet that Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder.
JJ is a former trainer who had 785 career wins. He is an adviser to many of his friends in racing. Samm is a long-time thoroughbred breeder and owner.
It’s Post Time is on Mondays through Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
JJ and Samm are on site at Gulfstream on broadcast days when that track has live racing. On other days, they do It’s Post Time at the WDBF studios in Fort Lauderdale.
It’s Post Time carries the live audio of races at Gulfstream, Belmont Park, Parx Racing and several other tracks. JJ and Samm provide handicapping and post-race analysis.
They also are the hosts of JJ and Samm in the Morning, weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
The show has news and discussions on a variety of topics, including thoroughbred racing.
Starting Nov. 4, Barry and I are scheduled to be on It’s Post Time each Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern. During many of these segments, JJ and I will interview leading trainers, jockeys and other newsmakers in Florida horse racing.
JJ will write occasional guest columns for HorseracingFLA.com, and he will be a source of information for our news coverage. In addition, wdbf will be a partner with www.horseracingFLA in other projects.
Hear Us at 4:00 p.m. Today on WDBFradio.com
Monday, October 26, 2015
Lochte Wins at GP West for Vitali-Crossed Sabres
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
Lochte added to his stellar record in Florida turf stakes on Sunday with a 3 ¾ length victory over Morning Calm in the $75,000 Spider John Stakes at the Gulfstream Park West meet.
Lochte, the 3-5 favorite, was ridden by Matt Rispoli and won the 1 1/8 mile race for 3-year-olds and up in 1:51.74. The course was listed as firm even though it was slightly dampened by light rain that fell earlier in the afternoon.
Trainer Marcus Vitali
The win was the fifth in nine turf stakes at Florida tracks for Lochte, who is trained by Marcus Vitali and owned by Crossed Sabres Farm.
It came as Valid, his Crossed Sabres-Vitali stablemate, is being prepared to run in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Three of Lochte’s stakes wins were at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach and one was at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar.
Sunday’s win was Lochte’s first in a stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens. For the second consecutive October-November, Gulfstream is holding its GP West meet at Calder under a lease with that track.
In the Spider John, Lochte broke from the outside and settled in third as Slim Shadey took the field through slow early fractions of 25.92 seconds for a quarter-mile and 52.00 for the half.
Racing three wide, Lochte began to move up rounding the far turn and met little resistance in assuming the lead as Slim Shadey began to drop back. Lochte separated from the field down the stretch under a hand ride from Rispoli.
Morning Calm came on to be second, followed by Hampstead Heath, Good and Proper, Slim Shadey and Zane in the six-horse field .
“Today it just seemed like he took hold of the wet turf really well,” Vitali said. “He accelerated when Matt asked him to and he did everything as expected.”
Lochte came into the Spider John off a win in the
Mr. Steele Stakes at one mile on turf at Gulfstream on Sept. 27.
The 5-year-old gelded son of Medaglia d’Oro has eight victories and $695,212 in earnings from 31 lifetime starts.
During the summer months, Lochte regularly races at tracks in northeastern states. He is among horses that Vitali has stabled at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., during that track’s meets.
Lochte’s biggest wins were in last year’s Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (Grade 1) and this year’s Tampa Bay Stakes (Grade 3).
Lochte’s win in the Spider John was the eighth for meet-leader Vitali at the GP West meet. Antonio Sano is in second place with six wins.
Valid to Breeders’ Cup
Vitali hopes Lochte’s victory is a good omen for Valid.
“Valid is up there and he’s doing excellent,” Vitali said. “I’ll be flying out Tuesday and let’s hope for the best.”
Valid, like Lochte, is a 5-tear-old gelded son of Medaglia d’Oro.
Valid has three wins in ten starts this year. The victories were in stakes: the Fred W. Hooper (Grade 3) at one mile at Gulfstream; the Groomstick at seven furlongs at Gulfstream; and the Philip Iselin (Grade 3) at one mile at Monmouth Park.
Valid probably will be at 10-1 or higher in the Dirt Mile. Lea, Liam’s Map and Appealing Tale are the likely favorites.
Lochte Wins at GP West for Vitali-Crossed Sabres
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Lochte Wins Spider John stakes at GP west
Lochte beat Morning Call by 3 1/2 lengths in today's $75,000 Spider John Stakes at the Gulfstream Park West meet., held at Calder.
Hampstead Heath finished third in the 1 1/8 mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.
Matt Rispoli rode Lochte, the 3-5 favorite, who won in 1:51.74 on the course listed as firm.
It was Lochte's fourth victory this year, with three coming in stakes.
Lochte, a 5-year-old gelding, is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and trained by Marcus Vitali.
-- Jim Freer
ll
Hampstead Heath finished third in the 1 1/8 mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.
Matt Rispoli rode Lochte, the 3-5 favorite, who won in 1:51.74 on the course listed as firm.
It was Lochte's fourth victory this year, with three coming in stakes.
Lochte, a 5-year-old gelding, is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and trained by Marcus Vitali.
-- Jim Freer
ll
Lochte Heads Field in Spider John at GP west
HorseRacingFLA Staff Report
Lochte is the likely favorite in Sunday’s $75,000 Spider John Stakes at the Gulfstream Park West meet.
Trained by Marcus Vitali, the 5-year-old gelding enters the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes off a 4 ½-length win in the Mr. Steele Stakes (photo in headline) at Gulfstream Park West Sept. 27. Matthew Rispoli has the return mount aboard the son of Medaglia d’Oro.
Lochte is a multiple graded-stakes winner, who scored in the 2014 Gulfstream Park Handicap.
Past performances indicate that Slim Shadey is the horse most likely to seek the early lead. Hampstead Heath and Good and Proper are others in the six-horse field with good prospects to hit the board. Gala Award was scratched on Sunday morning.
The Spider John is the fifth race with scheduled post of 1:15 p.m. The ten-race card begins at 1:15 p.m.
* Kitten’s Dumplings, the 6-5 favorite, beat Zloty by in Saturday’s $75,000 Little Miss Magic Stakes at Gulfstream Park West.
Lori’s Store finished third, followed by Latique in he eight-horse field.
The Little Miss Magic was 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It was the first stakes race of the GP West meet, which Gulfstream is holding at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Kitten’s Dumplings was ridden by Rafael Hernandez and won in 1:50.02 on the course listed as firm.
* On Saturday there was just one winning ticket in the Rainbow 6. It paid $42,030.10–a combination of the day’s new bets plus a carryover.
A new Rainbow 6 bet will start today, with no seed money from Gulfstream. It is a 20-cents per-combination bet on the day’s last six races.
Photo by Leslie Martin, Gulfstream Park
Lochte Heads Field in Spider John at GP west
Andreya's Reward Heads to Breeders' Cup Race
Andreya's Reward will board a van at Gulfstream Park this morning for a two-day van ride to Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
She is headed there for Friday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1), at one mile.
The 2-year-old filly's trainer Milt Wolfson and his assistant Kathy Davey will fly to Kentucky on Monday. Their N.T.S. Stable owns Andreya's Reward.
Andreya's Reward comes into the race with two wins in her three starts.
She won her debut at Gulfstream at one mile on turf on Aug. 15. She finished fifth in a 12-horse field in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Filly Turf Stakes on Sept. 5. It was seven furlongs at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.
In her latest start, Andreya's Reward won the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy Stakes at one nile on turf at Gulfstream on Oct. 3.
"She's a long-striding filly, and she keeps getting better," Davey said on Saturday at Calder, where Gulfstream Park is holding the Gulfstream Park West meet.
"But we really don't know what to expect until we see the field," she said.
Twenty horses are pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but only 12 will be in the race,
The selection committee has guaranteed that Anfreya's Reward will have a spot. But this race is usually hard to predict because of its mix of horses from several regions of the United States and from Europe.
The field and post positions will be announced on Tuesday afternoon from the trainers of Andreya's Reward.
--Jim Freer
She is headed there for Friday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1), at one mile.
The 2-year-old filly's trainer Milt Wolfson and his assistant Kathy Davey will fly to Kentucky on Monday. Their N.T.S. Stable owns Andreya's Reward.
Andreya's Reward comes into the race with two wins in her three starts.
She won her debut at Gulfstream at one mile on turf on Aug. 15. She finished fifth in a 12-horse field in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Filly Turf Stakes on Sept. 5. It was seven furlongs at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.
In her latest start, Andreya's Reward won the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy Stakes at one nile on turf at Gulfstream on Oct. 3.
"She's a long-striding filly, and she keeps getting better," Davey said on Saturday at Calder, where Gulfstream Park is holding the Gulfstream Park West meet.
"But we really don't know what to expect until we see the field," she said.
Twenty horses are pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but only 12 will be in the race,
The selection committee has guaranteed that Anfreya's Reward will have a spot. But this race is usually hard to predict because of its mix of horses from several regions of the United States and from Europe.
The field and post positions will be announced on Tuesday afternoon from the trainers of Andreya's Reward.
--Jim Freer
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Meuser Wins 10th at Gulfstream
Meuser (12-1) win the 10th and finale at GP West, and that left a single winning ticket in the Rainbow 6.
It paid $42,030.60 for the 20 cent bet.
Meuser Wins 10th at Gulfstream
GP West: 9 Live Tickets to Take Down Rainbow 6 Jackpot
Tenth coming up at GP West. There are nine live tickets on the Rainbow 6 wager.
Seven tix have a horse singled - numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and ten. Any of them will take down the jackpot.
The non singles are Sneaky kitten (4) and Gamblin Fever (5)
Jim Freer
Seven tix have a horse singled - numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and ten. Any of them will take down the jackpot.
The non singles are Sneaky kitten (4) and Gamblin Fever (5)
Jim Freer
www.horseracingfla.com
gp west - super Hi 5pays $16,524.70
Mystic Blue (8-1) wins eighth at GP West.
Favorite Like a charm comes in second folllowed by three long shots
There is one winner of the Super Hi 5 in the ninth race; for 50 cents it paid $16,524.70
-Jim Freer
Favorite Like a charm comes in second folllowed by three long shots
There is one winner of the Super Hi 5 in the ninth race; for 50 cents it paid $16,524.70
-Jim Freer
Pampm Wins seventh at GP West
Pampam (5-2), off he also eligibles list, wins the seventh at GP West. Thus far, three low-odds winners in Rainbow 6 sequence,
Gulfstream Park West Today
Please check our blog today for race coverage at Gulfstream Park West.
Surf over to:
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Gulfstream Park West Today
Kitten's Dumpling Wins Little Miss Magic at GP West
The favorite Kitten's Dumpling won the $75,000 Little Miss Magic at Gulfstream Park West.
Zloty rallied to finish second and Lorie's Store held on for third in the 1 1/8 mile turf stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
It was the first stakes race at the GP West meet, which Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder.
--Jim Freer
Zloty rallied to finish second and Lorie's Store held on for third in the 1 1/8 mile turf stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
It was the first stakes race at the GP West meet, which Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder.
--Jim Freer
Three Gulfstream Horses Set for Breeders' Cup Classic
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
Three horses that ran at Gulfstream Park this year are among the ten possible starters’ for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
They are Keen Ice, Frosted and Honor Code.
Triple Crown champion American Pharoah and the 5-year-old mare Beholder also are among the horses that on Tuesday were pre-entered for the Classic.
The Breeders’ Cup will have 13 races, all Grade 1, with four on Friday, Oct. 30 and nine the following day.
HorseracingFLA.com will have a series of previews throughout this week.
More than 30 horses that raced at Gulfstream this year are among the 200 pre-entries. Entries and post positions will be announced this coming Tuesday Oct. 27.
Among the horses looking to deny American Pharoah are Honor Code, who edged Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contender Private Zone in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2); Keen Ice, fifth in the Holy Bull (G2) before going on to snap American Pharoah’s win streak in the Travers (G1); and Holy Bull runner-up Frosted, whose two wins since came in the Wood Memorial (G1) and $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2).
(Note: The photo in the headline of this story shows Honr Code at the Pam Meadows training facility in Boynton Beach early this year)
Multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist, a Gulfstream maiden winner in 2014, is also pre-entered in the Classic.
Distaff
Trained by Gulfstream Park-based David Fawkes Harold Queen’s Florida homebred Sheer Drama goes after her third straight Grade 1 in the $2 million Distaff on Friday. Winner of the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream, she captured the Delaware Handicap and Personal Ensign in her past two starts.
Also pre-entered in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff are Curalina, Got Lucky and Wedding Toast, who each parlayed Gulfstream wins into Grade 1 victories.
Dirt Mile
From the barn of Gulfstream Park West-based Kathleen O’Connell is Ranlo Investments’ Lady Shipman, pre-entered in the $1 million Turf Sprint (G1). The 3-year-old filly opened the year with an optional claiming allowance win at Gulfstream in January before reeling off six stakes wins from eight subsequent starts.
Among fellow pre-entrants are Swale (G2) winner Ready for Rye and Mongolian Saturday, third in the Mr. Prospector (G2).
Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, trainer Marcus Vitali pre-entered multiple graded stakes winner Valid for the $1 million Dirt Mile (G1). Winner of February’s Fred Hooper (G3), the 5-year-old most recently returned to Gulfstream to take the September 26 Groomstick Stakes.
Also pre-entered in the Dirt Mile are Hutcheson (G3) and Spectacular Bid winner Barbados; Hal’s Hope (G3) winner and Donn Handicap (G1) runner-up Lea; Harlan’s Holiday winner Liam’s Map; and Mshawish, who won the El Prado, Fort Lauderdale (G2) and GP Turf Handicap (G1) over the winter.
Other Races
Mshawish and Lea were also pre-entered in the $2 million Mile (G1) on turf. Joining them among Mile pre-entrants is Robert Masterson’s Tepin, an optional claiming allowance winner in March at Gulfstream to open her 2015 season. In five starts since she has captured two Grade 1 events, including the First Lady October 3 at Keeneland.
Sugar Swirl (G3), Hurricane Bertie (G3) and Princess Rooney (G2) winner Merry Meadow was pre-entered in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), along with Sunshine Millions Distaff winner Dame Dorothy; Kiss to Remember, winner of the Monroe Handicap in July for Gulfstream-based trainer Marty Wolfson; and 2014 Old Hat (G3) winner Sweet Whiskey.
Pre-entered in the $3 million Turf (G1) were multiple Grade 1 winner Twilight Eclipse, second in the Mac Diarmida (G2) and third in the Pan American (G2) this year and whose world-record 1 ½-mile time from the 2013 Pan American still stands; and Slumber, second by a nose to Mshawish in the GP Turf Handicap.
Other Gulfstream alumni among the pre-entries are Private Zone, trained by Gulfstream Park West-based Jorge Navarro, and Barbados in the $1.5 million Sprint; Grade 1 winner Photo Call, third in last December’s La Prevoyante (G3), in the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf (G1); and Fellowship, from the barn of Gulfstream trainer Stanley Gold, in the $2 million Juvenile (G1).
A 2-year-old Jacks or Better Farm homebred, Fellowship has raced five times this year, all at Gulfstream, including an October 3 victory in the $500,000 In Reality division of the Florida Stallion Series.
Pletcher and Ramseys
Twelve-time defending Championship Meet leading trainer Todd Pletcher pre-entered 11 horses in 10 Breeders’ Cup races. Liam’s Map, Mshawish, Curalina, Dame Dorothy and Sweet Whiskey are joined by Azar (Juvenile Turf), Thrilled (Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Fillies), Got Lucky (Distaff), Stopchargingmaria (Distaff), Rachel’s Valentina (Juvenile Fillies), and Red Rifle (Turf).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey, leading owners at the Championship Meet the past three years, are represented by six pre-entries, five of them trained by Chad Brown, whose 14 pre-entries are most among Breeders’ Cup trainers. Brown pre-entered Camelot Kitten (Juvenile Turf), Bobby’s Kitten (Turf Sprint), Stephanie’s Kitten (FM Turf), Big Blue Kitten (Turf) and Shining Copper (Turf). Joe Sharp trains the Ramsey’s other pre-entrant, Sapphire Kitten (Juvenile Fillies Turf).
Gulfstream’s summer meet, which continues to build in part due to its 2-year-old program, was also represented with several Breeders’ Cup pre-entries, including In Reality winner Fellowship in the $2 million Juvenile, Imperial Warrior and Copingaway in the Juvenile Turf, and Andreya’s Reward and Vieja Luna in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
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Three Gulfstream Horses Set for Breeders' Cup Classic
Three horses that ran at Gulfstream Park this year are among the ten possible starters’ for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
They are Keen Ice, Frosted and Honor Code.
Triple Crown champion American Pharoah and the 5-year-old mare Beholder also are among the horses that on Tuesday were pre-entered for the Classic.
American Pharoah winning the Preakness
The Breeders’ Cup will have 13 races, all Grade 1, with four on Friday, Oct. 30 and nine the following day.
HorseracingFLA.com will have a series of previews throughout this week.
More than 30 horses that raced at Gulfstream this year are among the 200 pre-entries. Entries and post positions will be announced this coming Tuesday Oct. 27.
Among the horses looking to deny American Pharoah are Honor Code, who edged Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contender Private Zone in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2); Keen Ice, fifth in the Holy Bull (G2) before going on to snap American Pharoah’s win streak in the Travers (G1); and Holy Bull runner-up Frosted, whose two wins since came in the Wood Memorial (G1) and $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2).
(Note: The photo in the headline of this story shows Honr Code at the Pam Meadows training facility in Boynton Beach early this year)
Multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist, a Gulfstream maiden winner in 2014, is also pre-entered in the Classic.
Distaff
Trainer David Fawkes
Trained by Gulfstream Park-based David Fawkes Harold Queen’s Florida homebred Sheer Drama goes after her third straight Grade 1 in the $2 million Distaff on Friday. Winner of the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream, she captured the Delaware Handicap and Personal Ensign in her past two starts.
Also pre-entered in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff are Curalina, Got Lucky and Wedding Toast, who each parlayed Gulfstream wins into Grade 1 victories.
Dirt Mile
From the barn of Gulfstream Park West-based Kathleen O’Connell is Ranlo Investments’ Lady Shipman, pre-entered in the $1 million Turf Sprint (G1). The 3-year-old filly opened the year with an optional claiming allowance win at Gulfstream in January before reeling off six stakes wins from eight subsequent starts.
Trainer Kathleen O’Connell
Among fellow pre-entrants are Swale (G2) winner Ready for Rye and Mongolian Saturday, third in the Mr. Prospector (G2).
Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, trainer Marcus Vitali pre-entered multiple graded stakes winner Valid for the $1 million Dirt Mile (G1). Winner of February’s Fred Hooper (G3), the 5-year-old most recently returned to Gulfstream to take the September 26 Groomstick Stakes.
Also pre-entered in the Dirt Mile are Hutcheson (G3) and Spectacular Bid winner Barbados; Hal’s Hope (G3) winner and Donn Handicap (G1) runner-up Lea; Harlan’s Holiday winner Liam’s Map; and Mshawish, who won the El Prado, Fort Lauderdale (G2) and GP Turf Handicap (G1) over the winter.
Other Races
Mshawish and Lea were also pre-entered in the $2 million Mile (G1) on turf. Joining them among Mile pre-entrants is Robert Masterson’s Tepin, an optional claiming allowance winner in March at Gulfstream to open her 2015 season. In five starts since she has captured two Grade 1 events, including the First Lady October 3 at Keeneland.
Sugar Swirl (G3), Hurricane Bertie (G3) and Princess Rooney (G2) winner Merry Meadow was pre-entered in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), along with Sunshine Millions Distaff winner Dame Dorothy; Kiss to Remember, winner of the Monroe Handicap in July for Gulfstream-based trainer Marty Wolfson; and 2014 Old Hat (G3) winner Sweet Whiskey.
Trainer Marty Wolfson
Pre-entered in the $3 million Turf (G1) were multiple Grade 1 winner Twilight Eclipse, second in the Mac Diarmida (G2) and third in the Pan American (G2) this year and whose world-record 1 ½-mile time from the 2013 Pan American still stands; and Slumber, second by a nose to Mshawish in the GP Turf Handicap.
Other Gulfstream alumni among the pre-entries are Private Zone, trained by Gulfstream Park West-based Jorge Navarro, and Barbados in the $1.5 million Sprint; Grade 1 winner Photo Call, third in last December’s La Prevoyante (G3), in the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf (G1); and Fellowship, from the barn of Gulfstream trainer Stanley Gold, in the $2 million Juvenile (G1).
Trainer Stanley Gold
A 2-year-old Jacks or Better Farm homebred, Fellowship has raced five times this year, all at Gulfstream, including an October 3 victory in the $500,000 In Reality division of the Florida Stallion Series.
Pletcher and Ramseys
Twelve-time defending Championship Meet leading trainer Todd Pletcher pre-entered 11 horses in 10 Breeders’ Cup races. Liam’s Map, Mshawish, Curalina, Dame Dorothy and Sweet Whiskey are joined by Azar (Juvenile Turf), Thrilled (Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Fillies), Got Lucky (Distaff), Stopchargingmaria (Distaff), Rachel’s Valentina (Juvenile Fillies), and Red Rifle (Turf).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey, leading owners at the Championship Meet the past three years, are represented by six pre-entries, five of them trained by Chad Brown, whose 14 pre-entries are most among Breeders’ Cup trainers. Brown pre-entered Camelot Kitten (Juvenile Turf), Bobby’s Kitten (Turf Sprint), Stephanie’s Kitten (FM Turf), Big Blue Kitten (Turf) and Shining Copper (Turf). Joe Sharp trains the Ramsey’s other pre-entrant, Sapphire Kitten (Juvenile Fillies Turf).
Gulfstream’s summer meet, which continues to build in part due to its 2-year-old program, was also represented with several Breeders’ Cup pre-entries, including In Reality winner Fellowship in the $2 million Juvenile, Imperial Warrior and Copingaway in the Juvenile Turf, and Andreya’s Reward and Vieja Luna in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
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Three Gulfstream Horses Set for Breeders' Cup Classic
GP West: Friday Recap
Poco Man, the 2-1 second choice, won Friday's tenth and final race at the Gulfstream Park West meet.
Three longshots followed, showing how difficult it often is to hit the Super Hi 5 that requires picking a race's first five finishers.
Drover Road finished second at 82-1 in the one mile turf race, an $8,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up. The next three finishers in the ten-horse field were He's Spectacular (54-1), Hugo Light (32-1) and Divine Delivery (6-1).
The superfecta paid $1,532.02 for a ten cent bet.
In the Super Hi 5, there were no tickets with even the first three finishers. The consolation payoff was on 5 (Poco Man)-6 (Drover Road)-ALL-ALL-ALL. It paid $1,861.40 for the minimum 50 cent bet.
There will be a Super Hi 5 carryover of $2,792 going into Saturday's first race at GP West--the name Gulfstream Park uses for the meet it is holding at Calder.
The Super Hi 5 is a rolling bet. If there are no tickets with all five places, 25 percent of the bet on a race goes to holders of consolation tickets and 75 percent goes into a carryover.
In Friday's Rainbow 6, all six winning horses were at 5-1 or lower. The payoff was $1,006.34 on the 20-cent per combination only bet. There were 12 wining tickets. The carryover grew by $6,522 and is $22,005 for Saturday.
* On Saturday, GP West will have the first stakes race of Its meet that began on Oct. 7.
The Little Miss Magic is 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It is the fifth race on a ten-race card with first post of 1:15 p.m. Eastern.
We will have a preview of the Little Miss Magic on Saturday morning.
--Jim Freer
Three longshots followed, showing how difficult it often is to hit the Super Hi 5 that requires picking a race's first five finishers.
Drover Road finished second at 82-1 in the one mile turf race, an $8,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up. The next three finishers in the ten-horse field were He's Spectacular (54-1), Hugo Light (32-1) and Divine Delivery (6-1).
The superfecta paid $1,532.02 for a ten cent bet.
In the Super Hi 5, there were no tickets with even the first three finishers. The consolation payoff was on 5 (Poco Man)-6 (Drover Road)-ALL-ALL-ALL. It paid $1,861.40 for the minimum 50 cent bet.
There will be a Super Hi 5 carryover of $2,792 going into Saturday's first race at GP West--the name Gulfstream Park uses for the meet it is holding at Calder.
The Super Hi 5 is a rolling bet. If there are no tickets with all five places, 25 percent of the bet on a race goes to holders of consolation tickets and 75 percent goes into a carryover.
In Friday's Rainbow 6, all six winning horses were at 5-1 or lower. The payoff was $1,006.34 on the 20-cent per combination only bet. There were 12 wining tickets. The carryover grew by $6,522 and is $22,005 for Saturday.
* On Saturday, GP West will have the first stakes race of Its meet that began on Oct. 7.
The Little Miss Magic is 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It is the fifth race on a ten-race card with first post of 1:15 p.m. Eastern.
We will have a preview of the Little Miss Magic on Saturday morning.
--Jim Freer
Friday, October 23, 2015
Tenth Race Next at GP West
El Charro (3-5) won the ninth at GP West.
Heading into finale, there are 42 tickets alive in the Rainbow 8. Only one ticket has a single. It is with the 3 horse Sarava Star, at 30-1.
Tryer (1) is the 3-1 favorite. We like Hugo Light (9) at 19-1 to hit the board--going back to turf.
Check back here at 7 p.m. Eastern for a report on today's races and a preview of tomorrow.
--Jim Freer
Heading into finale, there are 42 tickets alive in the Rainbow 8. Only one ticket has a single. It is with the 3 horse Sarava Star, at 30-1.
Tryer (1) is the 3-1 favorite. We like Hugo Light (9) at 19-1 to hit the board--going back to turf.
Check back here at 7 p.m. Eastern for a report on today's races and a preview of tomorrow.
--Jim Freer
GP West Preview: Stakes Racing Begins Saturday
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
The Gulfstream Park West meet will have ten races today with a first post time of 1:15 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, GP West will have the first stakes races of its meet that began on Oct. 7.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder under a lease agreement with that track.
Saturday’s stakes will be the $75,000 Little Miss Magic at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Sunday’s stakes will be the $75,000 Spider John at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up.
We will be on-site with reports on this Web site www.horseracingfla,com/, on our blog
http://insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com/ and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/horseracingfla.com.
Thursday Recap
Shesthewinner lived up to her name, at 68-1 odds, in Thursday’s GP West featured ninth race for 2-year-old fillies.
With seven-pound apprentice John Cruz riding, Shesthewinner beat the 7-5 second choice Chief Attraction by a half-length in the one mile dirt race
The winning time was 1:40.83 for the $75,000 optional claimer, with a $39,000 purse. The victory was trainer Gennadi Dorochenko’s first of the meet, after 24 starts.
Raisedtobeawarrior (46-1) finished third in the seven-horse field. She was followed by even-money favorite Silent Prayer and 8-1 shot Catira.
The result led to these payoffs:
* The ten-cent superfecta paid $991.94 to several winners.
* One bettor, astute or lucky, hit the 50-cent minimum Super Hi 5–and the 50 cent payoff was $6,997.75.
* Going into the tenth and final race, there were no tickets alive for the Rainbow 6.
K C Wiegmann, the 3-2 favorite, won it. Each Rainbow 6 ticket with five of six winners paid $139.80.
There will be a carryover today of $16,790 on the Rainbow 6, on the fifth through tenth races, It is a 20-cent only per combination bet.
Handle, Field Sizes
Because three horses were scratched, only two horses ran in Thursday’s first race.
Russian Greek beat Gypsy Baron by 7 ¾ lengths in the 1 1/16 mile dirt race. The only betting was win, and Russian Greek paid $2.40 for a $2.00 bet.
On Thursday, GP West all-sources handle was $2,620,233 for ten races including five on turf. There were 66 starters–an extremely low number for GP West or for meets at Gulfstream Park.
On the comparable GP West day last year, Thursdsay Oct. 23, all-sources handle was $2,157,233 for ten races. There were 80 starters. All races, including four scheduled for turf, were run on a sloppy and sealed track.
That added to the GP West trend, though last weekend for 11 days, of handle being up 19 percent and field sizes being down 11 percent, at GP West.
Through this year’s first 11 days the daily averages were $3.2 million for all-sources handle and $2.6 million for field
GP West Preview: Stakes Racing Begins Saturday
Gulfstream Scene, weekend of Oct. 23 - 25
Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach
FREE MUSIC SERIES!
Come to Champions Plaza (near the walking ring and fountain)
to enjoy a variety of live bands featuring all genres as well as our nightclubs,
restaurants, bars, happy hour specials, and much more!
EVERY SATURDAY | 8-11 PM
Band Lineup: October 24 | Wayne L Experience
Brunch Done Better Schedules – weekends
BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE
Saturdays & Sundays | 11:30AM-3:30PM
Menu: http://www.brioitalian.com/menus/Brio_A_BRU_8-15_Website.pdf
CANTINA LAREDO
Sundays | 12-3PM
Menu: http://www.cantinalaredo.com/our-menu/?menu=brunchmenu
PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN & RUM BAR
Saturdays & Sundays | 11AM-3PM
Menu: http://paladarlatinkitchen.com/files/menus/brunchsummer2015.pdf
ROK:BRGR
Sunday Social Brunch | 10AM-3PM
Offering FREE & unlimited Mimosas and Bloody Marys for ladies and live music!
Menu: http://rokbrgr.com/food/sunday-brunch/
TEN PALMS
Sundays | 12-4PM
————————————————————————————————
GULFSTREAM VILLAGE HAPPY HOUR schedules:
http://goo.gl/13PtYa
Gulfstream Scene, weekend of Oct. 23 - 25
GP West Begins Stakes Races This Weekend
Gulfstream Park West this weekend will have the first stakes races of its 2015 meet.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder as part of a lease agreement with that track in Miami Gardens.
The $75,000 Little Miss Magic will be run Saturday, at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
The $75,000 Spider John will be run on Sunday, at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up.
Lochte, a multiple graded stakes winner, heads the seven-horse field for the Spider John. He is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and is trained by Marcus Vitali.
Vitali leads GP West trainers with eight wins through Thursday.
Vitali and Crossed Sabres have pre-entered Valid for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. That race will be on Saturday Oct. 31 at Keeneland in Lexington. Ky.
-- Jim Freer
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder as part of a lease agreement with that track in Miami Gardens.
The $75,000 Little Miss Magic will be run Saturday, at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
The $75,000 Spider John will be run on Sunday, at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up.
Lochte, a multiple graded stakes winner, heads the seven-horse field for the Spider John. He is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and is trained by Marcus Vitali.
Vitali leads GP West trainers with eight wins through Thursday.
Vitali and Crossed Sabres have pre-entered Valid for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. That race will be on Saturday Oct. 31 at Keeneland in Lexington. Ky.
-- Jim Freer
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Thursday at GP West: Silent Prayer Heads Feature for 2-YO Fillies
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
Silent Prayer had a solid summer and early fall at Gulfstream Park, as she hit the board four times in a row in stakes races.
The 2-year-old filly, trained by Stan Gold and owned by Fred Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm, will get some class relief this afternoon at the Gulfstream Park West meet. Silent Prayer heads a seven-horse field in the featured ninth race–a $75,000 optional claimer at one mile on dirt with a $39,000 purse. She is not entered for a tag.
Gulfstream is holding the GP West meet at Calder as part of a lease agreement.
GP West will have ten races with first post at 1:15 p.m. The main track is listed as fast and the turf course is listed as good.
Silent Prayer won her debut on May 6 at Calder. Since then, s
Trainer Stanley Gold
he finished third in the Birdonthewire, second in the Desert Vixen, second in the Susan’s Girl and third in the My Dear Girl.
Regular rider Jesus Rios has the mount on Silent Prayer.
The speedy Chief Attraction looms as the top threat to Silent Prayer. She broke her maiden at one mile on a sloppy track at Gulfstream on Sept. 18.
Juan Leyva will ride Chief Attraction for trainer Bill Kaplan and owners Pinnacle Racing Stable and Norman Racing Stables.
* Starship Zorro (8-1) rallied from sixth and last place after a half mile and beat Padilla (6-5) by one length in Wednesday’s feature–a $35,000 optional claimer at one mile on turf for 3-year-olds and up.
Luca Panici rode Starship Zorro and won in 1:36.74 on the course listed as firm. The race had a $28,000 purse. Ralph Kassen trains the 50-year-old horse Starship Zorro for owner Peter Miller.
Xaverian (15-1) finished third, two lengths behind Padilla, in the six-horse field. Joes Blazing Aaron, the 6-5 favorite, led through the first three quarters of a mile but faded and finished last
Thursday at GP West: Silent Prayer Heads Feature for 2-YO Fillies
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Topics for today at 4 on WDBFradio.com
Reminder -- join us at 4:00 p.m. Eastern today on WDBFradio.com for It's Post Time.
We will join hosts JJ Graci and Samm in talking about topics including the GP West meet, the Breeders' Cup and the question of whether the Florida Legislature will let pari-mutuels ditch their live racing and keep other gaming
Jim Freer
We will join hosts JJ Graci and Samm in talking about topics including the GP West meet, the Breeders' Cup and the question of whether the Florida Legislature will let pari-mutuels ditch their live racing and keep other gaming
Jim Freer
Three Scratches in GP West feature
Conditions are fast and firm as first post of 1:15 approaches at GP West.
Three horses are scratched (with vet cited as reason) in ninth race feature optional claimer at one mile on turf. They are Golden Rifle, Air Squadron and Undertaker.
Six horses are left in the field. Look for Joes Blazing Aaron to try and wire it.
--Jim Freer
Three horses are scratched (with vet cited as reason) in ninth race feature optional claimer at one mile on turf. They are Golden Rifle, Air Squadron and Undertaker.
Six horses are left in the field. Look for Joes Blazing Aaron to try and wire it.
--Jim Freer
Wednesday at GP West: Speedsters Head Mile Turf Feature
HorseracingFLA Staff Report
The Gulfstream Park West meet will resume its regular Wednesday through Sunday schedule this afternoon.
First post is 1:15 p.m. for the ten-race card. Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder under a lease with that track.
The feature ninth race is a $35,000 optional claimer at one mile on turf for 3-year-olds and up. The race has a $25,000 purse, and scheduled post time is 5:41 p.m.
It has nine entrants–including South Florida stakes regulars Golden Rifle, Joes Blazing Aaron and Padilla.
They finished first, second and fourth respectively in the $75,000 Eight Miles East Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Gulfstream Park on Aug. 8.
All three have early speed, most notably Joes Blazing Aaron.
Concert Stage and Starship Zorro are the horses most likely to benefit if a speed duel develops.
Concert Stage has been in the money in each of his last 12 starts, all in claiming or optional claiming races on turf at Gulfstream. He finished second in each of his last five starts. He is making his first start on the Calder/GP West turf course.
Starship Zorro has raced five times on the Calder/GP West turf–with two wins, two second place finishes and one third place finish
Wednesday at GP West: Speedsters Head Mile Turf Feature
By the Numbers: GP West Handle up 19 Percent After Two Weeks
By Jim Freer and Barry Unterbrink
After the first two weeks, daily average all-sources handle is up 19 percent from about $2.65 million to about $3.16 million at the Gulfstream Park West meet.
Those numbers are for all bets, on-site and at other locations and betting services, made on races at the GP West meet. Gulfstream Park is holding the meet at Calder under a lease agreement with that track.
The GP West meet has racing Wednesdays through Sundays, with first post time of 1:15 p.m.
Based on a review of Equibase charts, the daily averages are $3,157,197 for the first 11 days this year and $2,649,569 for the first 11 days of last year’s inaugural GP West meet.
However, the average number of starters per race is down 11 percent from 9.3 for last year’s first 11 days to 8.3 for this year’s first 11 days.
There were ten races each of the eleven days this year and last year. GP West had three stakes races through eleven days in 2014. It has had no stakes races thus far this year.
For the second week, the average daily handle was $2,721,887 for five days last year and $3,161,195 for five days this year.
Numbers for this year’s second week:
Date Total handle Starters
* Wednesday, Oct. 14 $2,416,326 75
* Thursday, Oct. 15 $2,988,961 77
* Friday, Oct. 16 $3,124,458 69
* Saturday, Oct.17 $3,800,639 80
* Sunday, Oct. 18 $3,475,591 70
One reason handle is up this year is that more simulcast bettors are aware that it is being run by Gulfstream, whose name and image are more popular than those of Calder.
One reason fields are smaller this year is that there are fewer horses stabled at Calder than at this time in 2014. In January, Calder required trainers to take about 700 horses out of Calder barns.
Many horsemen obtained stalls at Gulfstream or among the 430 stalls that Gulfstream has leased at Calder. But some owners were forced to sell displaced horses to buyers in other states.
Horses among the approximately 1,400 stabled at Gulfstream make up the majority of most race fields for the GP West meet.
GP West also is drawing entrants from Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, the training center affiliate of Gulfstream, and from Palm Beach Downs in Delray Beach.
By the Numbers: GP West Handle up 19 Percent After Two Weeks
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Holy Horses! Robin Team Show Leads GP West Owners
By Jim Freer
After 11 racing days at the Gulfstream Park West meet, newcomer Robin Team Show Racing Corp. leads the owners’ standings with three wins.
Through Sunday six familiar names each have two wins and are tied for second place at the meet, which Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder. They are Jacks or Better Farm, Crossed Sabres Farm, Monarch Stables, Starship Stables, Joker Racing and Eric J. Wirth.
Meanwhile, Marcus Vitali has taken the lead in trainer wins at GP West.
Robin Team Show began operations this year and is owned by a group of Venezuelan investors, some now living in South Florida including its managing owner Marcel Garcia.
According to the Gulfstream media office, Garcia is a fan of Batman and named the racing team for the movie and TV series (1960s) superhero’s sidekick Robin.
On TV, Robin became known for phrases beginning with the word “holy,” such as “Holy smokes, Batman.”
At last year’s inaugural GP West meet, Frank Carl Calabrese and White Wabbit Wacing each had 13 wins and tied for the owners’ title.
Calabrese has run only eight horses thus far at GP West and has one win. He had 12 wins at the recent Gulfstream Park summer meet, finishing second behind Jacks or Better which had 15.
White Wabbit has not yet run any horses at GP West this season. It has been racing mostly at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.–the summer base of Jorge Navarro who trains most of its horses. In the recently concluded Monmouth meet, Navarro finished first in wins among trainers and White Wabbit was third in wins among owners.
Greg Schwartz, an attorney in Hollywood, owns White Wabbit.
Trainers and Jockeys
Vitali and jockey Matt Rispoli combined for four wins at GP West during the five days between Oct. 14 and 18.
Trainer Marcus Vitali
That put Vitali into the lead in the trainers’ standings, with six wins. Rispoli moved into a tie for third in the jockeys’ standings with eight wins.
We will have more about Vitali, his horses and Rispoli in a story later this week.
Antonio Sano is second in the trainers’ standings with four wins.
Six trainers are tied for third place with three wins each. They are Todd Pletcher, Juan Arias, Gustavo Delgado, Steve DiMauro, Rodolfo Garcia and Ralph Nicks.
Sano was first in wins with 22 at last year’s GP West meet, and Vitali finished second with 19.
At the Gulfstream summer meet, Nicks led trainers with 34 wins and Sano came in second with 31.
Vitali had four wins in 24 starts at the Gulfstream summer. His summer base was at Monmouth, where he finished third with 24 wins.
Tyler Gaffalione leads GP West jockeys with 14 victories, followed by Edgard Zayas with 11.
Zayas was the leading rider at GP West last year. He finished fourth in wins at this year’s Gulfstream summer meet.
Gaffalione finished ninth last year at GP West. He led riders in wins at this year’s Gulfstream spring and summer meets.
Until this Oct. 11, Gaffalione had a five-pound weight allowance in non-stakes races. But despite the loss of “bug” status, he continues to get mounts from Nicks and several other leading GP West trainers.
Eddie Castro is tied with Rispoli for third place at the GP West meet. Jonathan Gonzales has seven wins and is in fifth place.
Holy Horses! Robin Team Show Leads GP West Owners
Monday, October 19, 2015
Calendar
I have attached the calendar. Yhis saftrnoon I will send you a bote about WDBF We will need to get JJ to aprove it
This Week at the Florida Tracks: Oct. 19 to Oct. 25
The Gulfstream Park West meet, at Calder in Miami Gardens, will have racing this Wednesday through Sunday.
Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet under a lease agreement with Calder. The meet will extend through Nov. 28.
Daily first post is 1:15 p.m. during October and 12:45 p.m. during November.
The GP West condition book shows two stakes races scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
* Saturday, Oct. 24 — $75,000 Little Miss Magic, fillies & mares 3-YO and up, 1 1/8 miles turf
* Sunday, Oct. 25 — $75,000 Spider John, 3-YO and up, 1 1/8 miles turf
Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach is open daily for simulcasting, including the Gulfstream Park West races, during the GP West meet.
Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar is in the midst of physical and operational preparations for its opening day on Nov. 28.
Calder Casino
21001 N.W. 27th Ave.
Miami Gardens, FL 33056
(305) 206-6309
Calder Web site
For information on the racing at GP West (Calder), use the Gulfstream Park contact information listed below.
* Live racing — Wednesdays through Sundays, first post is 1:15 p.m.
Casino — Open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays
Gulfstream Park
901 S. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach, Fla. 33009
Phones — (954) 454-7000
Gulfstream Park Website
* Casino — the two casino rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays
* Poker — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tampa Bay Downs
Main Phone (813) 855-4401
Toll Free (In Florida) (866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967)
Tampa Bay Downs will resume live racing on Nov.28th. Prior to then, it is open seven days a week for afternoon and evening simulcasts of thoroughbred races from more than 20 tracks. A schedule may be obtained by calling the numbers listed above.
*The Silks Poker Room hours of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
The Downs Golf Practice Facility hours of operation:
Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)
Range: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily
Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.
This Week at the Florida Tracks: Oct. 19 to Oct. 25
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