Smokem Kitten Sets 7 1/2 Furlong Gulfstream Course Record

It was a memorable first race at Gulfstream today, with a turf course record for 7 1/2 furlongs and huge betting on the carried-over Super Hi-5.

Smokem Kitten, a 4-year-old colt, won the allowance/$25,000 optional claiming race in 1:26.78.  That broke the record of 1:26.91 that the gelding Right One set in winning an allowance/optional claimer on April 1, 2011.

Smokem Kitten, a Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred, is trained by Mike Maker and was ridden by John Velazquez.

Amid the recent  dry spell in South Florida, the turf course has been playing very fast.

Going into today's first race there was a carryover of $24,156.58  on the Super Hi-5, which requires picking the first five finishers in order.  There are  no consolation payoffs, so when no tickets have all five in order the pool is carried over to the next race with seven or more starters.

As expected, Super Hi-5 betting in the first race was huge--$196,244.  That made the pool $220,400.  It was hit by multiple bettors, and paid $2,710,90 for a $1 ticket.

There were no Super Hi-5 winning tickets in the second  race. The carryover is $1,877.45.

There were only six runners in the third race. The  fourth race  is coming up with seven runners, and will have the Super Hi-5.
--Jim Freer