Swiss Skydiver Draws Rail for Oaks; Gamine Draws Post Position 5

There will be only nine horses in the Kentucky Oaks, to be run on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The post position draw was held on Monday, with the Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Swiss Skydiver getting the rail in post 1.

Swiss Skydiver is the 8-5 second choice in the morning line for the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) which is 1 1//8 miles on dirt for 3-year-old fillies.

Gamine, the even-money morning line favorite, drew post 5.

The one hole can be a disadvantage, with the prospect of being boxed in on the run to the first turn in the Kentucky Oaks.

But Swiss Skydiver's owner Peter Callahan, who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and trainer Ken McPeek are not overly concerned.

"When we first saw it (post 1), we all almost fell out of our chairs," said Callahan, who watched the draw on the Internet while visiting relatives in Westchester County, N.Y.

"But now I'm thinking 'she has speed and it's the shortest distance between two points,'" he told HorseRacingFLA in a phone interview.

In an interview on the Churchill Downs video stream, McPeek said he expects that Swiss Skydiver will be able to avoid early trouble.

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Swiss Skydiver in the Kentucky Oaks.  He rode her to victory in the 1 1/4  Alabama Stakes (Grade 1) at Saratoga on Aug. 15.

Swiss Skydiver, a daughter of Daredevil, also won this year's Fantasy Stakes (Grade 3) at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita Oaks.

Gamine this summer had fast gate-to-wire wins in the one mile Acorn (Grade 1) at Belmont Park and seven-furlong Test (Grade 1) at Saratoga.  The Acorn was the longest race thus far for the Bob Baffert trainee.

Post time for the Kentucky Oaks will be 5:45 p.m. on Saturday.  It will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network cable channel.

Here is the field--with jockeys, trainers and morning line odds

1. Swiss Skydiver, Tyler Gaffalione, Kenny McPeek, 8-5

2. Tempers Rising, Dallas Stewart, Julien Leparoux, 50-1

3. Donna Veloce, Simon Callaghan, Ricardo Santana Jr., 15-1

4. Speech, Michael McCarthy, Javier Castellano, 5-1

5. Gamine, Bob Baffert, John Velazquez, 1-1

6. Bayerness, Cherie DeVaux, Rafael Bejarano, 50-1

7. Shedaresthedevil, Brad Cox, Florent Geroux, 20-1

8. Hopeful Growth, Anthony Margotta, Manny Franco, 30-1

9. Dream Marie, Matthew Williams, Joe Talamo, 50-1

 

Draw for Kentucky Oaks Posts is Today; Kentucky Derby Post Draw is Tuesday

The post positions draw for the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) will be held this morning from 11:00 a.m. until approximately 11:30 a.m.

The post positions draw for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) will be held Tuesday morning from 11:00 a.m. until about 11:30 a.m.

Both events will be held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.,--the site of the Kentucky Oaks this Friday and the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, and the races on their undercards.

We will have reports on the Kentucky Oaks draw starting later this morning and continuing Oaks and Derby coverage throughout this week. A big focus of  our stories will be on top contenders that raced in Florida this year.

All times listed in this story are Eastern Daylight.

*The Kentucky Oaks for fillies will be the 12th race on Friday, with scheduled post of 5:45 p.m.

The NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will have live coverage from 12:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

*The Kentucky Derby will be the 14th race on Saturday, with scheduled post of 7:01p.m.

NBC's over-the-air affiliates will have live coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m.

 

Estilo Talentoso, Zayas Star at Gulfstream on Sunday

Estilo Talentoso  gained her first career stakes win on Sunday when she beat Crumb Bum by a length in the feature $60,000 Escena Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Edgard Zayas rode Estilo Talentoso in the one-mile dirt race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up.

It was one of four victories for Zayas on the eleven-race  card. That raised his meet-leading total to 112 for the Gulfstream spring/summer meet (details below).

Estilo Talentoso, trained and owned by Juan Arriagada, was the only 3-year-old in the six-horse field. Thus, she carried 118 pounds while her rivals all carried 124. And her win on Sunday showed potential to be a top year-round stakes runner in Florida.

Estilo Talentoso, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Maclean's Music, had the rail post and shot to the front. She led most of the way by margins of less than a length over Crumb Bum, who was on the outside.

The fractions were :24.51, :46.93 and 1:10.37.

Crumb Bum was within a length of Estilo Talentoso during the stretch run before the Zayas mount edged away to win in 1:35.68 on the track listed as Fast.

Cristian Torres rode Crumb Bum for trainer Larry Bates and trainer/owner Eric Wirth.

Bella Ciao finished third.

Odds on the first three horses were 3-1, 5-2 and 6-1.  The 1-5-3 trifecta paid $94.20 on a $2 bet.

Helping Lisa D, the 2-1 favorite, never threatened and finished sixth.

Helping Lisa D and Crumb Bum both came into the Escena off wins at one mile in $62,500 optional claiming races at Gulfstream.

Estilo Talentoso came into the race with a win, six second place and one third place finish in eight career starts. Her runner-up finishes included the Azaela Stakes, at seven furlongs for three-year-olds at Gulfstream on July 4.

The win on Sunday earned her $36,628 and boosted her career total to $109,038.

Arriagada bought her for $15,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June 2019 sale.

The price was that low because Maclean's Music has thus far not produced a horse that has approached the potential he showed in his one career start.

On March 19, 2011 Maclean's Music won a seven-furlong race at Santa Anita in 1:07.44--an incredible time for a 3-year-old.  But trainer Steve Asmussen soon retired him due to an injury.

Maclean's Music is a son of the multiple graded stakes winner Distorted Humor.

Maclean's Music is out of Bazinga Baby, an unraced Pennsylvania-bred daughter of the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex.

 Jockey Standings

Samy Camacho rode three winners, joining Zayas as a Sunday star. 

Sunday was the 90th day of the spring/summer meet, which is scheduled for 107 days with Sept. 27 as closing day.

Zayas's 112 wins are eight ahead of Miguel Vasquez who has 104.  Emisael Jaramillo is third with 100.

In 2019, Gulfstream held separate spring and summer meets, each for three months.

Zayas finished first in wins at both meets. He had a combined total of 136, followed by Jaramillo with 109 and Vasquez with 104.

Camacho is tied for ninth place with 42 Gulfstream spring/summer victories.

He did not begin riding full-time at Gulfstream until July, after the conclusion of the 2019-2020 Tampa Bay Downs meet

He finished third in that meet with 96 wins--behind Antonio Gallardo with 112 and Daniel Centeno with 99.

Camacho won Tampa Bay's 2018-2019 riding title with 123 wins.

In addition to Estilo Talentoso, Zayas's other three Sunday wins, with $2 win prices and trainers were:

*First race -- Aerodynamic, $4.00, Victor Barboza Jr.

*Third race -- Act Like Artie, $4.20, Mike  Maker

*Tenth Race -- Midtown Rose, $3.80, Saffie Joseph Jr.

All three of those horses were favorites.

Two of Camacho's Sunday winners are trained by Jena Antonucci.

His winners were:
*Eighth race -- Purecrazidude, $29.60, Antonucci

*Ninth Race -- Earth, $14.60, Antonucci

*Eleventh race -- Miss Loretta, $8.40, Sarah Nagle

Gulfstream will resume racing on Thursday with nine races and first post of 12:00 p.m.

Zayas is listed to ride in eight of those races, with Vasquez listed in seven and Jaramillo in six.

Gulfstream, like most other U.S. thoroughbred tracks, remains closed to spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wagering on Gulfstream races is available via most Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) services. Numerous sports books, OTB offices and other simulcast locations also are taking bets on Gulfstream races.

Estilo Talentoso, at 3-1, Wins Escena to Start Rainbow 6

Estilo Talentoso (1) beat Crumb Bum by a length in Sunday's $60,000 Escena Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

That race  was the start of the Rainbow 6, and it got underway with Estilo Talentoso winning at 3-1.

Bettors put $140,098 into the Rainbow 6, a 20 cents per combination-only bet.  There is a new pool, following Saturday's mandatory payout.

Estilo Talentoso, the only3-year-old in the field, won the one-mile dirt race in 1:35.68 on the track listed as fast.  Edgad Zayas rode the winner for trainer/owner Juan Arriagada.

The victory was the third of the day for Zayas, raising his spring/summer meet leading total to 111.

In a previous post, we suggested that Estilo Talentoso be strongly considered as a win candidate.

Rainbow 6 and Escena Coming Up at GP

Gulfstream's sixth race is scheduled to go off at 2:34, and it will start the Rainbow 6.

There will be a new pool, following Saturday's mandatory payout.

Gulfstream is guaranteeing that the pool will be at least $75,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winners.

The sixth race is the feature $60,000 Escena Stakes at one mile on dirt for  fillies and mares 3-YO and up.

Likely favorites will be Crumb Bum (5) and Helping Lisa D (2). Both are coming off wins in $62,500 optional claiming races at one mile on dirt at Gulfstream.

Cristian Torres will ride Crumb Bum for trainer Larry Bates and owner Eric J. Wirth. Miguel Vasquez will ride Helping Lisa D for trainer/owner Steve Dwoskin.

We also like the chances of Estilo Talentoso (1), with Edgard Zayas on board for trainer/owner Juan Arriagada.

She is the only three-year-old in the six-horse field and will carry 118 pounds while the others carry 124 pounds.

Estilo Talentoso finished second in the $75,000 Azalea Stakes for 3-YO fillies at Gulfstream on July 4.

She has raced twice against older horses, including her maiden victory.

There does not appear to be a controlling speed horse in the race.

The three horses mentioned above have histories of rating off the pace.  It will be interesting to see if any of them are sent out to take the lead.

Bella Ciao (4) should be closing with a solid chance of getting into the exacta.

Super Hi-5 Hit at Gulfstream

The carried-over Super Hi-5 was hit for $9,037.40 for the  mminimum $1 bet in the first race on Sunday at Gulfstream Park, and apparently there was just one winning ticket.

The carryover was $3,707, and bettors added $6,582 to the pool. The takeout is 15 percent.

Aerodynamic (1), the even money favorite, was the winner.

The order of finish was 1-12-7-8-4.

 

Gulfstream Sunday Preview: Super Hi-5 Carryover, Dirt Stakes for Fillies and Mares

Gulfstream Park's eleven-race Sunday card has a first post of 12:00 p.m.

Conditions are listed as Fast and Firm.

The day is starting out partly cloudy at and around Hallandale Beach, Fla.  The Weather Channel forecast is for a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms from 3:00 p.m. onward.

The betting attractions include:
*A $3,707 Super Hi-5 carryover on the first race. It is a $12,500 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-YO and up that have not won more than three races.  There are twelve entrants.

*A new pool in the Rainbow 6, following Saturday's mandatory payout.

The Rainbow 6, a 20 cents per combination-only bet, is on races six to eleven with the sequence scheduled to start at 2:34 p.m.

Gulfstream is guaranteeing that the Rainbow 6 pool will be at least 75,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winning horses. Such a ticket would take down 80 percent of the day's bet (20 percent carryover).

If there are multiple winning tickets, Gulfstream will take out 20 percent and then divide 56 percent among those tickets while putting 24 percent in a new carryover.

*The feature sixth race is the $60,000 Escena, at one mile on dirt for fillies and mares 3-YO and up.

There are six entrants. Likely favorites are Crumb Bum and Helping Lisa D--both recent winners of optional claiming races on the Gulfstream.

We will have coverage of the Escena and other Gulfstream news this afternoon on this blog.

 

Breeze on By Wins Affirmed for Stonehedge

 Breeze On By led a 1-2-3-4 superfecta finish for Stonehedge LLC at Gulfstream Park with a commanding 7 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Affirmed, the second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions.

The Affirmed, a seven furlong open division, co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, a seven-furlong stakes for fillies.

The FSS stakes were supported by the $75,000 Proud Truth, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds, and the $75,000 Sharp Susan, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies. Details of those two races are below in this story.

Trainer Ralph Nicks, who saddled Breeze On By for a victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager in the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes four weeks earlier, won his fourth consecutive running of the Affirmed. The son of Cajun Breeze also gave Nicks his eighth Florida Sire Stakes success since 2016 while providing Gil Campbell’s Stonehedge Farm with a 15th victory in the tradition-rich series.

“I just feel blessed to be in Florida for seven years and win this many [Sire] Series,” said Nicks, who also captured the Affirmed the previous three seasons with Soutache (2017), Garter and Tie (2018) and Liam’s Lucky Charm (2019).

“I learned early on that you need to be a part of this and was lucky to have owners send me some talented horses and it's worked," Nicks  said.

The Nicks-trained Big Daddy Dave and Seazan finished second and third, respectively, while the Kathleen O’Connell-trained Top Boss finished fourth to round out the Stonehedge superfecta.

Breeze On By, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, broke alertly from the starting gate but was beaten for the early lead by Gatsby, the 5-2 second choice who showed the way along the backstretch under a hustling ride by Hector Berrios. 

Breeze On By pressed the pace during swift fractions of 22.14 and 44.22 for the first half mile before putting away the tiring pacesetter on the turn into the homestretch and drawing away to a comfortable victory.

Breeze On By, undefeated in three starts, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.75. Big Daddy Dave made a wide bid of the final turn and finished second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of a late-rallying Seazan.

The winning time was the second fastest for the Affirmed in the seven times it has been run at Gulfstream. The stakes record is 1:22.46, set by Soutache in 2017.

From 1982 through 2013 the Sire Stakes races were  run at Calder in Miami Gardens, where the track is deeper than Gulfstream and usually produces times that are a second or more slower than at Gulfstream.

Breeze on By earned an Equibase Speed figure of 90, which is strong for a 2-year-old at this stage of the season.

Breeze On By is scheduled to make a bid to sweep the Florida Sire Stakes in the $400,000 In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile series finale Sept. 26. 

“Doing this series is tough on them and we'll see," Nicks said. "There are two other horses in this race that ran well so nothing will be a gift, but it's nice to have a horse this talented and have those options in front of you."

Turf Stakes

In the Proud Truth, Hot Blooded took the lead from Boca Boy at the top of the stretch and went on to beat that rival by 2 1/2 lengths.

Jaramilllo rode Hot Blooded for trainer Carlos David, winning in 1:36.69 on the course listed as Firm  Hot Blooded earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 81.

In the Sharp Susan, Spanish Loveaffair held off Director's Cut and beat that rival by 1 1/4 lengths.

Victor Lebron rode Spanish Loveaffair for trainer Mark Casse, winning in 1:35.03. Spanish Loveaffair earned an Equibase Seed Figure of 85.

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Pays $228.40; Princess Secret, Breeze on By win in FSS

The Rainbow 6, with a mandatory jackpot payoff paid $228.40 on a 20 cent-only bet at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

HorseRacingFLA's review of today's betting showed there were 10,271 tickets with all six winners.

Program numbers of the winning horses were 6-1-5-5-6-6.

Time for Trouble, the 5-1winner of the 12th and final race, was the only horse in the sequence at higher than 3-1.

This evening, we will review our proprietary data base and report on "just how low" the $228.40 return is for days with mandatory payouts.

* Gulfstream will begin  a new Rainbow 6 pool on Sunday.

First  post will be 12:00 p.m. for an eleven-race card.

The Rainbow 6 will be on races six to eleven with the sequence scheduled to start at 2:34 p.m.

Gulfstream is guaranteeing that the pool will be at least $100,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winning horses.

If there are multiple winning tickets, Gulfstream will take out 20 percent of the day's Rainbow 6 bet. It will then divide 56 percent among tickets with the most winners (usually six) and put 24 percent into a new carryover.

* In Saturday's Florida Sire Stakes races, (FSS), Princess Secret won the Susan's Girl for fillies and Breeze on By won the Affirmed for males.  We will have details tonight and on Sunday morning.

 

Low Odds Winners Thus Far in Rainbow 6

It appears there will be a relatively low winning price on today's mandatory payoff in the Rainbow 6  at Gulfstream Park.

The twelfth and final race is coming up at approximately 5:55 p.m.

In the first five legs, all winners were at 3-1 or lower.

Preogram numbers of winning horses thus far have been 6-1-5-5-6.

Hot Blooded, Princess Secret Win GP Stakes

Gulfstream Park's run of four stakes races for 2-YOs began with Hot Blooded (1) at 3-1winning the $75,000 Proud Man (eighth race) at one mile on turf.

Hot Blooded won in 1:36.68 on the course listed as Firm.

In the $200,000 Susan's Girl, the 7-5 favorite Princess Secret (5) prevailed in a stretch duel and beat Oh Deborah  by three-quarters of a length.

Princess Secret won in 1:23.02 on the dirt track listed as Fast.

The 12th  and final race will be the last race in the mandatory payoff Rainbow 6.

We will be back prior to that race.

Coming up are the $75,000 Sharp Susan, at one mile on turf for fillies, and the $200,000 Affirmed, at seven furlongs on dirt for males.

The Affirmed is the second leg of the male division of the three-race Florida Sire Stakes series.

The four stakes races, all for 2-YOs, are coming  up at Gulfstream--starting with the eighth race that will go off at about 3:48 p.m.

8th Race -- $75,000 Proud Man, 1 mile on turf for males

9th Race -- $200,000 Susan's Girl, 7  furlongs on dirt for fillies

10th Race -- $75,000 Sharp Susan, 1  mile turf for fillies

11th Race -- $200,000 Affirmed, 7 furlongs dirt for males

Rainbow 6 Starts With Win by 6-5 Favorite

Shesadaredevil (6, the 6-5 favorite, won Saturday's sixth race at Gulfstream to start the Rainbow 6.

That 20 cents combination-only bet has a mandatory payout today--regardless of the number of tickets with all six winners.

Bettors added $2,495,843 to the Rainbow 6 pool. The carryover coming in was $349,328.

Tickets with all six winning horses will divide just under $2.4 million.  That is 80 percent of the day's new Rainbow 6 bet plus the entire.

Gulfstream: Fast and Firm for Rainbow 6

The seventh race is coming up at Gulfstream, and will go off around 3:10 p.m.

It will be the first leg of the Rainbow 6 ,  with a carryover of $349,328 and a mandatory payout no matter the number of tickets with all six winners.

Conditions are Fast and Firm, after drying out from late morning rain that left both the dirt and turf as firm.

GP Saturday: Mandatory Payout on Rainbow 6, Four Stakes Races for Two-Year-Olds

Gulfstream Park on Saturday will have a mandatory payoff on its Rainbow 6, with money that has a carryover of $349,328.

First post will be 12:00 p.m. for a 12-race card. There will be four stakes races, including the second legs in the annual Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20 cents per combination-only bet, with multiple horses permitted in each race.

On Saturday it will be on races seven to twelve, with the sequence scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m.

Gulfstream officials are estimating that the Rainbow 6 pool will be about $2 million.

The mandatory payout will consist of the entire coming-in carryover plus 80 percent of the Saturday's Rainbow 6 bets (20 percent takeout).

Gulfstream will pay it all out regardless of the number of tickets with all six winning horses.

On non-mandatory days, Gulfstream makes that jackpot payoff only when there is just one ticket with all six winners.

On such days when there are multiple tickets with all six winners, Gulfstream takes out 20 percent and then divides 56 percent among the winning tickets.

The carryover has built up over the last eleven race days, on which there has not been a day with a stand-alone winning ticket.

That was preceded by a mandatory payout on Aug. 9.

The carryover was $1,137,735 that day.

Bettors added $4,159,821 to the Rainbow 6. There were 73 winning tickets, with each paying $61,593.78 on a 20 cent bet.  

This link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avslu-QvJa8&feature=youtu.bet is to a video in which Gulfstream handicappers Jason Blewitt and Ron Nicoletti make predictions for the Rainbow 6.

On Friday, there were 210 tickets with all six winners in the Rainbow 6. Each won $388.14 on a 20 cent bet.

Wagering on the Rainbow 6 was $145,457.

Program numbers of the winning horses were 2-2-2-4-4-4. Three winners were favorites, and the highest odds on a winner were 10-1.

Saturday Stakes Races

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Race 7-12, kicked off by a full field of $6,250 maiden claiming fillies and mares going six furlongs in Race 7, followed by the $75,000 Proud Man, the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the $75,000 Sharp Susan and the $200,000 Affirmed. The Rainbow 6 sequence will conclude with a 1 1/16-mile turf race for $12,500 claimers.

The Proud Man, a mile turf race, will be contested by nine juveniles, including Boca Boy, who finished third in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series Aug. 1. 

The Sharp Susan, a mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies, attracted Spanish Loveaffair, who captured her July 23 debut by 11 lengths for trainer Mark Casse.

Breeze On By, who captured the six-furlong Dr. Fager, returns in the seven-furlong Affirmed, in which the Ralph Nicks trainee will again clash with Dr. Fager runner-up Gatsby.

Go Jo Jo Go, a late-closing winner of the $100,000 FSS Desert Vixen, will headline the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl, in which Desert Vixen runner-up Princess Secret will seek revenge on the Michael Yates trainee.

The Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen were run on a rainy day with the track listed as Sloppy.

The Weather Channel forecast for today is for a rain chance growing from 15 percent to 35 percent during racing hours.

Breeze On By and Go Jo Jo Go are both owned by Gilbert Campbell’s Stonehedge LLC, winner of 14 Florida Sire Stakes series races.

The FSS is restricted to horses whose sires are Florida-registered stallions whose owners have nominated those horses for the series. Owners of nominated 2-YOs and of  nominated stallions pay a series of fees that are included in purses and in breeders and owners awards.

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Opener Won By 3-5 Favorite

Yolanda's Pride (2), the 3-5  favorite, rallied down the stretch and beat Maries Melody (5) by a length in Friday's fourth race at Gulfstream Park.

It was the opening leg of the Rainbow 6, with a coming-in  carryover of $314,426 on the 20 cents per combination-only bet.

Bettors added $145,457 to the pool--in a prelude for Saturday  when Gulfstream will have a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot, regardless of the number of tickets with all six winners.

Gulfstream has guaranteed that the pool for Friday will be at least $500,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winners.

The combination adds up to about $460.000. Thus Gulfstream would need to put in about $40,000 if there is a single winning ticket.

If there are multiple tickets with six winners, Gulfstream will add about $34,000 (24 percent of the day's bet) to the carryover.

That would leave a carryover of about $350,000 for Saturday. Gulfstream history indicates that would lead to $3 million or more in bets on the Rainbow 6.

Friday's Rainbow 6 opener was a $40,000 claiming race at one mile on turf for fillies and mares 3-YO and up.

Yolanda's Pride won in 1:34.79 on the course listed as Firm, with Edgard Zayas riding for trainer Steve Klesaris.

Gulfstream Weekend: Stakes-Laden with Rainbow 6 Mandatory Payout

Five stakes races, including two in the Florida Sire Stakes series, and a mandatory payout on the Rainbow 6 will be the highlights at Gulfstream Park over the next three days.

Four of the stakes and the mandatory payout will be on Saturday.

First post will be 12:00 p.m. each day.

Friday

The card has nine races, with no stakes.

Conditions are listed as Fast and Firm. The Weather Channel forecast is for a chance of rain between 15 and 25 percent during racing hours.

There is a Super Hi-5 carryover of $4,251 on the first race.

The Rainbow 6 carryover is nine days old and has grown to $314,426.

It is on races four to nine, with the sequence scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.

Gulfstream is guaranteeing that the Friday pool for the Rainbow 6 will be at least $500,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winners--thus taking down the jackpot of the full carryover plus 80 percent of the day's new Rainbow 6 bet.

If Friday has multiple tickets with all six winners. Gulfstream will take out 20 percent of the day's Rainbow 6 bet and then divide 56 percent among the winning tickets while adding 24 percent to the carryover.

Saturday

The card will have twelve races.

The Rainbow 6 will be on races seven to twelve, with the sequence scheduled to start at 3:05 p.m.

Gulfstream will pay out the  entire coming in carryover plus 80 percent of the day's Rainbow 6 bet--regardless of the number of tickets with six winners.  If there are no tickets with  all six, the payout  will be divided among tickets with the most winners.

If the jackpot is not taken down Friday, the carryover should be about $400,000.

In that case,  it is likely that $3 million or more will be bet on the Rainbow 6.

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will include the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed for 2-year-olds, the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Susan’s Girl for 2-year-old fillies, the $75,000 Proud Man and $75,000 Sharp Susan.

We will have previews of those races on Friday night and on Saturday morning.

The Affirmed and Susan’s Girl will both be contested at seven furlongs on the main track. The Proud Man for 2-YO males and the Sharp Susan is for 2-YO fillies, with both at one mile on turf.

Sunday

There will be nine races, with a new pool on the Rainbow 6.

The feature will be the $60,000 Escana Stakes, at one mile on dirt for fillies and mares 3-YO and up.

Kentucky Derby and Oaks Training Update

This is the first of what will be our series of training updates for the Kentucky Derby (Grade  1) and the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1).

These reports are based on a combination of news releases from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and on reporting and analysis by HorseRacingFLA.

The Kentucky Oaks will be run on Friday Sept. 4 and the Kentucky Oaks will be run on Saturday Sept. 5.

As of Thursday afternoon, many of the Oaks and Derby runners had not yet arrived at Churchill Downs.

Among Thursday's training highlights were gallops by  Swiss Skydiver, winner of this year's Gulfstream Park Oaks (Grade 2) and three other "Oaks qualifying" stakes races, and King Guillermo, winner of this year's Tampa Bay Derby.

Rain is forecast to begin overnight Thursday and continue into training hours Friday morning with more rain predicted to begin Friday afternoon and continuing through Saturday morning.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 146^th running of the $3 million, Grade I Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve to be run for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, Sept. 5 (in order of preference): Tiz the Law (jockey Manny Franco); Authentic (John Velazquez); Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Honor A. P. (Mike Smith); Ny Traffic (Paco Lopez); King Guillermo (Samy Camacho); Thousand Words (Florent Geroux); Caracaro (Javier Castellano); Max Player (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Enforceable (Adam Beschizza); Major Fed (James Graham); Storm the Court (Julien Leparoux); Attachment Rate (Joe Talamo); Sole Volante (Luca Panici); Finnick the Fierce (Martin Garcia); Winning Impression (Joe Rocco Jr.); Necker Island (Miguel Mena); Shirl’s Speight (Corey Lanerie). Possible: Dr Post (Tyler Gaffalione); Rushie (TBA); Money Moves (TBA); First Line (TBA).

Here are updates on Tiz the Law and on five other horses that raced at Gulfstream Park and/or at Tampa Bay Downs and, in our view, have good chances to hit the superfecta or higher in the Kentucky Derby.

TIZ THE LAW – Sackatoga Stable’s Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law is scheduled to breeze Saturday or Sunday at Saratoga before his Monday arrival at Churchill Downs.  Tiz  the Law this year won the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park and the Travers at Saratoga.  All are Grade 1 stakes. Manuel Franco will again ride the son of Constitution for trainer Barclay Tag.

 

NY TRAFFIC – John Fanelli, Cash is King and Paul Braverman’s Ny Traffic is scheduled to work at Saratoga Friday and arrive at Churchill Downs Sunday, according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.  In his most recent start, Ny Traffic was gaining at the end and finished  second by a nose to Authentic on July 18 in the 1 1/8 mile Haskell at the speed-favoring Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

 

CARACARO – Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing’s $1 million Travers Stakes (GI) runner-up Caracaro is slated to have his final breeze prior to the Kentucky Derby Saturday morning, according to assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. Caracaro's home track is Gulfstream. He is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Sunday.

KING GUILLERMO – Victoria’s Ranch’s King Guillermo continued his training toward the Kentucky Derby Thursday at 7:30 a.m. with an easy gallop under exercise rider Edgar Medina. King Guillermo is slated to have his final breeze for the Derby on Saturday, according to Medina.

SOLE VOLANTE – Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GII) runner-up Sole Volante is scheduled to van from his South Florida base to Churchill Downs Sunday, according to senior director of the stable area Steve Hargrave.

 

DR POST – St. Elias Stable’s Haskell third-place finisher Dr Post appears doubtful to run in the Derby, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. The colt could target the Jim Dandy (GI) or the $1 million Preakness (GI). He  won the ungraded Unbridled Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream on April 25 and finished second by 3 3/4 lengths to Tiz the Law in the Belmont on June 20.

Here are updates on three horses that have not raced in Florida and are generally regarded as top threats to Tiz the Law.

ART COLLECTOR – Bruce Lunsford’s Art Collector made his first reappearance over the Churchill Downs surface Thursday morning and galloped 1 ½ miles with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle. Trainer Tommy Drury reported Art Collector will have one more local work prior to the Kentucky Derby. Hernandez will have the call.  He has a front-running style and won this year's Blue Grass (Grade 2) at 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland.

AUTHENTIC – Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing’s $1 million Haskell (GI) winner Authentic is scheduled to arrive Monday at Churchill Downs.

HONOR A. P. – C R K Stabe's Honor A. P., winner of the Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) is scheduled to work Saturday at 12:45 p.m. PDT at Del Mar and slated to arrive at Churchill Downs Monday.

 

 

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Likely starters in the 146^th running of the $1.25 million, Grade I Longines Kentucky Oaks to be run for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, Sept. 4 in order of preference (with jockey): Swiss Skydiver (jockey Tyler Gaffalione); Speech (Javier Castellano); Bonny South (TBA); Shedaresthedevil (Florent Geroux); Project Whiskey (Paco Lopez); Donna Veloce (TBA); Gamine (John Velazquez); Hopeful Growth (Manny Franco); Dream Marie (Joe Talamo); Bayerness (TBA).

Here are updates on Swiss Skydiver and on three top contenders that have not raced in Florida.

SWISS SKYDIVER – Peter Callahan’s $600,000 Alabama (GI) winner Swiss Skydiver turned several heads Thursday morning during the exclusive Derby/Oaks training session at 7:30 a.m. as she wore her bright yellow Kentucky Derby saddle towel for her 1 ½-mile gallop.

“We were just trying to have some fun,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “People keep taking things so seriously but we just did it to mess with people. She’s still aiming for the Oaks and will have one final work (Friday) at 7:30 a.m. 

Swiss Skydiver will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione in the Oaks. He rode her in her recent win in the Alabama (Grade 1) at Saratoga.  He also rode her in her first two starts---a second place and a win at Churchill last fall.

Her  other stakes wins were in the Fantasy (Grade 3) at Oaklawn Park and in the Santa Anita Oaks (Grade 2).

She finished second to Art Collector  in the Blue Grass, as the only filly in a 13-horse field..

GAMINE – Michael Lund Petersen’s likely Kentucky Oaks (GI) favorite Gamine is scheduled to arrive with her stablemates from the Bob Baffert Barn Monday on a flight from Southern California to Louisville.  

Gamine is  coming off fast and front-running wins in the one-mile Acorn (Graded 1) at Belmont Park and the seven-furlong Test (Grade 1) at Saratoga.

The Kentucky Oaks will be her first race around two turns.

Swiss Skydiver has on gate-to-wire and by stalking fast paces.

So, this is one of the most heavily anticipated runnings of the Kentucky Oaks in recent years.

SPEECH – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables’ Speech galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Osman Cedeno at 7:30 for trainer Michael McCarthy.

McCarthy arrived in Louisville Wednesday night, the first time he has been back at Churchill Downs since 2018 when he came in a week early to give City of Light a work over the track before winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

Winner of the Ashland (GI) at Keeneland in her most recent start, Speech may work Friday depending on the weather.  She finished second by four  lengths to Swiss Skydiver in the Santa Anita Oaks.

BONNY SOUTH – Juddmonte Farm’s Alabama Stakes (GI) runner-up Bonny South had a routine 1 ½ mile gallop Thursday morning at 7:30 with exercise rider Gustavo Abrego up. She is scheduled to work Friday morning, according to trainer Brad Cox.

 

 

 

 

Rainbow 6 Opener Won by 9-5 Favorite

Dr. Samadi (1), the 9-5 favorite, won Gulfstream's fourth race to start Thursday's Rainbow 6.

The carryover coming in was $284,000. Bettors added $126,621 to the Rainbow 6.

Gulfstream guaranteed that the pool will be at least $450,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winners.  If that happens, Gulfstream will need to put in about $40,000.

If there are multiple tickets with six winners, Gulfstream will take out 20 percent of the day's Rainbow 6 bet.  It will then divide 56 percent among tickets with six winners and add 24 percent to the carryover.

On Saturday, Gulfstream will have a mandatory payout on the Rainbow 6 jackpot (full carryover plus 80 percent of the day's bet), regardless of the number of tickets with six winners.

Dr. Samadi beat Skyline View (9) by 3 1/2 lengths  in the $10,000 maiden claiming race for 3-YO and up.

Dr. Samadi won the one mile dirt race in 1:38.51 on the track listed as Fast. Edgard Zayas rode for trainer Mike Maker.

The victory was Zayas's 106th in the Gulfstream spring/summer meet. 

Miguel Vasquez is second with 102. He won Thursday's first race, aboard More Diamonds.

Maker has 39 wins in the spring/summer meet, putting him second behind Saffie Joseph Jr. who has 44 victories.

Later this afternoon and this evening, we will have a recap of the Rainbow 6 and other Gulfstream news.

 

Gulfstream: Nne Races on Thursday's Card; Mandatory Payout, Four Stakes on Saturday

Gulfstream Park will resume racing on Thursday, with nine races and first post at 12:00 p.m.

The day's only carryover is $284,000 on the Rainbow 6. The 20 cents per combination-only bet is on races four to nine with the sequence scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Conditions are listed as Fast and Firm.

The Weather Channel forecast is for a 15 percent chance of rain during racing hours.

Gulfstream is guaranteeing that the Thursday pool for the Rainbow 6 will be at least $450,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winners--thus taking down the jackpot of the full carryover plus 80 percent of the day's new Rainbow 6 bet.

This coming Saturday, Gulfstream will have a mandatory payoff of the Rainbow 6 jackpot--regardless of the number of tickets with all six winners.

On "non-mandatory days," such as today, when there are multiple winning tickets Gulfstream takes out 20 percent of the day's Rainbow 6 bet and then divides 56 percent among the winning tickets while adding 24 percent to the carryover.

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will begin with the seventh race and include the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed for 2-year-olds, the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Susan’s Girl for 2-year-old fillies, the $75,000 Proud Man and $75,000 Sharp Susan.

The Affirmed and Susan’s Girl will both be contested at seven furlongs on the main track. The Proud Man for 2-YO males and the Sharp Susan is for 2-YO fillies, with both at one mile on turf.

 

Gulfstream Stars Tiz the Law, Swiss Skydiver to Seek Historic "Doubles" at Churchill

Research by HorseRacingFLA shows there has been just one year when the winner of the Florida Derby went on to win the Kentucky Derby AND the winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks, or its predecessor race, went on to win the Kentucky Oaks.

That year was 1979.

Spectacular Bid won the Florida Derby and later won the Kentucky Derby. Davona Dale won the Bonnie Miss Stakes and later won the Kentucky Oaks. 

This year, prospects are strong that Tiz the Law and Swiss Skydiver will produce the second-ever Gulfstream Park double-double at Churchill Downs.

Tiz the Law won the Florida Derby (Grade 1) at Gulfstream on March 28.  He undoubtedly will be the heavy favorite in the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) on Sept. 5.

Swiss Skydiver won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (Grade 2) on March 28.  She likely will be the first or second betting choice in the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) on Sept. 4. Gamine, based in California, will be her principal rival.

Both Churchill Downs classic races for 3-year-olds will have other contenders that raced this year at Gulfstream and/or at Tampa Bay Downs.

Numerous horses that raced in Florida this year also will be in fields for other graded stakes on Oaks Day and Derby Day at the historic track in Louisville, Ky.

This article is the start of our daily "Flori-dized" coverage that will continue through Oaks Day and Derby Day.

Florida Sire Stakes to Resume Saturday

Gulfstream Park will run the second-leg races in the Florida Sire Stakes series, and horses owned by Stonehedge LLC will attempt to follow up on their first-leg victories on Aug. 1.

The Saturday races are the $200,000 Affirmed for males and the $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies.

Both races are seven furlongs on dirt, for 2-year-olds. 

Both are restricted to Florida-breds whose sires are Florida-registered stallions with owners that have nominated them for the program.

The Affirmed will include Stonehedge's Breeze on By. who on Aug. 1 won the $100,000 Dr. Fager, at six furlongs on dirt.

The Susan's Girl will include Stonehedge's Go Jo Jo Go. who on Aug. 1 won the $100,000 Desert Vixen at six furlongs on dirt.

Gilbert Campbell of Ocala owns Stonehedge, which has won 14 Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) races.

The FSS is sponsored by the Ocala-based Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, in conjunction with Gulfstream and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Entries for the Affirmed and Susan's Girl will be out on Wednesday afternoon.

Affirmed

Breeze On By is scheduled to seek his third win in three  career starts.

Breeze On By, a gelded son of Cajun Breeze, is set to square off against Gatsby whom he defeated by a hard-fought length in the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager. 

The homebred gelding rushed to the lead from his rail post position, set a pressured pace and battled back when headed by Gatsby to prevail in the six-furlong sprint.

Breeze On By won in 1:10.85 on the track that was listed as Sloppy and was sealed.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, Breeze On By is undefeated in two starts, including a sensational front-running six-length victory in his July 12 debut at Gulfstream. 

Stonehedge and Nicks will also be represented by Seazan, a son of Khozan who broke his maiden in his second career start on the Dr. Fager undercard.

Gatsby, a homebred son of Brethren, finished 8 ¼ lengths clear of the third-place finisher Boca Boy in the Dr. Fager.

He won his April 12 debut, in which he chased odds-on favorite Golden Pal into the Gulfstream stretch before edging away to victory by three-quarters of a length.

The Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal went on to finish second in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot, while Gatsby finished off-the-board in the June 27 Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs. Gatsby rebounded with a strong effort in the Dr. Fager.

The field for the seven-furlong Affirmed is also expected to include Kenneth Fishbein’s Boca Boy and Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa’s Famous Gent, who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Dr. Fager.

Susan's Girl

Kenny McPeek, who trains the No. 1-ranked 3-year-old filly in the country in Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Alabama (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver, will seek dominance in the Florida Sire Stakes filly division with newcomer Raining Sunshine in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl. 

Martin Erin Haught’s homebred daughter of First Dude graduated in her second career start while romping to a 5 ¾-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Aug. 2.

Stonehedge LLC, which has won 14 Florida Sire Stakes series races, will also be well represented in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl by Go Jo Jo Go, who captured the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for fillies. 

The Michael Yates-trained daughter of Khozan closed from last to capture the $100,000 Desert Vixen by 1 ¼ lengths over favored Princess Secret.

Go Jo Jo Go won in 1:11.47 on the track that was listed as Sloppy and was sealed. 

Stonehedge LLC will also be represented by Oh Deborah, a Ralph Nicks-trained daughter of Winslow Homer who debuted with a 3 ½-length victory in a $50,000 maiden claiming race by 3 ¼ lengths July 19.

Princess Secret, a daughter of Khozan owned and trained by Daniel Pita, is expected to try to make amends in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl. Princess Secret, who debuted May 7 with a four-length victory, finished a troubled second behind highly regarded Papetu while taking on the boys in a July 5 allowance before finishing second in the Desert Vixen.

Arindel’s Freak, a daughter of Brethren who finished a nose behind Princess Secret while checking in third in the Desert Vixen, is slated to return in the Susan’s Girl. Arindel will also be represented by Lyrical, a daughter of Brethren who finished sixth in the Desert Vixen.

Trainer Steven Dwoskin’s Alluramore, a daughter of Gone Astray who finished an even fourth in the Desert Vixen, is expected to run in the Susan’s Girl.

The Florida Sire Stakes series is scheduled to wrap up Sept. 26 with the $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies.