By Jim Freer
Saturday, July 19 --Trainer Phil Gleaves calls Csaba “a grinder,” and his veteran star showed that grit again on Saturday in winning the $75,000 Skip Trial Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Csaba caught the leader Palatine Hill in the final turn and dueled with him until taking the lead about 150 yards from the wire. Csaba then held off a late run by Grand Tito and won by 1 ¾ lengths.
Palatine Hill, the 5-2 favorite, and Kings Over finished in a dead heat for third--one half length behind Grand Tito.
Csaba, at 7-2, paid $9.40, $5.40 and $3.00.
With regular jockey Manoel Cruz riding, Csaba covered the 1 1/16 mile distance in the solid but not spectacular time of 1:43.12 on a track listed as fast.
It was Csaba’s ninth stakes win, and his third at Gulfstream. The other six were at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Csaba was equipped with blinkers for his second straight stakes victory. That previous win was in the Memorial Handicap at Calder on May 24.
“I put blinkers on him for his last two starts. That’s given him a new lease on life. He’s gotten a lot sharper,” Gleaves said. “He was acting sharper saddling; he was sharper in the paddock. It was something to change him up a little bit.”
Gleaves said Csaba’s next race likely will be the $100,000 Alydar Stakes on Aug. 17 at Saratoga.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Hit for $149,051
Staff Report
Saturday, July 19 -- There was just one winning ticket, for $149,051, on Gulfstream Park’s Rainbow 6 bet for Saturday.
All other tickets were eliminated when 52-1 Eclipticalswildcat rolled to a gate-to-wire victory in the day’s 11th and final race, a $6,250 claimer at 5 ½ furlongs on the dirt. In addition, that longshot’s win prevented anyone from hitting the Super Hi-Five on the last race--leading to a third straight carryover.
The Rainbow 6 winning 9-9-5-9-6-12 ticket was purchased on Xpressbet, the Advance Deposit Wagering service owned by Gulfstream’s parent The Stronach Group. As of Saturday night, the winning bettor had not been identified.
Gulfstream is guaranteeing that there will be a payout of at least $50,000 if there is just one winning ticket on Sunday’s Rainbow 6. It begins with the fifth race abd scheduled post time of 3:21 p.m.
The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only bet that requires picking the winners of each of the day’s last six races. Multiple horses are permitted in each race for the bet.
Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool (each day’s bets plus any carryover) only on days when there is just one winning ticket. On other days, winning ticket holders divide 70 percent of the day’s Rainbow 6 bets, with the remainder going into the carryover.
On Sunday, Gulfstream will have a carryover of
$54,480.81 on its Super Hi-Five bet on the tenth and final race. The $1 minimum bet requires picking the first five horses in the day’s final race--a superfecta plus one.
Saturday was the third straight day when no bettors hit the Super Hi-Five.
Holdinbullets, the 4-5 favorite, finished second behind the 52-1 winner. The odds on the third through fifth place finishers were 138-1, 32-1 and 16-1.
Gulfstream paid a consolation 12-6-ALL-ALL-AL of $136.50. There were winners of the superfecta, at $5,520.03 for a10-cent bet.
The race had 13 starters, on a day when Gulfstream had 105 starters in 11 races. That average of 9.5 has been reached by Gulfstream several times since July 1--after Calder Casino & Race Course stopped racing on the same days as Gulfstream.
As expected, the large field sizes have helped Gulfstream increase its average daily all-sources handle to almost $4 million this month, compared with about $3 million per day in June.
In many races, particularly claiming, longshots are coming in and bringing about huge payoffs.
This past Friday was an example, when 75-1 long shot Argavi won the ninth and last race.
That produced the rare situation of no Rainbow 6 tickets with all six winners. So, the bet paid off on five of six winners, with each ticket worth $5,334.20.
With no bettors hitting Friday’s Super Hi-Five, the consolation 4-10-ALL-ALL-ALL payoff was $154.70.
Saturday, July 19 -- There was just one winning ticket, for $149,051, on Gulfstream Park’s Rainbow 6 bet for Saturday.
All other tickets were eliminated when 52-1 Eclipticalswildcat rolled to a gate-to-wire victory in the day’s 11th and final race, a $6,250 claimer at 5 ½ furlongs on the dirt. In addition, that longshot’s win prevented anyone from hitting the Super Hi-Five on the last race--leading to a third straight carryover.
The Rainbow 6 winning 9-9-5-9-6-12 ticket was purchased on Xpressbet, the Advance Deposit Wagering service owned by Gulfstream’s parent The Stronach Group. As of Saturday night, the winning bettor had not been identified.
Gulfstream is guaranteeing that there will be a payout of at least $50,000 if there is just one winning ticket on Sunday’s Rainbow 6. It begins with the fifth race abd scheduled post time of 3:21 p.m.
The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only bet that requires picking the winners of each of the day’s last six races. Multiple horses are permitted in each race for the bet.
Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool (each day’s bets plus any carryover) only on days when there is just one winning ticket. On other days, winning ticket holders divide 70 percent of the day’s Rainbow 6 bets, with the remainder going into the carryover.
On Sunday, Gulfstream will have a carryover of
$54,480.81 on its Super Hi-Five bet on the tenth and final race. The $1 minimum bet requires picking the first five horses in the day’s final race--a superfecta plus one.
Saturday was the third straight day when no bettors hit the Super Hi-Five.
Holdinbullets, the 4-5 favorite, finished second behind the 52-1 winner. The odds on the third through fifth place finishers were 138-1, 32-1 and 16-1.
Gulfstream paid a consolation 12-6-ALL-ALL-AL of $136.50. There were winners of the superfecta, at $5,520.03 for a10-cent bet.
The race had 13 starters, on a day when Gulfstream had 105 starters in 11 races. That average of 9.5 has been reached by Gulfstream several times since July 1--after Calder Casino & Race Course stopped racing on the same days as Gulfstream.
As expected, the large field sizes have helped Gulfstream increase its average daily all-sources handle to almost $4 million this month, compared with about $3 million per day in June.
In many races, particularly claiming, longshots are coming in and bringing about huge payoffs.
This past Friday was an example, when 75-1 long shot Argavi won the ninth and last race.
That produced the rare situation of no Rainbow 6 tickets with all six winners. So, the bet paid off on five of six winners, with each ticket worth $5,334.20.
With no bettors hitting Friday’s Super Hi-Five, the consolation 4-10-ALL-ALL-ALL payoff was $154.70.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Csaba Heads Saturday Stakes Field at Gulfstream
Staff Report
Saturday, July 19 -- Csaba, a career winner of eight stakes races, heads the eight-horse field for today‘s $75,000 Skip Trial Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Skip Trial is 1 1/16 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds and up. It is the 10th race, with scheduled post time of 6:03 p.m. Gulfstream will have 11 races with first post at 1:15 p.m.
The 5-year-old Csaba will make his first start since winning the Memorial Handicap, also at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, on May 24 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Manoel Cruz rode Csaba in that race and has the mount again for trainer Phil Gleaves.
Two of Csaba’s stakes wins have been at Gulfstream and six have been at Calder. He is generally regarded as the top older stakes horse stabled most of the year at Gulfstream.
Csaba has raced on the lead in some races and has used stalking tactics in others. Gleaves and Cruz could use the second tactic because four other Skip Trial entrants often seek the lead.
They are Palatine Hill, Kings Over, Sr. Quisqueyano and Grand Tito. Csaba has post six, outside all but Grand Tito.
Leadem In Ken and Flatter This likely will trail in the early stages and could hit the board if a fast pace cooks some early leaders.
Argentine Tango is winless in his last eight races, and will probably be the longest price in the race. But it should be noted that he is from the barn of owner Fred Brei and trainer Stan Gold. They have become known for hitting the board with longshots in South Florida stakes races, as well as their stellar record in 2-year-old stakes.
Rainbow 6 Carryover
Gulfstream on Saturday will have a guaranteed carryover jackpot of $150,000 on its Rainbow 6 bet on the day’s last six races.
The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only bet that requires picking the winners of each of the day’s last six races. Multiple horses are permitted in each race for the bet.
Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool (each day’s bets plus any carryover) only on days when there is just one winning ticket. On other days, winning ticket holders divide 70 percent of the day’s Rainbow 6 bets, with the remainder going into the carryover.
Friday was a rare day when there were no Rainbow 6 tickets with all six winners.
That happened because 75-1 long shot Argavi won the ninth and last race. So, the bet paid off on five of six winners, with each ticket worth $5334.20.
Saturday, July 19 -- Csaba, a career winner of eight stakes races, heads the eight-horse field for today‘s $75,000 Skip Trial Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Skip Trial is 1 1/16 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds and up. It is the 10th race, with scheduled post time of 6:03 p.m. Gulfstream will have 11 races with first post at 1:15 p.m.
The 5-year-old Csaba will make his first start since winning the Memorial Handicap, also at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, on May 24 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Manoel Cruz rode Csaba in that race and has the mount again for trainer Phil Gleaves.
Two of Csaba’s stakes wins have been at Gulfstream and six have been at Calder. He is generally regarded as the top older stakes horse stabled most of the year at Gulfstream.
Csaba has raced on the lead in some races and has used stalking tactics in others. Gleaves and Cruz could use the second tactic because four other Skip Trial entrants often seek the lead.
They are Palatine Hill, Kings Over, Sr. Quisqueyano and Grand Tito. Csaba has post six, outside all but Grand Tito.
Leadem In Ken and Flatter This likely will trail in the early stages and could hit the board if a fast pace cooks some early leaders.
Argentine Tango is winless in his last eight races, and will probably be the longest price in the race. But it should be noted that he is from the barn of owner Fred Brei and trainer Stan Gold. They have become known for hitting the board with longshots in South Florida stakes races, as well as their stellar record in 2-year-old stakes.
Rainbow 6 Carryover
Gulfstream on Saturday will have a guaranteed carryover jackpot of $150,000 on its Rainbow 6 bet on the day’s last six races.
The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent only bet that requires picking the winners of each of the day’s last six races. Multiple horses are permitted in each race for the bet.
Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool (each day’s bets plus any carryover) only on days when there is just one winning ticket. On other days, winning ticket holders divide 70 percent of the day’s Rainbow 6 bets, with the remainder going into the carryover.
Friday was a rare day when there were no Rainbow 6 tickets with all six winners.
That happened because 75-1 long shot Argavi won the ninth and last race. So, the bet paid off on five of six winners, with each ticket worth $5334.20.
Wildcat Red Aims to be The Boss in Haskell
By Jim Freer
Friday, July 18 --When Wildcat Red and the other horses come onto the track for the $1 million Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park’s sound system will be blasting out “Born to Run” by New Jersey’s legendary Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
“That’s Red. He loves to race and always wants to keep running when he’s out there in the morning,” Wildcat Red’s co-owner Josie Martino Delfino said Friday when told that Springsteen’s breakthrough hit is the signature song for the Haskell (Grade 1) that will be run July 27.
It is the biggest race each year at the track in Oceanport, N,J,--about ten miles north of the clubs in Asbury Park where the saga of “The Boss” and his band began in the 1970s.
At Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. Fla., this year, Wildcat Red won the Hutcheson (Grade 3) and Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) and finished second by a neck to Constitution in the Florida Derby (Grade 1). He will be among the favorites in the Haskell, at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds.
“I know the song,” Martino Delfino said by phone from Caracas, Venezuela, with her enthusiasm almost seeping through the line. “Yes. Red was born to run, and that makes it more exciting,”
She owns Wildcat Red with her husband Salvatore Delfino. They have homes in Venezuela and in the Miami area, and are in the restaurant and wine import-export business.
“We’ll be getting there (Monmouth Park) next Thursday the 23rd, and we can’t wait to see Red again and see the race,” said Martino Delfino, who usually refers to the horse by the shortened version of his name. “He is just our second horse and he is like a family member, almost like a son.”
Wildcat Cat left his home track Gulfstream by van on Monday and arrived at Monmouth Park on Tuesday. He is under the care of Nick Galati, the top assistant to trainer Jose Garoffalo who will travel to New Jersey early nest week. Garoffalo plans to have Wildcat Red breeze on the Monmouth track this Sunday.
“Jose called and said that Red loved the track when he galloped this morning,” Martino Delfino said “He tells us that Monmouth is a lot like Gulfstream, and that makes it a good track for Wildcat Red.”
That means speed-favoring. Wildcat Red has raced on or near the lead in almost all of his races--with five wins and three second place finishes in nine starts.
Wildcat Red’s only race away from Gulfstream and only finish lower than second was 18th in the Kentucky Derby on May 3, when he was bumped and squeezed twice during the run to the first turn at Churchill Downs.
Wildcat Red suffered a one-inch cut near his right front cannon bone and also came out of the race with bruises on both left legs.
After some rest and an un-rushed return to training, Wildcat Red came back to win the $75,000 Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream on June 28. He beat East Hall by 10 ¼ lengths and won the 1 1/16 mile race in the fast time of 1:42.70 while being ridden out by Luis Saez.
“He overcame all the problems he had in the (Kentucky) Derby,” Garoffalo told the Gulfstream media office. “He now is a bigger horse, stronger than he was a couple of months ago. Mentally, he has grown as a racehorse.”
The Delfinos had several dozen friends and family members with them in the winner’s circle after the Quality Road--similar to the gatherings for Wildcat Red’s other Gulfstream races.
“Not having all of Red’s fans there will be the thing we’ll miss most about not racing at Gulfstream,” Martino Delfino said. “The Gulfstream fans love him. When we were in the winner’s circle after the Quality Road, some of them were saying ‘Red’s back, Red’s back.’”
They will have a cheering section, although smaller, with several family members for Wildcat Red at the Haskell. Saez will again have the mount.
The Delfinos go to Gulfstream to see Wildcat Red most mornings when they are in Florida. They talk by phone with Garoffalo, a native of Venezuela, on other days.
Wildcat Red is a son of D’wildcat, a multiple sprint stakes winner. His mother Racene has a distance-heavy pedigree.
Wildcat Red is one of the five horses the Delfinos own for their Honors Stable Corp.
It is named for Trippi Honor, their first horse who won four races while trained by Garoffalo. Now a 6-year-old, she is in Ocala where she will become a broodmare.
The Delfinos’ three other horses are in training with Garoffalo at Gulfstream. Capriccio Blue is a 4-year-old filly. Lucky Delfino and Black Martino are 2-year-old colts that Garoffalo is preparing for their first starts.
The Haskell will be the first match-up of Wildcat Red and Social Inclusion, another Gulfstream-stabled star owned and trained by native Venezuelans.
Social Inclusion set a Gulfstream track record of 1:40.97 for 1 1/16 miles when he won an allowance on March 12. He later finished third in the Preakness Stakes. Ron Sanchez and his Rontos Racing Stable own Social Inclusion, who is trained by Manny Azpurua.
The Haskell will attract national attention partly because of the filly Untapable, the winner of this year’s Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1). Bayern, Medal Count, Albano and Just Call Kenny also are likely entrants in a field that could be as large as ten horses.
Bayern, Albano and Social Inclusion also have early speed. Post positions will be among factors for Garoffalo to decide whether Saez should seek the early lead or keep Wildcat Red several lengths off it.
The Travers (Grade 1) at 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 23 is the likely next race for Wildcat Red and other horses if they turn in good showings in the Haskell.
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