First of Nine Stakes Coming Up at Guffstream

The third race is coming up at Gulfstream--the $75,000 Cassidy at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt for 2-YO fillies.

It is the first of nine stakes. We like the chances of Perfect Kay, from the David Fawkes barn.

Thus far, no scratches in any of the three graded stakes.

The dirt track is listed as good and the turf is firm.
--Jim Freer

Gulfstream: Summit of Speed Today

Gulfstream Park will hold its annual Summit of Speed on Saturday, with 13 races and first post of 12:15 p.m.

We will be at Gulfstream during the afternoon and will have coverage on this blog.  The dirt is listed as fast and the turf is listed as good. There is a 25 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

The card has nine stakes races, including the $250,000 Princess Rooney (Grade 2) and the $250,000 Smile (Grade 2).

Both are “Win and You’re In” races for a spot in a  Breeders’ Cup stakes this November.

The Princess Rooney is seven furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It is the 12^th race  with scheduled 

post of 6:02 p.m.

The 4-year-old Birdatthewire and the 5-year-old Cali Star are likely favorites.

Last year at Gulfstream, Birdatthewire won the 1 1/16 mile 

Gulfstream Park Oaks (Grade 2) and Cali Star won the one-mile Rampart (Grade 3).

Trainer Dale Romans has shipped Birdatthewire in from his spring/early summer base at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.  Gulfstream-based Tyler Gaffalione has the mount.

Cali Star is stabled at Gulfstream for trainer Marty Wolfson.  Gulfstream-based Cornelio Velasquez has the mount.

Cali Star and Birdatthewire both have late-running styles. They could benefit from a possible speed duel up front 

involving Concealedwithakiss, My Miss Venezuela and Spelling Again.

Kiss to Remember, another Marty Wolfson trainee, also could be gaining ground down the stretch. Emisael Jaramillo, who led Gulfstream jockeys in wins during the recently concluded spring meet has the mount.

Miller Racing owns Kiss to Remenber. A partnership of Winstar Farm and Larry Taylor owns Cali Star.

My Miss Venezuela is coming off an impressive win in the six-furlong Sea Lily at Gulfstream on June 4 and could be a threat to hit the board—possibly at double-digit odds. Rafael Hernandez will ride for trainer Bruno Tessore.

The winner of the Princess Rooney will earn an entry-fee paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Nov. 4

The Smile is six furlongs on dirt for 3-YOs and up. It is the tenth race with scheduled post of 4:58 p.m.  We will have a preview on our blog.

The Smile winner will receive an entry-fee paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Here are details and scheduled posts for the seven other Gulfstream Summit of Speed Stakes:

*Third race – $75,000 Cassidy, 5 ½ furlongs on dirt, 2-YO fillies

*Fourth race, $100,000 Azalea, 6 furlongs on dirt, 3-YO fillies

*Sixth race -- $75,000 Miesque’s Approval, 1 1/16 miles on turf, 3-YOs and up

*Seventh race -- $75,000 Birdonthewire, 51/2 furlongs  on dirt, 2-YOs

*Eighth race -- $150,000 Carry Back (Grade 3), seven furlongs on dirt, 3-YOs

*Ninth race -- $75,000 Spook Express, 1   1/16 miles on turf, fillies and mares 3-YO and up’

*Eleventh race -- $75,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, five furlongs on turf, 3-YO and up

Jaramillo, Sano, PTK Win Gulfstream Titles

Jockey Emisael Jaramillo, trainer Antonio Sano and owner PTK LLC finished first in victories during the Gulfstream Park spring meet that ended on Thursday.
 

All three and most of the spring meet’s other top finishers should also be prominent during Gulfstream’s summer meet that began on Friday and will extend through Oct. 2.

Jaramillo rode 64 winners during the 59-day spring meet.  Eddie Castro was second with 52.

Edgard Zayas was third with 39. He has not ridden since late May, after he broke a rib in a spill at Gulfstream. Defending champion  Tyler Gaffalione and John Cruz each  had 37 wins, to tie for fourth place.

It is widely expected that Cornelio Velasquez will be among contenders for most jockey wins in the summer  meet.

He had 11 wins in 50 mounts in the spring meet---all after June 1 when he relocated from Belmont Park to Gulfstream to  begin riding year-round in South Florida.

Jaramillo began riding at Gulfstream last year after moving from his native Venezuela where he was one of that country’s top jockeys.

The list of trainers for whom he rides regularly includes Sano and several others who are from Venezuela, as well as Peter Walder and Ronny Werner.

Trainer Standings

Sano had 18 wins at Gulfstream’s spring meet. Ralph Nicks finished second with 16, followed by David Fawkes with 14. Walder and Mark Casse tied for fourth with 13 wins each.

In 2015, Sano finished third in wins at the Gulfstream spring meet and second (to Nicks) at the Gulfstream summer meet. Sano  led trainers in wins at the 2015 Gulfstream Park West meet held at Calder.

Kirk Ziadie led trainers in wins at last year’s spring meet. He has not trained any horses since June  28, 2015, and last summer the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel  Wagering did not renew his  license.

Last December, a Florida Division of Administrative Hearings judge recommended that the Florida DPMW suspend Ziadie for six years and fine him $18,000 for a series of medication violations with horses that he raced at Florida tracks.

Ziadie appealed his case to a Florida civil court, which in March issued a stay on any regulatory action. It is expected that the Florida DPMW will issue a ruling this summer.

Owner Standings

PTK LLC had eleven wins during the spring meet.  Arindel finished second among owners with nine wins, while defending champion Frank Carl Calabrese had eight wins and came in third.

PTK is headed by Paula and Tom Haughey, and also has won owners’ titles at tracks in several other states including Maryland.  In Florida, PTK uses Dane Kobiskie as its private trainer.

Arindel is owned by the family of Alan Cohen, former majority owner of the Florida Panthers. It uses Werner as its primary trainer.

Calabrese has won more than a dozen training titles at tracks in Florida and  Illinois.  He uses Angel  Rodriguez as his primary trainer in Florida. 

--Jim Freer

Tampa Bay to End Two-Day Meet; GP Summit on Saturday

Both Florida thoroughbred tracks will have racing on Friday, with Tampa Bay Downs finishing its annual two-day Summer Festival of Racing and Gulfstream Park opening its summer meet.

First post is 12:28 p.m. for Tampa Bay’s eight-race card. First post is 1:15 p.m. for Gulfstream’s nine-race card.

On Saturday, Gulfstream will have its annual Summit of Speed.
First post is 12:15 p.m. for the 13-race card. Nine of the races are stakes, including three graded stakes:

* $250,000 Princess Rooney (Grade 2) – 7 furlongs on dirt, fillies and mares 3-YO and up.  It is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (Grade 1) on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

*$250,000 Smile Sprint (Grade 2) – 6 furlongs on dirt, 3-YO and up. It is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

*150,000 Carry Back (Grade 3) – 7 furlongs on dirt, 3-YOs