Thursday, January 26, 2012

GULFSTREAM TODAY 1.25.12

Afleet Lass captured her fourth consecutive victory –her first under the colors of Gainesway Thoroughbreds - in the second race, a $32,000 optional claiming race for fillies and mares that have raced for a claiming price of $16,000 or less.

Now trained by Todd Pletcher, the defending eight-time training champion at Gulfstream Park, Afleet Lass was sent to post as the 1-9 favorite. The 5-year-old daughter of Northern Afleet, who was privately purchased from owner/trainer Jose Pinchin since her previous start, scored a front-running victory by 1 ½ lengths under John Velazquez.


Afleet Lass, who was claimed by Pinchin for $16,000 on Oct. 7, 2010, ran six furlongs in 1:09.94 while notching her seventh victory in her last nine starts. The Kentucky-bred mare, who defeated tougher optional allowance foes at Gulfstream on Dec. 24, has an overnight stakes victory to her credit in the Cool Air at Calder last June.

Quote of the Day: “She’s still got a lot of run in her. They bought her as a racehorse,” said Steve Young, the bloodstock agent who brokered the purchase of second-race winner Afleet Lass for Gainesway Thoroughbreds. “Jose Pinchin obviously did a great job with her and she’s a filly who is on the improve. She’s a nice prospect.”

Work of the Day: Graham Motion-trained Animal Kingdom continued preparation for his 2012 debut, perhaps in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf (G1) on Feb. 11, breezing five furlongs in 59.80 seconds over a “good” turf at Palm Meadows Training Center. The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner posted the fastest of eight workouts at the distance on turf, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.

Who’s Hot: John Velazquez rode three winners on the card, prevailing aboard Herecomeseveryman ($4.40) in the fourth race and Gamecents ($ ) in the sevenths, as well as scoring aboard Afleet Lass ($2.20) in the second. Herecomeseveryman and Game Cents are both trained by Linda Rice.

Leading rider Javier Castellano guided Wayward Sailor ($17.40) to a front-running victory in the featured ninth race, giving him a double on the card. Castellano rode Sweet Lil Cherokee ($19.40) into the winner’s circle after the sixth race.

10-cent Rainbow 6 carryover: $28,096.38

Super Hi 5 Paid: $17,607.40

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