Thursday, January 22, 2009

Kip Deville Works Between Races at Gulfstream

IEAH Stable and partners’ Kip Deville had the Gulfstream Park turf course all to himself Wednesday afternoon, between the second and third races, as the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner worked six furlongs ahead of a start in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) on Feb. 1.

Under regular jockey Cornelio Velasquez, the 6-year-old son of Kipling clicked off fractions of :26 4/5 and :51 3/5 before finishing his breeze in front of the racing crowd in 1:16 4/5.


“Everything went well. I had to hold him back a little because he was ready to run today,” said Velasquez on an unseasonably chilly day. “The wind was a little tough to deal with for me, but I don't think he felt a thing considering the way we worked today.”

Trained by Rick Dutrow, Kip Deville will be making his first start of 2009 after a disappointing trip to the Far East and a ninth-place finish in the Hong Kong Vase (G1) on Dec. 14. He finished a game second to Goldikova in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita in his previous start.

The Gulfstream Park Turf was moved to the Feb. 1 date and shortened to 1 1/8 miles to be part of a huge stakes weekend in South Florida. It follows important 3-year-old stakes on Friday with the Hutcheson (G2) and Forward Gal (G2).

The track’s older-horse showcase comes that Saturday with the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) and the $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes – the first two-turn test here for top 3-year-old prospects. Fillies and mares on the turf share the bill on Sunday with the Suwannee River (G3).

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