Sunday, January 04 2009

Huge Crowd Turns Out for 2009 Opening

A huge crowd delighted in balmy South Florida weather, full fields and winning performances from the popular gray horse Delightful Kiss in the Hal’s Hope Stakes and the ultra-fast 3-year-old Notonthesamepage in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday, opening day of the 79-day stand.

“This is what racing is all about,” said Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy. “There were a few opening-day glitches, but we had them ironed out in short order and all in all it was a great day of racing.”

Delightful Kiss Charges to Victory in Hal’s Hope

Hobeau Farm’s 5-year-old homebred Delightful Kiss produced a powerful stretch charge coming from off the pace under jockey Calvin Borel to capture the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Handicap (G3) Saturday at Gulfstream Park by three lengths over Mitchell Farm’s Bullsbay. The winner was timed in 1:36:13 for the one-turn mile run over a fast track.

A roan/gray Florida-bred by Kissin Kris, Delightful Kiss was making his first start since finishing a game second behind Einstein in the Clark Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs in late November. Trainer Pete Anderson has taken his talented one-horse stable back and forth across the nation for major events the last two seasons, and had won the All American Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate and finished a close-up fourth in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 before the Clark.

Notonthesamepage Dominates Spectacular Bid Stakes Saturday

Ken and Rarah Ramsey’s 3-year-old Kentucky homebred Notonthesamepage took command from the start of Saturday’s $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes on opening day at Gulfstream Park, and drew off to a commanding 8¼-length victory over Kramer Stable’s You Luckie Mann.

The winner ran the six furlongs in 1:08:48 on the fast track, missing the track record by 2/100s of a second.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Notonthesamepage is a son of Catenius who was making his first start since tiring to last of 11 after setting the early pace in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Polytrack at Keeneland on Oct. 4. He paid $11.40.

GP Barn notes 1-3

Beethoven Rolls Over Gulfstream Strip

Two of John Oxley’s top 3-year-old prospects worked out Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park for trainer John Ward, including Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner Beethoven, and jockeys who won two of the last three editions of the Kentucky Derby (G1) rode them.

Calvin Borel, who rode Street Sense to win the 2007 Derby, shipped in to work Beethoven, going three furlongs in 36. Edgar Prado, rider of 2006 Derby winner Barbaro, was aboard Strategic Decision, a maiden out of the champion mare Beautiful Pleasure. He was timed an easy half-mile in 50 1/5.

Friday, January 02 2009

Gate Work Pleases Matz

Lael Stable’s Nicanor, the full-brother of 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Florida Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, continues to progress toward his highly anticipated career debut at the end of January or early in February.

Trainer Michael Matz reported the 3-year-old homebred son of Dynaformer worked from the starting gate at Palm Meadows Training Center last Sunday, going three furlongs in :36.50 over the fast dirt track.

Thursday, January 01 2009

Frolic’s Dream & Elusive Heat Clash in Old Hat Sunday

Dare To Dream Farm’s Frolic’s Dream is undefeated in three starts for trainer Marty Wolfson, and Martin Schwartz’ Elusive Heat was brilliant winning her only start for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, and the two promising prospects will get the most attention in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies drawn for Sunday’s $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan has been aboard Frolic’s Dream in all of her starts and retains the mount in Sunday’s six-furlong test. Edgar Prado gets a return call on Elusive Heat. Frolic’s Dream is a roan/gray Florida homebred daughter of Smoke Glacken who won the $100,000 Cassidy Stakes by 12¾ lengths on Oct. 18 and $150,000 Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 8 by 1¼ lengths in her last two starts at Calder after a winning debut.

Hal’s Hope & Spectacular Bid Get Gulfstream Season Off to Fast Start

A full field of 14 older horses led by Hobeau Farm’s Delightful Kiss will go to the post for the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Handicap (G3), and eight 3-year-olds are set to clash in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes, the highlights of Saturday’s opening-day program at Gulfstream Park.

The Hallandale Beach, Fla. track will run on a five-day-a-week schedule, Wednesdays through Sundays, before closing on April 23. Post time for the first race daily is 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday, December 31 2008

HORSERACING TV READIES FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF UPCOMING GULFSTREAM PARK MEETING

Hallandale, FL Facility Begins 79-Day Stand This Saturday, January 3

Hallandale, FL, Dec. 29 -- HorseRacing TV (TM) (HRTV) will provide complete coverage of one of Thoroughbred racing's signature race meetings when Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, FL opens its 70th annual race meeting this Saturday, January 3.

The Sunshine State's outstanding racing facility will kickoff its 79-date campaign with a 1:15 p.m. ET/10:15 a.m. PT post time. Gulfstream Park will conduct five-day race weeks (Wednesday-Sunday) through Closing Day, Thursday, April 23. A pair of $100,000 races -- the Spectacular Bid and the (Grade 3) Hal's Hope -- headline the Opening Day card.

Tuesday, December 23 2008

Gulfstream Park Donates $25,000 Toward Hallandale Beach PAL’s Purchase of 15-Seat Van

Magna Entertainment Corp. Chairman Frank Stronach was on hand at Gulfstream Park Monday to present the keys to a 2009 Ford E-350 Super Duty® Extended Length XL van to the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League.

“It is with great pleasure that Gulfstream Park and (its parent company) MEC makes this contribution to the community and to such a worthy organization as the PAL,” Mr. Stronach said. “We recognize that the key to a better society rests with its youth, and we recognize the many contributions that the PAL – through (Hallandale Police Chief) Tom Magill, Major Ken Cowley and Sergeant Paul Robert – have made. We take great pride in being able to contribute to such a worthy cause.”

Wednesday, December 10 2008

Stable-Area Population Continues to Grow at Gulfstream, Palm Meadows

With vans continuing to roll in on a regular basis since Thanksgiving, it will only be a matter of days before the barn areas in both Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park are operating at near-full capacity.

World-class racing returns to South Florida Jan. 3 when Gulfstream opens its 70th anniversary meet, with racing on a Wednesday-through-Sunday basis.

Friday, November 21 2008

Nick Martinez Named Gulfstream Artist in Residence, 2009

Former jockey Nick Martinez has been named Gulfstream Park’s Artist in Residence for the 2009 meeting.

Gulfstream Park’s live program opens for a 79-day stand Jan. 3. Closing day will be April 23.

In making the announcement, Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy said, “As in years past, this was a difficult decision and it by no means is a judgment on the work of other artists. The program is designed to showcase the talents and various styles of today’s equine artists, and I believe all will agree that Nick certainly has his own style. He’s one of the finest talents of the age and he will have a contributing role in making this meet distinctive.”

Tuesday, November 11 2008

Gulfstream Park’s Stable Area Opens; 2009 Meeting Not Far Away

Trainers Eddie Plesa Jr. and Billy Croll took their customary position at the head of the line Monday morning as the horse vans rolled in and Gulfstream Park’s stable gates swung open in anticipation of the 2009 meeting.

Gulfstream Park will be celebrating its 70th birthday when its live meet opens Jan. 3, or 54 days from today.

“All systems are ‘go’” for a fantastic meet in 2009,” said Gulfstream President and General Manager Bill Murphy.