Friday, March 16 2012

Gulfstream Today: 3.16.12

Jockey Javier Castellano had another good day Friday as the leading rider at the Gulfstream meet, beginning with an easy seven-length score on WinStar Farm’s undefeated 3-year-old colt Gemologist in the third race allowance feature, confirming his status as another top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Castellano was back in the winner’s circle three races later in the sixth race after guiding 1-to-2 favorite Pecky’s Boy to a wire-to-wire victory for his 97th victory of the session, tying the all-time record for a Gulfstream meet held jointly by Jerry Bailey (1996), Wigberto Ramos (1991) and first by Julio Pezua (1987).

SENOR RAIN SCORES $44.80 STUNNER IN $58,350 FEATURE FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 16, 2012) – Returning to a sprint after four lackluster efforts while routing in stakes races, Senor Rain pulled off a huge upset Friday at odds of 21-1 in Santa Anita’s $58,350 allowance feature for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

With apprentice Eswan Flores in the saddle, the gelded Indiana-bred son of El Nino overtook odds-on favorite Consulado and 3-1 Brigand in midstretch to finish 1 ½ lengths ahead of the latter while timed in 1:21.50.

DEAD HEAT HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY CARD

LAUREL, MD. 03-16-12---Milwaukee Chief and Arctic Raven provided a thrilling finish to today’s seventh race at Laurel Park, hitting the wire together in a dead heat.

Milwaukee Chief appeared to be the winner of the $13,000 claimer after gaining the lead late but Arctic Raven loomed on the outside and closed determinedly and was up at the wire as the duo crossing the line simultaneously. Let Me Be Frank was just a nose behind the winners in third.

BAZE’S STREAK OF CONSECUTIVE WINNERS REACHES SIX BEFORE RUNNER-UP FINISH

ALBANY -- Jockey Russell Baze rode six consecutive winners at Golden Gate Fields before having his streak snapped when he finished second in the sixth race Friday.

Baze scored with his final three mounts Thursday – Apply ($8.20) in the fifth race, Excelling ($4.00) in the sixth, and Vulcan ($26.20) in the seventh.

JOCKEYS’ WELFARE IN GOOD HANDS WITH GUILD MANAGER RIVERA

Two-time leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Heriberto Rivera, Jr. considers himself one of the lucky ones.

Rivera rode full-time from 1977-99, winning 3,183 races with purse earnings of more than $24 million. He won riding titles at Tampa Bay Downs in both the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.

Although he managed to stay injury-free for most of his career, Rivera knew he had something to fall back on in the form of his Jockeys’ Guild membership should he become disabled.

Undefeated Gemologist Sparkles in Return at Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gemologist didn’t miss a beat while coming off a 3 ½-month layoff Friday at Gulfstream, maintaining his undefeated record with a seven-length victory in a stakes-quality $80,000 allowance.

The 3-year-old son of Tiznow, who had been idle since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs last November, led throughout the mile race to prevail over previously undefeated Currency Swap, who was making his first start since capturing the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga last September.

Gulfstream Park News & Notes March 16, 2012

Boisterous Returns in Sunday Allowance

Phipps Stable’s 5-year-old Kentucky homebred Boisterous is one of the most accomplished turf stakes runners in South Florida this winter and will get his 2012 campaign started in a 1 1/16 miles turf allowance at Gulfstream Park Sunday with jockey John Velazquez aboard for trainer Shug McGaughey

“The distance (1 1/16 miles) is short of his best, but with this rain the course may have some more give to it for a closer to have a chance,” said McGaughey Thursday afternoon. “I needed to get him started and didn’t want to go a mile-and-a-half (nominated for next Saturday’s Pan American Stakes).

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Friday March 16, 2012)

MISS MITTAGONG CHASES ELLAFITZ AGAIN IN SATURDAY’S SANTA MARGARITA

Miss Mittagong was second to Ellafitz in the Grade II Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 18, and while Saturday’s Grade I Santa Margarita Stakes is a sixteenth of a mile longer, trainer Ben Cecil knows he’ll need more than added distance to overtake front-running Ellafitz in Santa Anita’s signature race for older fillies and mares.

“I’m hoping the extra distance will help,” Cecil said. “We’ll see what the track’s like and how much rain we get. If it’s sealed, wet/fast, it’s probably going to help Ellafitz.”

10-Cent Rainbow 6 Carryover for Friday at $156,435.93.

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park’s 10-cent Rainbow 6 will have a carryover Friday, March 16 of $156,435.93.

The innovative 10-cent Rainbow 6 wager, introduced in 2011 at Gulfstream, requires a bettor to pick the winners of the last six races on the program. The jackpot is only paid out when there is one unique ticket with all six winners. The carryover built last winter to $5.1 million.

Gulfstream Today: 3.15.12

Making his first start since winning his career debut at Saratoga last July, Professor Fate was rated a few lengths off the early pace before making an outside drive through the stretch to post a ¾ -length victory in the fifth race.

Professor Fate ($8.40) was ridden by leading rider Javier Castellano, who needs only two more winners to equal the record for most wins by a jockey during a Gulfstream meeting. Jerry Bailey (1996), Wigberto Ramos (1991) and Julio Pezua (1987) share the record with 97 trips to the winner’s circle.

KINGPIN RYNO REIGNS UNDER ESPINOZA IN $59,750 MAYWOOD PURSE

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 15, 2012) – Under a well-timed ride by Victor Espinoza, solidly favored Kingpin Ryno came from off the pace Thursday to secure a 1 ¼-length victory over Valley Cat in Santa Anita’s featured $59,750 Maywood Purse for California-breds at one mile on turf.

After being overtaken by one-half length as the favorite under similar conditions in his previous start, Kingpin Ryno was settled into a stalking position on Thursday as Tricky Mandate sped to a 3 ½-length lead down the backstretch.

Bay to Bay Returns in Honey Fox Sunday

Robert Smithen’s Bay to Bay finished a close-up third behind Zagora in the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in late July and ended her campaign finishing fifth in the First Lady Stakes (G1) at Keeneland last out on Oct. 8 when beaten only 2 ½ lengths for it all.

The 5-year-old mare will return to the races Sunday in the $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G2) over a mile turf course, the same race she kicked off her 2011 campaign with a fifth-place finish.