Edited Gulfstream Release – Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Ournationonparade marched to a comfortable front-running triumph in the Race 8 feature on Wednesday’s Opening Day program of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.
The only stakes winner in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up, Ournationonparade broke sharply to assume an early lead on the backstretch, where the 3-year-old son of Cal Nation set an uncontested pace under Luca Panici. The Kathy Ritvo trainee met a mild challenge on the turn into the homestretch from Life in Shambles before drawing away to victory by three lengths.
“I know he doesn’t usually run on the lead but he broke fast. He relaxed very good on the lead and everything worked out,” Panici said.
Ournationonparade, who was making his first start since finishing fifth in the Sept. 5 Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream, ran six furlongs in 1:11.18 after setting comfortable fractions of 23.10 and 46.38 seconds for the first half-mile.
“He had some time off and he’s been training really well,” Ritvo said. “He’s a nice horse.”
Ournationonparade ($6.60) was purchased privately following a second-place finish in his career debut at Laurel in September 2019 and came right back to break his maiden in the Maryland Million Nursery a month later. The Maryland-bred gelding had been winless in seven subsequent starts but was stakes-placed twice.
Life in Shambles, who got off to a bad start, held second, 4 ¾ lengths ahead of Sir Kahn.
Paco Lopez rode three wins on Wednesday’s card, including a front-running victory aboard Tracy Ann’s Legacy ($7.60) in the Race 9 co-feature, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares on turf.
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $75,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $75,000 Thursday at Gulfstream Park.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved of Wednesday’s Opening Day program of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $11,105.34.
The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span races 5-10, including the featured optional claiming allowance in Race 6.
Calumet Farm’s Everfast, who finished finished second in the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico and Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, will face five rivals in the mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The Jack Sisterson-trained son of Take Charge Indy has faced stakes company in this last three starts, including two graded stakes. Luis Saez has the mount.
Gary and Mary West’s West Will Power will seek his third victory without a loss in Thursday’s feature. The Kelly Breen-trained 3-year-old homebred won his first two career races by open lengths at Monmouth Park under Joe Bravo, who is scheduled to return to the saddle Thursday.
Mexican Wonder Boy, claimed for $40,000 out of a close-up second-place finish at Keeneland last time out, is set to make his first start for trainer Danny Gargan and Spedale Family Racing LLC.
There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $2,789.01 heading into Thursday’s card
