Monday, January 6, 2025
Eclipse Award finalists announced . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool yielded multiple payoffs of $36,102 Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

    It was the first mandatory Rainbow 6 payout of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet, which began Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. The multi-race wager had been solved twice, for life-changing payoffs of $489,592 Dec. 15 and $244,071 Dec. 21.

    The Rainbow 6 had gone unsolved for nine days. A total of $2,511,879 was bet into the pool Sunday on top of a $337,274 carryover from Saturday’s 11-race program.


    Cat Eyes ($33) captured Sunday’s Race 10 finale to complete the winning 1-7-10-2-6-4 combination. Other winners in the sequence were Sol d’Oro ($9) in Race 5, Tiz Romantic ($9.80) in Race 6, Big Boy Jak ($11.60) in Race 7, Brees ($19.60) in Race 8 and War Signal ($4.40) in Race 9.

    The Rainbow 6 begins anew spanning Races 4-9 when the Championship Meet resumes Wednesday. First race post time is 12:20 p.m.

    Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 sequence includes a maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather Tapeta course featuring a pair of first-time starters from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Amande and Cantora, as well as Mischief in Motion, a $525,000 debut runner by Into Mischief trainer for trainer Mike Trombetta.

    Race 8 is an optional claiming allowance going five furlongs on the Tapeta that drew eight 3-year-old fillies including last-out maiden winner Mattinata; Laurice, unraced since finishing fifth in the six-furlong Matron (G3) last fall at Aqueduct; and Rohan Crichton-trained stablemates Sweet Sash and Bad Gal Party, both with wins over the Gulfstream Tapeta.

Gulfstream Well-Represented Among Eclipse Award Finalists

    Led by Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Soul of an Angel, Gulfstream Park was well represented among the 2024 Eclipse Award finalists announced Sunday.
 Soul of an Angel won Gulfstream’s Princess Rooney (G3) last summer to earn an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup, where she rallied from the clouds for a 19-1 upset. Her trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., has won 11 consecutive meet titles at Gulfstream including each of the last three Championship Meets.

    Other finalists in the female sprinter category are Society and Ways and Means, a 2023 maiden winner at Gulfstream.

    National Treasure is one of three finalists in the older dirt male category. National Treasure won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) last January as a preview for his victory in the Met Mile (G1). He was ridden by Flavien Prat, expected to earn his first Eclipse as top jockey off a record-setting season with 82 stakes wins, 56 graded.

    The 3-year-old male category has both Fierceness and Dornoch among the finalists. Fierceness won the Florida Derby (G1) in his second sophomore start and went on to win the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1) and run second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Dornoch captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) in his season debut before winning the Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1).

    Joining Prat as jockey finalists are Gulfstream regulars Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione. Ortiz won his fifth Championship Meet title and seven graded-stakes at the 2023-2024 stand and has won five prior Eclipse Awards. Gaffalione, the champion apprentice of 2015, is a native of nearby Davie. That ranked sixth with 51 wins, four graded, and $2.9 million in purse earnings last winter.

   The Eclipse Award winners will be announced Jan. 23 from Palm Beach.

Friday, January 3, 2025
Today's pool could reach $400,000 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - There will be a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park on Sunday. If there is no unique winner of the wager through tomorrow, the estimated pool of Sunday’s mandatory payout is $3 million.

    Sunday’s sequence will begin with Race 5, a $94,000 maiden special weight event for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf. Post time is approximately 2:14 ET for the Rainbow 6. The dozen entered include Just Silvia (trainer Todd Pletcher), Sol d’Oro (Christophe Clement), Tellus Mater (Graham Motion), In the Wild (Shug McGaughey), Crystalaire (George Weaver), Sweet Surrender (Bill Mott), Close Up (Cherie DeVaux), and Cocktail Kisses and Goal, both from the barn of Mark Casse.

    The sequence concludes with Race 10, another $94,000 turf event for maiden fillies and mares at a mile. Just So Pretty was beaten a head and two lengths in maiden special weight events on the turf at Saratoga and Aqueduct. El Zain is a $700,000 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro making her debut.

    Sunday’s first race post is 12:20. The Rainbow 6 will have an estimated pool of $400,000 for today’s nine-race program.

    Who’s Hot: Jockey Miguel Vasquez won twice Thursday with Mywifeknowsitall ($6.60) in Race 2 and Win With Faith ($23.20) in Race 5 … Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher notched back-to-back wins with El Megeeth ($8.60) in Race 7 and Autumn Evening ($8) in Race 8.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024
At Gulfstream's Ten Palms . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Assocation (FTHA) held its 5th annual awards and membership dinner on Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park’s Ten Palms Restaurant. This event gives FTHA the opportunity to recognize excellence in the thoroughbred racing industry and at Gulfstream Park.  

   “This year our winners consist of outstanding Florida- and Kentucky-bred horses who performed exceptionally in 2024,” said FTHA Executive Director Herb Oster. “Congratulations to their talented trainers, owners, and breeders.”  

The 2024 FTHA Annual Award Winners:

2YO COLT / GELDING 
 Rated by Merit FL (Battalion Runner / Banner Waving, by Speightstown) 
Trainer: Michael Yates  
Owner: St. Elias Stable  
Breeder: St. Elias Stable

CO-2YO FILLY 
 Win N Your In FL (Win Win Win / Hello Rosie, by Yes It’s True) 
 Trainer: Carlos A. David 
 Owners: Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston 
 Breeder: Marion G. Montanari 

CO-2 YO FILLY

R Morning Brew FL (Curlin’s Honor / Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured) Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.  

Owner: Averill Racing  

Breeder: Dori Morgan Hyatt  


CO-3YO COLT / GELDING 
Real Macho KY (Mucho Macho Man / Hedonism, by Curlin) 
Trainer: Rohan Crichton
 
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith

Breeder: Poe Racing Stable

CO-3YO COLT / GELDING 
 Grand Mo the First KY (Uncle Mo / Lilies So Fair, by Giant’s Causeway) 
 Trainer: Victor Barboza, Jr.  
 Owner: Granpollo Stable 
 Breeder: John D. Gunther 

3YO FILLY

 De Regreso KY (Audible / Texas Gem, by Tiznow) 
 Trainer: Antonio Sano 
 Owner: Cairoli Racing Stable and Magic Stables, Inc. 
 Breeder: Baron Thoroughbreds

OLDER HORSE or GELDING 
 Comedy Town FL (Speightstown / Unbridled Humor, by Distorted Humor) 
 Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 
 Owner: Ten Twenty Racing and Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 
 Breeder: Live Oak Stud 


OLDER FILLY or MARE 
 Soul of an Angel KY (Atreides / Factor One, by The Factor) 
 Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 
 Owner: C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable, and Ken T. Reimer 
 Breeder: Westbrook Stables 


TURF HORSE or GELDING 
 Win for the Money KY (Mohaymen / Mayakoba, by War Chant) 
 Trainer: Mark E. Casse 
 Owner: Live Oak Plantation 
 Breeder: Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey 


TURF FILLY or MARE 
 Charlie’s Wish FL (First Dude / Superior Sarah, by Werblin) 
 Trainer: David Fawkes 
 Owner: Royalight Racing 
 Breeder: Three Gin Guys Stable 


OLDER TAPETA HORSE or GELDING 
 K.C. Chief FL (Noble Bird / Ashley River, by Deputy Wild Cat) 
 Trainer: Jose Francisco D’Angelo 
 Owner: Leon King Stables Corp. and David Bernsen, LLC 
 Breeder: J D Farms 


OLDER TAPETA FILLY or MARE 
 Batucada KY (Union Rags / Lady Pamela, by Tapit) 
 Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 
 Owner: Morgan L. Joseph and Carrie Brogden 
Breeder: Wygod Equine

Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Early and late pick 5s affected . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park announced it will add changes to its betting menu involving the Early and Late Pick 5 beginning tomorrow. The Early and Late Pick five will remain a .50c base wager with a 15% takeout.

    The Early Pick 5 will no longer offer a consolation payoff when there are winning tickets. The Early Pick 5 will remain a mandatory daily payout of 100 percent of the pool to the greatest number of winners.

    For those wagering on the Late Pick 5, there will no longer be a consolation payout under any circumstances as the minor pool has been eliminated. If no one selects all five winners in the Late Pick 5, 100 percent of the pool will carry over to the following day.

    The Tropical Turf Pick 3 will continue to be available Friday through Sunday with a $3 base minimum and a player-friendly 15-percent takeout.  The wager has proven popular with players, especially during the 23-24 Championship Meet where it averaged payouts of approximately $1,200 and garnered an average pool size of $70,000.

    Gulfstream is also using projected odds each day on its simulcast signal throughout each race and wagering cycle. Using BETMIX handicapping software, the projected final odds will offer players a better sense of the final odds.
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Rainbow 6 picks . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - The first day of racing in the new year at Gulfstream Park Wednesday will offer bettors an estimated pool in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 of $400,000. The Rainbow 6 will include two stakes races – the Fasig-Tipton Cash Run for 3-year-old fillies on the main track and the Dania Beach for 3-year-olds on the turf.

   The sequence will begin with Race 5 at approximately 2:19 ET and conclude with Race 10. Both are maiden claiming events on the Tapeta.

Ron Nicoletti and Samantha Perry Preview the Rainbow 6:

Leg 1 (Race 5): 5 ½ furlongs Tapeta, $35,000 maiden claimer, 3-year-olds.

    An evenly matched field of eight is led by the 5-2 favorite Ayman, who finished fourth in his debut over the main track on Dec. 6 for trainer Joe Orseno. Iron Sword (7-2), an $85,000 son of City of Light, makes his debut for trainer Jose D’Angelo. Luis Saez is named to ride. Davola was beaten only a length in his debut at Delaware in October but finished eighth in his last here on Dec. 6. The gelding drops from maiden special weight company for trainer John Servis.

Leg 2 (Race 6): 5 furlongs turf, $97,000 allowance optional claimer, 4-year-olds and up.

    There’s an 8-5 favorite in this nine-horse field in Capture the Lion, who comes out of a sixth-place finish on Nov. 23 over the Tapeta in the Extravagant Kid. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. stays aboard for trainer Mark Casse. Orseno saddles Horsepower, who has two wins and three seconds in six starts on the turf. Tyler Gaffalione rides. They might all have to catch High Limit Room, who has seven wins on the turf. Fourth in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, the 7-year-old will be saddled by Rohan Crichton.

Leg 3 (Race 7): mile and 70 yards Tapeta, $25,000 claimer, 4-year-olds and up.

    From the rail out, there doesn’t seem to be much separating Space Launch (2-1) and Lights of Broadway (8-5). Ortiz Jr. gets the mount on D’Angelo’s Space Launch, while John Velazquez is on Lights of Broadway, who is 3-4-2 in 12 Tapeta starts. Peter Walder saddles Lights of Broadway and Thethrillofvictory with Luis Saez. Grand David has been on the front in his last three and he will likely be the one to run down. The 6-year-old is 4-3-4 in 15 Tapeta starts.

Leg 4 (Race 8): one mile, $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run, 3-year-old fillies.

     Paradise City, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Ortiz Jr., could go off the favorite. She finished fourth on Dec. 7 against the boys under allowance conditions at Gulfstream. Previously, the daughter of McKinzie was fourth at Keeneland after breaking her maiden here Sept. 6. Blinkers are off for the Cash Run. Five G leaves from the rail for trainer George Weaver and Velazquez. The Vekoma filly broke her maiden against New York-breds in November at Aqueduct before finishing second there on Nov. 17 in the Tepin. Both those races were on the turf. Yellow broke her maiden in her fourth attempt last time out for trainer Todd Pletcher. Andrea, another Joseph runner, won her debut and came back to win the Hallandale Beach. She has since finished sixth at Keeneland in the Myrtlewood and fifth in Tampa in the Sandpiper. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount.

Leg 5 (Race 9): one mile turf, $165,000 Dania Beach, 3-year-olds.

    The key and possible single to the sequence could be Dream On, the 6-5 favorite for Casse and Ortiz Jr. The Not This Time filly makes her first start since finishing fifth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). She was previously third in the Summer (G1) and second in the Soaring Free, both at Woodbine. Casse also saddles Mi Bago, who led throughout when winning the Pulpit on Nov. 29 here on the turf by five lengths. Edwin Gonzalez rides. Joel Rosario is named on Bucaro. Trained by Michael Trombetta, the filly was third here in the Pulpit and second in the Display over Woodbine’s synthetic surface in October.

Leg 6 (Race 10): 1 1/16-mile Tapeta, $17,500 maiden claimer, 3-year-olds.

    Trainer Antonio Sano saddles two in Stone Cold Flex (3-1, Saez) and Flag Officer (10-1, Edgard Zayas). Stone Cold Flex drops from maiden $35,000 while Flag Officer drops from $25,000. Skull Honor, who has a second and two thirds from four starts, goes out first time off the claim for D’Angelo. Ortiz Jr. rides.  Risen Sun, who was no factor in his debut in October, is a first-time gelding, trained by Nolan Ramsey. Otter Mischief drops from $50,000 company and gets Gaffalione for trainer Jeff Hiles.