Saturday, July 5, 2025
Here Comes Francis fails at 1/5 . . .

    HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. visited the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle following the $75,000 Back as expected, not with the previously undefeated 1-5 favorite, Here Comes Francis, but with 25-1 outsider Mati Gol.

    “The horse that won was a surprise at 25-1, but for me, the horse wasn’t a big surprise,” Barboza said. “The horse has been improving all the time.”

    Here Comes Francis, who won his first two career starts in commanding front-running fashion, again went right to the front in the Carry Back, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds. He went on to set blistering fractions of :21.80 and :43.99 during the first half-mile over a sealed sloppy track, opening up on his five rivals by four lengths under Emisael Jaramillo. Meanwhile, Mati Gol settled far back in fourth under Jose Morelos along the backstretch.

    While the sizzling pace would prove to be the undoing of Here Comes Francis, it certainly benefited late-running Mati Gol, who accelerated on the far turn while hugging the rail before swinging to the outside entering the stretch. Here Comes Francis had no answer for the fresh legs that carried Mati Gol to a commanding 3 ½-length victory.

    “The race set up perfect. I was riding the horse the way the trainer told me – to stay off the speed. In the stretch, the horse came on strong on the outside to win the race. That was the plan, and we surprised everyone,” Morelos said. “The favorite was going very fast, so I was happy the pace was extremely fast. My horse was relaxed in the back of the pack, and I knew it was perfect for him to close.”

    The Tiny Equestrian Group’s Mati Gol, who had finished a late-closing third in the five-furlong Roar on turf last time out, ran seven furlongs in 1:23.25. Insurmountable closed from off the pace to finish second, 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Forged Steel, who nosed out a tired Here Comes Francis for third.

    Mati Gol ($59.80) often ran into trouble while winning one of his first five starts but couldn’t have gotten a better trip than he received under a hot-riding Morelos.

    Here Comes Francis, a $250,000 2024 OBS April purchase, overcame early bumping to grab control of his March 15 Gulfstream debut and went on to score a 1 ½-length victory over next-out winner Pursuitneversleeps, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure while running six furlongs in 1:09 2/5.  He came right back to run away with a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance April 26 at Tampa Bay Downs by a handy 5 ¼ lengths. Both victories came over fast tracks.


    “It’s too soon to have an analysis of his race. Was it the sloppy track, the 43-second half, the no Lasix? All very important,” Barboza said. “I need to check on the horse tomorrow.”

Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Roll On Big Joe rolls on in Kelly's Landing . . .

    Rancho Temescal, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr.’s Roll On Big Joe (Prospective –Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) collared speedster Booth at the top of the stretch en route to a three-quarters of a length victory in the $220,000, Gr. III Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs, becoming one of three OBS grads to earn graded wins over the past week.

    Trained by Bob Hess Jr., the gelded son of Prospective earned his second graded stakes win, having previously annexed the $100,000, Gr. III Palos Verdes at Santa Anita in February. He was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Woodbine on Saturday, Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Mansetti (Collected-Gidget Girl, by Sky Mesa) rebounded from a troubled fifth-place finish in his previous start, the Queenston Stakes, to post a stellar showing in the $150,000, Gr. III Marine Stakes. The Kevin Attard-trained colt previously notched stakes scores in this year’s Woodstock and the 2024 edition of the Clarendon. Consigned to the 2024 OBS Spring Sale by Eddie Woods, Agent, Mansetti was sold for $40,000 to his owners after breezing in :20 4/5. 

    D J Stable's Dream On (Not This Time – Mamma Kimbo, by Discreet Cat) earned his first graded stakes victory when he captured the Gr. III, $400,000 Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National Race Course. The Mark Casse-trained colt, third in the Gr. I Summer Stakes last September, was purchased by D. J. Stable for $380,000 out of the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

    Steve Asmussen’s Neom Beach (Omaha Beach – Giant’s Causey, by Giant’s Causeway) captured the $125,000 Wasted Tears at Lone Star Park for her second straight stakes win. Neom Beach was purchased by Nwadr Stables for $210,000 out of the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Julie Davies after breezing in :10 flat.
















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Sunday, June 29, 2025
Hall of Famer was "a true icon of the sport."

    1/ST joins the entire Thoroughbred community in mourning the loss of Hall of Fame legend D. Wayne Lukas. With a career that spanned seven decades and redefined excellence, Wayne stood as a true icon of the sport.

Throughout his storied career, Wayne’s notable accomplishments included:

20 Breeders’ Cup victories including the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with Cat Thief.
15 Triple Crown race winners including seven Preakness Stakes triumphs
Four Santa Anita Derby wins at Santa Anita Park
Two Florida Derby wins at Gulfstream Park

    In 2024, at 88 years old, he became the oldest trainer ever to win a Triple Crown race, securing the 149th Preakness Stakes with Seize the Grey.

   Beyond the victories and trophies, Mr. Lukas inspired generations with his relentless work ethic, sharp eye for talent, and unwavering belief in what was possible. His legacy lives on not only in the horses he trained and the records he broke, but also in the many horsemen and women he mentored and elevated along the way

    Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and the countless lives he touched. Though we’ve lost a legend, the sport he shaped remains richer for his presence, and his rich legacy will endure.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Partners with BSV Digital...
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Gulfstream Park has become the first pari-mutuel facility in North America to launch a state-of-the-art, high resolution digital starting gate board to elevate the experience for fans and create new avenues for sponsorships and marketing.

    Gulfstream partnered with BSV Digital, a leading provider of integrated racing technology, to replace the static signage at the starting gate with the digital starting board, capable of dynamic branding, real-time graphics, and customized content. The new gate will display everything from post positions and race logos to seasonal branding and partner messaging. It allows Gulfstream to tailor content in real time and deliver an entertaining race-day experience.

    “Our goal is to blend tradition with technology in a way that enhances the spectacle of racing,” said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST Racing & Gaming. “The new starting gate board from BSV Digital brings a fresh, modern look to our race presentation while offering a powerful platform for sponsors to reach fans both on-track and through our broadcast channels.”

    “We’re thrilled to partner with Gulfstream Park, a track known for its rich history and forward-thinking approach,” said Natalie Vega, Director of Partnerships at BSV Digital. “Our starting gate solution is designed not only to look great but to drive value for venues and their partners
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Sunday, June 22, 2025
He was a $45,000 OBS 2-year-old . . .
    R and H Stable’s Mo Plex (Complexity – Mo Joy, by Uncle Mo) passed his first two-turn test when he prevailed by two lengths in Saturday’s $500,000 Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown, leading the slate of OBS grads to earn graded wins during the week.

    Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, Mo Plex captured the Sanford (G3) and Funny Cide Stakes during his juvenile season and entered off a win in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct in his previous start. Mo Plex was purchased by JCE Racing for $45,000 out of the Hoppel LLC consignment at the 2024 OBS April Sale after breezing in :21 1/5.

    Mo Plex’s victory highlighted a week that also saw fellow OBS grad Crimson Advocate (Nyquist - Citizen Advocate, By Proud Citizen) produce a devastating turn of foot to pass all of her rivals and score by a length and three-quarters in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot June 18.

    This is a second Royal Ascot success for the four-year-old, who won the Queen Mary Stakes in 2023, when trained in the USA by George Weaver. Now with John and Thady Gosden after being purchased by Wathnan Racing, that speed came to the fore as she swamped the field under jockey James McDonald.

    Crimson Advocate was purchased by Dewsweepers II for $100,000 out of the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    Other stakes winners included Rosie Jeeks (World Of Trouble - Remington Rose, By Take Charge Indy) who passed three horses in the final sixteenth of a mile on the way to a 1¼-length victory in Saturday’s $102,000 Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth Park. Owned by Team Hanley and Thirty Year Farm, Rosie Jeeks earned her third in five career starts for trainer Chad Brown. Drifaros rallied for second, a half-length ahead of Epona’s Hope.

    Rosie Jeeks was purchased by Jay Hanley and Thirty Year Farm for $240,000 at the 2023 OBS April Sale out of the RiceHorse Stable consignment after breezing in :10 flat. She was previously sold by Summerfield to RiceHorse for $62,000 at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.