Vasquez reaches riding milestone . . .
HALLANDALE BEACH - Dropping down from Gr. 1 company, Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course figures to be on firmer footing in Saturday’s $75,000 Not Surprising at Gulfstream Park. At least, that’s what Biancone is hoping.
Classic of Course, who finished far back in the May 3 American Turf (G1) over a less-than-firm turf course at Churchill Downs, has been installed at 2-1 in the morning line in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds that will co-headline Saturday’s 10-race program with the $75,000 Martha Washington, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for sophomore fillies.
“He’s training good. I’m very happy with him,” Biancone said. “In his last race, he ran on soft ground, and he hates that. You can see it in his action.” Classic of Course earned a shot in the American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard March 29 over firm footing at Gulfstream Park with a rallying victory in the Cutler Bay in his first start on turf.
Prior to breaking through with his first stakes success in the Cutler Bay, Classic of Course was multiple stakes-placed on dirt. “It was two things: he likes turf, and he has matured,” Biancone said. “Last year, he was a baby. This year he’s no longer a child. He’s more mature.” Jonathan Ocasio has the call.
Arindel’s Tank, who is rated second at 5-2 on the morning line, will seek his third straight stakes victory. The Carlos David-trained son of Adios Charlie followed up a win over Florida-breds in the Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs with a triumph in the mile English Channel May 3 at Gulfstream. Emisael Jaramillo, who guided Arindel’s Mythical to a front-running victory in Thursday’s Tremont at Saratoga, returns to South Florida to ride.
e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Nemo, who was beaten by 1 ¼ lengths while finishing fourth in the English Channel, is rated third at 9-2 on the morning line. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Into Mischief had previously rallied from far back to win on debut at a mile on turf March 30. Joseph will also be represented in the by Ken Ramsey’s Back in the Saddle, a son of Oscar Performance who graduated in a $50,000 maiden claimer by 5 ½ lengths last time out. Wilfred Vasquez is slated to ride Nemo for the first time, while Edgard Zayas has the return call on Back in the Saddle.
Gary Barber’s Bluff is scheduled to seek his third straight victory while making his stakes debut. The son of Flatter, who is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, captured an April 27 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs, four months after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream. Miguel Vasquez has the call.
Chad Stewart and Anthony Lenci’s Lastabitlonger, Cloud Nine Lumoni’s Bakers Street, and Rolling Meadows Farm’s Blue Casanova round out the field. Laura Murphy’s Win With Faith was entered but will not start.
Vasquez Notches No. 1,500
Miguel Vasquez notched Win No. 1,500 in North America today while scoring aboard Mi Amore ($17.40) in Race 2 on a nine-race program. The 30-year-old journeyman, who is a graduate of Panama’s Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School, has established a strong year-round presence at Gulfstream since his arrival in South Florida in 2014. Vasquez ranked 10th in North America in 2020 with 195 winners, including six in one day at Gulfstream. In 2022, he rode a personal-best 2003 winners.
Vasquez made a second visit to the winner’s circle with Torch Is Passed ($4.60) following Race 8, a 5 ½-furlong starter allowance on Tapeta.