Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Handle record at winter meet
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The 2016-17 Gulfstream Park championship meeting got off to a fast start and never looked back, with the total handle of $867 million for the 87-day session smashing the old mark of $807 million set the previous winter.
The meet began Dec. 3 with a record $11.1 million handle on the opening-day Claiming Crown program and reached its pinnacle Jan. 28 with the inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup, which generated $40.2 million in handle, a record for a non-Breeders’ Cup program at Gulfstream. The momentum continued through closing weekend, highlighted by Always Dreaming’s impressive victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby on April 1.
“The championship meet was extraordinary for its mix of world-class racing, events and entertainment,” said P.J. Campo, general manager of Gulfstream Park and vice president of racing for The Stronach Group.
Campo was referring to the many celebrities in attendance on Pegasus Day, including Thomas Rhett, recently named the male vocalist of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Rhett performed prior to the main event, along with Grammy nominee Trombone Shorty.
“From the record-setting opening day, with the Claiming Crown, to the Eclipse Awards, to the first running of the Pegasus, to the Florida Derby, Gulfstream was the center of the racing world,” Campo said. “To have horses like Arrogate, California Chrome, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera, Mind Your Biscuits, and so many others here competing was very special.”
Campo thanked the horsemen and fans for supporting the program while also looking ahead.
“While we continue to race through the summer, we’re already preparing and looking forward to another outstanding 2017-18 championship meet that will feature the $16 million Pegasus World Cup, the Eclipse Awards, and, for the first time, the Clasico Internacional del Caribe.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who sent out Always Dreaming to a 4 3/4-length triumph in the Florida Derby that might make him the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, won an unprecedented 14th consecutive training title at the Gulfstream championship meet. Luis Saez unseated perennial jockey champion Javier Castellano, capturing his first riding title with 102 victories. He joined Castellano and Paco Lopez as the only jockeys to win 100 races during the winter session.
Easy to Say in allowance sprint
Saturday’s 11-race card at Gulfstream Park features a $43,000 optional-claiming race at six furlongs that lured a field of seven older horses led by Easy to Say, who is expected to be favored over a well-matched group that includes Mach My Day, The Son Wind, and Call to Honor.
Easy to Say, stakes-placed last summer at Saratoga when finishing third behind Stallwalkin’ Dude in the Tale of the Cat, was idle for nearly four months before launching his 2017 campaign by finishing third against a strong group of higher-level optional-claiming horses March 16; he earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. The homebred son of Eskendereya is trained by Jason Servis for the New Farm.
Mach My Day has proven consistent for trainer Allen Iwinski and exits a popular 2 1/2-length victory under a $25,000 price tag in late February. He’ll attempt to improve on his fourth-place finish behind The Son Wind earlier this winter.
The Son Wind has proven popular at the claim box, having been haltered for $25,000 out of each of his last two starts. He’ll compete Saturday for Rancho Alegre and trainer Ruben Gracida.
Picadilly Roadster brings a modest two-race win streak into the race while also in new hands, having been claimed for $30,000 by trainer Steve Towne out of a win here March 17.
The headliner will be preceded by a one-mile maiden special weight race for 3-yearolds that includes a pair of unraced, well-bred colts from the Todd Pletcher barn - Al Khor and Hy Brasil. Al Khor is the more fashionably bred of the pair, being a son of Bodemeister out of the Grade 1-winning mare Awesome Humor who brought $500,000 at the August 2015 Fasig-Tipton yearling sale. Both horses have been working steadily at Palm Beach Downs.
The seven-horse field also includes the debuting Inevitable, by Giant’s Causeway, for trainer James Bond and the experienced pair of Outside Lookin In and Mr Atila.
◗ Jockey Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Ralph Nicks were the stars on Wednesday’s card, combining for a pair of winners - even-money favorite Aquemini in the sixth race and Star Contender (2-1) in the finale. Star Contender completed a hat trick for Gaffalione that also included Azar’s win for Pletcher in the featured third race.
Gaffalione and Nicks came right back to dominate Thursday’s opening race with the 1-5 Eila, who cruised to a win against just four rivals in an optional-claiming dash on the grass.