Grand National 2021: Who could be Aintree headline makers?
The women seeking history, the football great chasing glory in a second sport and the Welsh dreams of success are among the potential stories to be written at Saturday's Grand National.
Month: April 2021
New Face, Familiar One Find Gulfstream Park Winner’s Circle On Sunday
A rising star in Panama, jockey Jose Morelos notched his first victory in the United States Sunday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The 20-year-old jockey, who had ridden 503 winners in Panama after launching his career at the age of 16, guided Wild Cat West ($12.40) to victory in Race 5, a mile maiden race for $12,500 claimers.
“I'm very grateful to the trainer for giving me the opportunity,” Morelos said through an interpreter. “I'm looking forward to a lot of better things to come in the future.”
Morelos saved ground aboard the Luis Ramirez trainee while rating behind a contested pace into the homestretch turn. Wildcat Cat West, who lacked room entering the stretch, was taken four wide for the stretch drive, and the son of Mineshaft kicked in through the stretch to graduate by a neck.
Morelos' victory came on his 10th mount since his U.S. debut April 1. Jay Rushing is his agent.
Sutherland Guides Mona Stella to Gulfstream Feature Win
Chantal Sutherland reacquainted herself with the Gulfstream Park winner's circle after riding Mona Stella to a comfortable victory in Sunday's Race 6 feature, a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance on turf for 3-year-old Florida-bred fillies.
Sutherland connected for her first victory on her fifth mount since relocating to Gulfstream for the Spring/Summer Meet.
“I've gotten a lot of positive energy from people and I'm grateful to the people who are supporting me,” said Sutherland, who rode at Gulfstream in 2006 before going on to achieve considerable success in Southern California. “There's no more beautiful place to ride than here.”
Mona Stella ($6.60) is owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and trainer Patrick Biancone.
Sutherland , who saved ground aboard Mona Stella while racing directly behind pacesetter Big Band Luzzian into the stretch, eased the daughter of Will Take Charge off the rail for the stretch drive. Mona Stella, who had graduated in her second career start on Sept. 29 before going to the sidelines to have a chip removed, kicked in through the stretch to score by 2 ¾ lengths.
“I think this is a nice filly,” Sutherland said. “She only won a maiden race [before Sunday] but this was really impressive.”
Sutherland has won 1084 races, including multiple Grade 1 victories aboard Game On Dude in 2001.
Thursday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $500,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $500,000 for Thursday's program at Gulfstream Park.
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.
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Champion Gamine Cruises To Easy Victory In Seasonal Debut In Las Flores
The champ is back. Idle since winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7, Bob Baffert-trained Gamine, in what amounted to a paid workout, broke alertly from her rail post and made every pole a winning one in taking Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. With regular rider John Velazquez up, she got six furlongs while well within herself in 1:09.52 and drawing off by five lengths.
“She came back so good,” said Velazquez, who rode Gamine in her final four starts of 2020. “She felt as good as last year. Bob thinks she's not ready yet, that's what he told me. She does everything so effortlessly, it's just everything she does, makes my job a lot easier. I just steer where I want to go and that's it. That's the biggest point of her strength, I believe.”
With no place or show wagering, Gamine, who has now finished first across the wire in six of her seven career starts by a combined 38 ¼ lengths, was off at 1-20 and paid $2.10 to win, with no place and show wagering.
“I told Johnny before, 'With the one hole, make sure you don't let her make the gap (as the horses come out of the seven furlong chute onto the main track oval),” said Baffert. “Ride her like she's 10-1.' I'm happy for my owners and everybody involved. They are excited, it's Easter Sunday, so it's a big win…
“They (the fans) saw one of the greatest fillies I've ever trained going one turn. Hopefully, we'll stretch her out.”
Purchased for $1.8 million out of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in Training Sale, Gamine, a 4-year-old filly by Into Mischief out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane, is owned by Michael Lund Petersen. With the Las Flores purse of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $893,000. With four graded stakes wins, three of them Grade I's, her official resume now reads five wins from seven starts, as she was disqualified from purse money earned in a first condition allowance win at Oaklawn Park on May 2, 2020.
Baffert's Qahira, who sat a joint second, about one length off the winner with Hang a Star and Biddy Duke leaving the half mile pole, proved second best under Flavien Prat as she finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of Biddy Duke.
Fractions on the race were 22.74, 45.77 and 57.54.
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Sadler To Keep Rock Your World In California To Train Up To Kentucky Derby
Rock Your World was on the wash rack at 7:30 Easter morning cleaning up as readily as he dusted off eight rivals in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif., earning him a place on racing's biggest stage, the Kentucky Derby on May 1.
Trained by John Sadler for owners Kosta and Peter Hronis and Talla Racing, and bred by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife, Debbie, Rock Your World went to the front and never looked back, winning by 4 ¼ lengths, giving two-time Italian riding champion Umberto Rispoli his first Grade 1 victory in the United States.
Rock Your World, a son of Candy Ride out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker, earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points with the victory and will attempt to become the 20th horse to run in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and go on to capture the Kentucky Derby.
“We're still enjoying this win,” Sadler said. “This is Easter Sunday, so Monday we'll look at the calendar (for an itinerary), but he would have a traditional California pattern where we'll train here and go to Kentucky the week of the race.”
It was Rock Your World's first race on dirt after two victories on turf, but Sadler always seemed confident the colt would make a successful transition to the main track.
“You're hoping, but it's one of those things, you don't know until you do it,” said Sadler, who is seeking his first victory in the Run for the Roses. “We're thrilled the way things worked out.
“I've never won the Derby, but last time I was there (at Churchill Downs) we won the Breeders' Cup Classic (in 2018 with Accelerate), so I'm looking forward to going back to Louisville.
“We've run four horses in the Kentucky Derby before but haven't won.
“Umberto has been a great addition to our jockey colony … I was kind of shocked hearing this was his first Grade 1 win here. He did so well last year I thought he would have picked up one already. He's a good kid, very competitive.”
Ditto for Rock Your World.
Baffert on runner-up Medina Spirit: 'Four weeks to sharpen him up'
Medina Spirit, a game second as the 9-10 favorite behind Rock Your World in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., came out of the race in good order and will attempt to give Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the world's most famous race on May 1.
“He ran a game race like he always does,” Baffert said of the $35,000 bargain son of Protonico. “The winner was very impressive, but our horse showed up, he ran his race, he came out of it well and we've got four weeks to sharpen him up.
“He'll be right there. He's always going to be tough; he tries hard all the time.”
Baffert also sent out maiden sprint winner Defunded in the race and the gelded son of Dialed In rallied to finish fourth.
“He got real tired towards the end,” Baffert said. “He wasn't ready for something like that but we had to take a chance at it. I don't know where I'll run him next.”
Meanwhile, Baffert has Rebel winner Concert Tour and runner-up Hozier set for this Saturday's Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
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