Trainer John Sadler took an unusual all-turf route to prep Rock Your World for the $750,000 Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby April 3.
Month: April 2021
Diaz Makes Winning Return To Gulfstream Park; Rainbow 6 Jackpot Has $400,000 Guarantee On Sunday
Juan Carlos Diaz Jr., the son of a Puerto Rican legend, made a return to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Saturday, more than two years after a brief stopover on his way to Southern California during his apprentice year.
The 20-year-old son of Juan Carlos Diaz rode Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Uncork the Bottle ($15.60) to a deep-closing victory in Race 3 aboard his second mount since his return to Gulfstream for the Spring/Summer Meet. Diaz rode Joseph-trained Braver Than We Are for a victory on March 10, 2019, during a 13-race stint at Gulfstream before riding out his apprenticeship in Southern California.
“I thank Saffie Joseph Jr. He has always supported me,” said Diaz of the Gulfstream Park-based trainer who notched stakes victories Saturday at Aqueduct with Mischevious Alex in Carter (G1) and Drain the Clock in the Bay Shore (G3).
Diaz rode a majority of his 79 career victories during his apprenticeship in Southern California before returning to Puerto Rico for the past few months to ride alongside his father, who has ridden 5,298 winners.
“I liked California. I did good there, but with COVID-19, I went home and rode there for two months. Now, I'm here,” Diaz said. “My father has helped me a lot. He told me to go to Miami.”
Romero Maragh, who notched his first career win at Gulfstream March 29, 2018, before eventually making his way to New York, also got reacquainted with the Gulfstream winner's circle Saturday on his second day of action during the Sprint/Summer Meet. Maragh guided Cuy ($10.20) to victory in Race 1.
Sunday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $400,000 for Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the fourth racing day in a row since last Saturday's mandatory payout. Tickets with all six winners were each worth $29,537.72.
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.
The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10 on the Easter Sunday program that will get underway at 1 p.m.
There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover into the first race Sunday of $2,471.10.
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Bourbonic Wins Wood Memorial in 72-1 Upset
A year ago at this time, Aqueduct Racetrack was closed due to the pandemic and no one knew when, or if, there would be a 2020 Triple Crown. The mood was considerable different April 3 when the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino returned from a one-year hiatus. Yes, there were masks affixed and vaccine cards were a badge of honor.
Charmaine’s Mia Holds Off Dogtag In Royal Heroine For Third Consecutive Stakes Win
Consistent Charmaine's Mia rung up her third consecutive graded stakes victory of the meeting as she led gate to wire in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., winning by a half length. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Charmaine's Mia got a mile on turf in 1:33.76.
Breaking from post position three, she held a one-length advantage over Laura's Light heading into the first turn and was in control thereafter, but was all-out to hold off the late run of Dogtag, who simply ran out of real estate.
A one-length winner of the G2 Buena Vista Stakes over the course on Feb. 20, Charmaine's Mia, a 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor, was off as the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10.
Dogtag, trained by Richard Mandella and idle since a fifth Aug. 2 at Del Mar, rallied well and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of consistent Warren's Showtime. Off at 6-1, Dogtag paid $4.80 and $3.20.
California-bred Warren's Showtime put in her customary solid stretch run, but was third best under Juan Hernandez. Off at 5-1, she paid $2.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.59, 46.02, 1:09.86 and 1:21.72.
Post-race quotes:
FLAVIEN PRAT, CHARMAINE'S MIA, WINNER: “For some reason she's really good out there. She always leaves really fast and she relaxed down the backside and responded when it was time to go. I was hoping she would break like she did and take advantage of it otherwise, I would probably sit and get her to relax. She's really brave and she was training really hard. It's great to have family here and fans.
UMBERTO RISPOLI, DOGTAG, SECOND: “She went phenomenal, I mean she was out for a long time to come back in a good race like that, and the winner I think she's a very classy good filly. Flavien broke off and put a good pace on it, and then she give him the kick at the quarter pole. Actually, my plan was to just track him from close, but my filly from way off she break a little bit slower than usual. I got a good trip because I'm just right behind Raymundos Secret and you know, the winner, but at the same time, Flavien has that kick, and that advantage at the top of the stretch took that away from me. Probably if I track him from close, it would probably be a different story, I don't know if I can get him, but definitely I can give him more hard time, as much as I do.”
PHIL D'AMATO, CHARMAINE'S MIA, WINNER: “Flavien got her out beautifully and he rated her perfectly. Once he shot out of there like a rocket, he made her relax and he had enough to hold off Dogtag.” (What's next?) “We are looking at a Grade 1 race here at Santa Anita about five or six weeks down the road.”
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