Month: April 2023

Arindel homebred Clapton pulled off a 21-1 upset victory in Saturday's $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park under an aggressive ride by Emisael Jaramillo.

The Ghostzapper, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older horses on the main track, was one of 10 stakes worth a total of $2.35 million in purses on Saturday's 14-race card headlined by the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa.

Clapton ($44.40) was rated off the pace set by Surly Furious into the backstretch before Jaramillo went on the offensive with a three-wide drive to pull alongside the pacesetter and stalker O'Connor on the turn into the homestretch. Clapton battled O'Connor through the stretch before edging clear to score.

Clapton, a Florida-bred 5-year-old homebred son of Arindel resident sire Brethren out of the Afleet Alex mare Alexandra Rylee, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.94, a final time built on early fractions of :24.38 and :48.79. O'Connor, making his first start since finishing off the board in the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 28, easily help second over a tiring Surly Furious.

Ghostzapper Quotes

Winning Racing Manager for Arindel Brian Cohen (Clapton): “I'm just so happy for the horse and everyone that works with the horse. He just ran such a good race. He's been running against such tough horses all winter, and he ran a big one.”

“[Brethren] has given us everything. He's given us runners – long, short, turf. [They're all] just runners. They want to run. He's been great. Clapton, race after race, he just tries his hardest.”

Winning jockey Emisael Jaramillo: “A graded stakes win for Arindel, connections that thank God have supported me for a long time; I love this horse. I went to the barn several times to request the chance with him again, a horse that I have ridden since he was a baby, since he was a 2-year-old, so I had a lot of faith in him. The homestretch was a mano-a-mano with Irad [Ortiz Jr. on O'Connor], the type of race and show fans come to watch. He's a great jockey, a great person, and a great friend, and he shook hands and congratulated me after the race.”

The post Clapton Springs 21-1 Surprise In Ghostzapper appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Two starts after being claimed by trainer Mike Maker for $50,000 on behalf of owner Michael Dubb, 8-year-old Therapist secured the first graded stakes victory of his long career Saturday in the $200,000 Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 62nd running of the 1 ½-mile Pan American for 4-year-olds and up on grass was the second of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.35 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa for 3-year-olds.

Even-money favorite Master Piece had the lead in the stretch and appeared poised to win, but he was caught and passed inside the sixteenth pole by Therapist on the inside and Bay Street Money on the outside. Therapist, a New York-bred son of Freud out of the Smart Strike mare Lady Renaissance,, prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 2:29.22 and paid $11.00. Master Piece finished third, a length behind Maker-trained Bay Street Money. Maker also finished fourth with Wicked Fast.

Primarily racing in New York, Therapist entered the Pan American with 11 victories in 38 starts, but was winless in five graded stakes races. Following a victory in a starter allowance on Gulfstream's Tapeta track on Feb. 11, Maker prepared the gelding for his first try at 1 ½ miles. Therapist and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat behind early fractions of :23.35 , :48.53, and the mile in 1:38.78 and then made a run toward the lead.

Pan American (G2) Quotes

Nolan Ramsey, assistant to winning trainer Mike Maker (Therapist): “He's an old, class horse. He does everything right. He's easy to train. This was his first start at this distance, but his pedigree says he'll run long, so we tried him here and it worked out.”

Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Therapist): “No worries despite the slow start, because that's just what he does. I let him find his stride until the five-eighths pole, and I was hoping to find space on the outside. The two horses in front went wide, so I found the space I was looking for in the 2-3 path, and he responded well. He always does, because his trainer [Mike Maker] is one of the best at these marathon distances.”

Winning owner Michael Dubb (Therapist): “This particular 8-year-old is a New York-bred, and I race in New York all summer long. My thought was, I knew he was well taken care of because the previous trainer who is also a trainer of mine is a great caregiver. They decided to move the horse along, and they sold him for a pretty good price. He wound up in a claiming race and I said, 'I think we can win some New York-bred races.' I was never dreaming we would do this. We have conversations about pedigree, and this horse knows his way to the winner's circle; it's his 12th time. The pedigree really screamed long and we said, 'Let's give it a try and see what happens.' Then you have Irad Ortiz as your pilot, and it all comes together.”

The post ‘He’s An Old, Class Horse’: Veteran Therapist Makes The Grade In Pan American appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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