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21st Career Win For Veteran Gelding Oak Bluffs Is 900th For Trainer Eppler

Veteran campaigner Oak Bluffs, a 10-year-old gelding making his 59th career start, came with a measured run from dead last to roll past five rivals in the stretch and earn his 21st career victory and the 900th for owner-trainer Mary Eppler as live racing returned Thursday to Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Under patient handling from 16-year-old apprentice Charlie Marquez, Oak Bluffs ($8) was unhurried in the early stages of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint for claimers 3 and up over Laurel's world-class turf course, trailing by 7 1/2 lengths after the opening quarter-mile.

Oak Bluffs circled the far turn in the three path, was floated out five wide once straightened for home, ranged up on pacesetter Stroll Smokin inside the eighth pole and pulled clear to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:02.98 on Kelso layout labeled firm.

“It looked like he won pretty easily,” Eppler said. “You don't see many horses win 21 times, but we've taken good care of him.”

Oak Bluffs debuted Aug. 18, 2013, at Monmouth Park and raced three times for breeder Patricia Generazio and trainer Bruce Alexander before making her first start for trainer Teresa Pompay in May 2014. Trainer Jamie Ness claimed him for his Jagger Inc. stable in February 2015 and Eppler spent $5,000 to halter him nine months later out of a show finish at Laurel Park.

Eppler lost Oak Bluffs for a $25,000 tag in March 2019 at Gulfstream Park, claiming him back that June for $20,000 out of a turf sprint win at Monmouth Park. Overall, the bay son of Defrere has a record of 21-9-6 with $721,846 in purse earnings.

“He's been so much fun, and that's why I claimed him back,” Eppler said. “I want to make sure he has a good home.”

Oak Bluffs is a three-time stakes winner – the 2015 My Frenchman and 2019 Joey P. Handicap at Monmouth, and the 2018 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National, the latter two for Eppler. Best known for her work with retired claimer-turned-multiple Grade 3-winning millionaire Page McKenney, Eppler won her first two races in 1980 with Maryland-bred Jet to Victory.

Eppler, a 66-year-old Baltimore native, became the first female to win a training title at Laurel Park with 24 victories during the 2016 fall meet. Holder of an accounting degree from Loyola College and a one-time actuary analyst in the medical insurance industry, she got her start breaking and hot walking horses at Sagamore Farm, later training 1996 Futurity (G1) winner Traitor for the late Alfred G. Vanderbilt.

“[The 900^th win] couldn't have come with a better horse. I'm very thankful,” Eppler said. “He's wonderful. He's so nice. Real easy to deal with, real easy to train, just like Page.”

Notes: Jockey Feargal Lynch missed his third straight racing day since being unseated during Laurel's third race Thursday, July 23. Replaced on each of his five mounts, he is named in six of nine races on Friday's card … Jockey Angel Cruz rode back-to-back $8 winners Thursday, Forfiftyfiverocket in Race 2 and HRH Jellybean in Race 3 … Jevian Toledo also won twice, with Tweet Away Robin ($3.60) in Race 7 and Melisande ($4.20) in Race 9 … No one had all six winners in Thursday's 20-cent Rainbow 6, growing the carryover jackpot to $4,201.79 for Friday. Tickets with five of six winners each returned $260.02 … There will also be a carryover of $1,946.06 in the $1 Super Hi-5.

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Friesan Fire Sophomore Commands $400K at Wanamaker’s July

Fiya (Friesan Fire), a progressive 3-year-old gelding who posted a 98 Beyer and 9 Ragozin last time out, was purchased by Robert Masiello for $400,000 at the Wanamaker’s July online sale.

“I’m very happy to be able to sign the ticket for Fiya,” said Masiello. “He’s been really impressive this year and his last race certainly hinted that he might have some star quality. I was a bit nervous about participating in an online auction, but the experience was very seamless and intuitive. I’m really looking forward to getting Fiya into Tom Albertrani’s program and hopefully we can have some fun.”

Fiya was bred and owned by Ann Merryman and trained by her son, Michael Merryman, with Thursday’s sale marking a massive success for the mother and son duo.

“I loved the transparency of putting Fiya for sale for everyone to see,” Ann Merryman said about participating in the online auction. “This enabled me to get market value for a horse without taking it out of training and shipping it to a sale. The team at Wanamaker’s was exceptional and I really believe they are moving the industry in a great direction with their platform; the monthly sales will enable so many more owners to capitalize throughout the year.”

Wanamaker’s second-ever auction was rounded out by the sales of Gymnastic (Pioneerof the Nile) for $25,000, Pupetta (Giant’s Causeway) for $5,000, and Mixology (Old Fashioned) for $4,000.

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Fiya Commands $400,000 To Lead Wanamaker’s July Sale

As bidding progressed in the Wanamaker's July Sale, it was Fiya who sparked a heated bidding war.

The tremendously impressive 3-year-old who posted a 98 Beyer Speed Figure and 9 Ragozin last out was purchased by Robert Masiello for $400,000.

An excited Masiello stated, “I'm very happy to be able to sign the ticket for Fiya. He's been really impressive this year and his last race certainly hinted that he might have some star quality. I was a bit nervous about participating in an online auction, but the experience was very seamless and intuitive. I'm really looking forward to getting Fiya into Tom Albertrani's program and hopefully we can have some fun.”

Fiya was bred and owned by Ann Merryman who employed her son, Michael Merryman with the training effort, marking a massive success for the mother and son duo. When asked about the decision to sell in an online auction,

Ann Merryman said, “I loved the transparency of putting Fiya for sale for everyone to see. This enabled me to get market value for a horse without taking it out of training and shipping it to a sale. The team at Wanamaker's was exceptional and I really believe they are moving the industry in a great direction with their platform; the monthly sales will enable so many more owners to capitalize throughout the year.”

Wanamaker's second-ever auction was rounded out by the sales of Gymnastic for $25,000, Pupetta for $5,000, and Mixology for $4,000.

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Gulfstream Park: Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Guaranteed At $1.1 Million; Mandatory Payout Rescheduled For Aug. 9

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $1.1 million Friday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the 16th consecutive racing program Thursday, when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $3,541.40

The carryover jackpot 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.

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool has been rescheduled from Sunday, Aug. 2, to Sunday, Aug. 9, due to forecasts that Tropical Storm Isaias may pose a weekend threat to Florida.

Friday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10. Combination looms as a popular 'single' in Race 6, having won seven of his last eight starts. The 4-year-old son of Alternation, who is rated as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the starter allowance, has been claimed out of his last five starts, most recently by owner Frank Calabrese and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for $25,000.

Races 8 and 10 will also be included in Friday's Stronach 5 sequence. In Race 8, a mile turf race for $40,000 claimers, stakes winner Joseph-trained Captain D will seek to make amends for recent disappointment against better company. Race 10, a $12.500 claiming race for non-winners of three races, will be contested at five furlongs on turf. The Stronach 5 will be kicked off by Race 6 at Laurel Park, followed by Race 8 at Gulfstream, Races 7 and 8 at Laurel and Race 10 at Gulfstream.

The post Gulfstream Park: Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Guaranteed At $1.1 Million; Mandatory Payout Rescheduled For Aug. 9 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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