“It went very good for us,” said Ortiz. “It means a lot to win another title here. They make me feel at home here. The owners, everybody training here, the whole organization– security and the people who work here–they make me feel good. I have great support from the trainers and owners of Florida, and I appreciate it. I'm so happy to win another title here.”

Saffie Joseph, Jr. trained 66 winners through the meet, good enough to lead Todd Pletcher in the standings and pick up his third-straight training title.

“We're thankful for the opportunities from the owners, the team we have–how hard they work and all the effort they put in–and most importantly to have the horses we have,” said Joseph. “The horses are the biggest piece of the puzzle. The horses make everyone look good.”

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“It's amazing,” Joseph said after being recognized and posing for photos in a winner's circle ceremony. “I remember the first one and here we are at 1,000. The first probably 200 took five or six years and it was a struggle, and the last 800 have come pretty quickly. We've gotten the opportunities from the owners and that's what you need. Without the owners, you can't do it. There's no trainer without horses, and the owners produce the horses.”

A native of Barbados, the 37-year-old Joseph has won eight consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park since finishing second during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. He is on track for a third straight Championship Meet title, leading the 2023-2024 stand in wins (47), starters (223) and purses earned ($2.37 million).

“We're only as good as what the owners give us. That's what makes trainers,” Joseph said. “We have to take care of them with the staff, and that's what makes me. I'm one person that is head of 80 people that make me and make us as a unit. It's not just me, it's a credit to the whole staff. It's a whole crew that makes this success possible and I'm very thankful to be in this position.”

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With three more winning rides on Sunday's closing day program, Ortiz finished the Championship Meet with 128 victories to reclaim the jockey title for the winter Thoroughbred session.

Ortiz ran away with this year's title while finishing 57 wins ahead of the Luis Saez, who finished three wins ahead of third-place Jose Ortiz.

“I've had big support from the owners and trainers. They support me. Thanks to them. If I don't have their help, I can't do anything,” Irad Ortiz Jr. said Sunday. “At the same time, my agent Steve (Rushing) has done a great job. He does everything he can, every single day to get horses for me. I thank God for keeping me healthy and being available to do this every single day.”

Ortiz, who had a 28% strike rate during the Championship Meet, also led the purses-won standings with $7.39 million.

“I try to prepare as much as I can for every horse, every day. I just like to prepare myself to get to know every single horse to get an advantage, that's important,” Ortiz said.

Saffie Joseph Jr. made a successful title defense of the Championship Meet by a 47-41 margin over Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

“Last year was huge because it was the first time we had done it. I think this one even means more to comeback and prove it again. It gives the whole team a lot of confidence,” Joseph said. “I have a lot of appreciation for all the owners' support. It's a blessing from God.”

Keeping his training title didn't come easy.

“Todd really gave us a fight for this. Last year, we always had the momentum. This year, we weren't separated by more than two wins most of the time. He went ahead by two in mid-February.  After that we got some momentum and were able to hold him off. It mean's a lot.”

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This year, he also comes with a message.

“I need to have the opportunity and that's what I'm looking for: building the relationship with the trainers and hoping they give me the opportunity and they support me a little bit,” Castellano said. “I know how to do this. I know how to win races. I know how to get it done. I just need the opportunity from the trainers and I'm not going to let them down.”

No one won more races at Gulfstream Park than Castellano during a five-year span between 2011-12 and 2015-16, when he led the jockey standings with an average of 114 wins and set a then-record 132 in 2013-14. The mark has been surpassed twice since, by Luis Saez (137) in 2017-18 and Irad Ortiz Jr. (140) last year.

Besides Castellano, only three other riders have led the jockey standings as many as three consecutive years – Ortiz (2018-19 to 2020-21), Jorge Chavez (1999-2001) and Jeff Fell (1977-79). Ortiz will be back this year looking to make it four straight.

“I'm very excited. I feel like Gulfstream is my home. I've had a lot of success at Gulfstream,” Castellano, 44, said. “Five titles in a row is a great achievement. I'm very lucky and fortunate to be in that spot.”

Castellano got off to a late start at last winter's Championship Meet after having arthroscopic surgery to clean up some debris in his right leg, near the hip, last November. He didn't ride between Nov. 15 at Aqueduct and his Feb. 17 return at Gulfstream, finishing with 15 wins and $599,560 in purses from just 66 mounts. Among his victories was the March 27 Ghostzapper (G3) aboard Eye of a Jedi, a race named for the Hall of Fame horse that helped launch Castellano's career to new heights.

“It took a while to recover. That's what they predicted. The doctor told me I had to be out for three or four months. I was out three months and a half and came back to ride late at Gulfstream,” Castellano said. “It's been a long year for myself. Thank God I still win a lot of races … and I had a couple of Grade 1 winners, but not competitive with past years for me. I think it's partly the momentum [after] the surgery, building up a little bit of my business again.”

Castellano gave brief consideration to staying in New York for the winter, but ultimately decided to follow the blueprint that has proven successful for many years.

“I feel like that's the best way to do it. Thinking about more in the future, building my business and my relationship with trainers and look toward the spring and the summer and those big races,” Castellano said. “The only way you can build a relationship [and] be loyal with them is to go with the flow with the horses. When the horses go to Florida, I want to follow the horses and hopefully those maiden races help get the momentum building [and] the relationship with those trainers.

“I think that's the best way to go. Why do I need to change something that's been working for many years for myself?” he added. “I thought about it and I made my mind up that that's the way to go, that it's supposed to be like that. Go to Florida and ride the good horses.”

South Florida is where Castellano first landed when he came to the U.S. in 1997 and rode his first domestic winner before moving to the New York circuit in 2001. In the midst of his Eclipse run he set single-season career highs of 362 wins in 2013 and a then-record $28.1 million in purse earnings in 2015.

One new wrinkle at the Championship Meet is the addition of all-weather Tapeta to the dirt and turf courses, making Gulfstream the only track in North America to race on three different surfaces.

“I'm excited because we have a new surface with the [all-weather] track. It's an opportunity for those horses to develop and I think I have more options,” Castellano said. “In New York, unfortunately, in the winter, we don't have turf racing and we don't have synthetic. We have only one dimension and it's racing on the dirt, and you don't know how the weather's going to be. They only race four days a week.

“Hopefully we can find a nice 3-year-old to have for the year,” he added. ““I'm looking forward big time for this winter at Gulfstream. Gulfstream is amazing because that's where I started riding horses when I first came to this country. It opened the door for me. It gave me the opportunity and look where I am now more than 20 years later.”

Castellano has won the Preakness (G1) twice, the Travers (G1) a record six times and 12 Breeders' Cup races. He (2013-16) and fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey (2000-03) are the only jockeys to win four consecutive Eclipse Awards as champion rider. Castellano ranks second all-time with more than $364 million in purses earned and has won more than 5,400 races.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, Castellano owns 463 career graded-stakes victories. Nine of them have come this year, including the Acorn (G1) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).

“You always have to compete and you always have to work hard. I don't take anything for granted. Unfortunately I had a bump in the road in my career with the surgery but I've put it behind me. I feel 100 percent. The reason I did the surgery is because I want to extend my career. I want to ride more years ahead and the only way I can do that is to refresh my body and take care of my body. I'm looking ahead to another five, six, seven years, maybe 10. Who knows?” Castellano said. “I love this game and I love to keep doing what I'm doing. I love racing and I'm trying to enjoy it.”

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Sold as a yearling from the draft of Denali Stud, agent, the April foal brought $400,000 from Maverick Racing, the buying arm of WinStar. He duly made his career bow for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm in the white WinStar silks Sunday. The last horse to load, American Icon broke like a shot and raced about a length in advance of the field through splits of :22.75 and :45.75. A trio of challengers loomed leaving the turn, but American Icon slammed the door when asked by pilot Luis Saez. He poured it on from there to wrack up a visually impressive win. Red Line Overdrive (Nyquist), who broke poorly, closed to take second. The same connections were represented by 'Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready) at Gulfstream Dec. 11. American Idol is the third of his sire's produce to become a 'Rising Star.'

American Idol's MSP dam is a full-sister to SW and GI Santa Anita Oaks second Third Dawn (Sky Mesa). Sky America has a weanling colt by Runhappy and was covered by the winner's sire this spring. The third dam, the unraced Sunset Heat (Dixieland Band), was a full-sister to Grade III winner and sire Dixieland Heat (Dixieland Band). Sunset Heat left Brazilian Group 2 winner Estrela Byrnhild (Lion Cavern), who was also placed in the G1 Roberto e Nelson Grimaldi Seabra.

8th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 12-26, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.26, ft, 8 1/2 lengths.
AMERICAN ICON, c, 2, Gun Runner
1st Dam: Sky America (MSP, $102,978), by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Chalmette, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Sunset Song, by Dixieland Band
Sales history: $400,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-WinStar Farm LLC & Siena Farm LLC; B-Elm Tree Farm, LLC, Curt Leake, Time Will Tell, LLC & Warren Harang (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Endorsed, who was claimed for $100,000 out of a third-place finish in an Aug. 26 optional claiming allowance at Saratoga, has been winless in three starts for trainer Mike Maker, finishing third in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes, fourth in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland and a close third in an optional claiming allowance at Churchill while being ridden by Gaffalione for the first time.

“Since Mike took over his training, he's really coming into his own. He's had three big performances in his last three races against top-quality horses,” Gaffalione said. “It seems like he leaves himself with too much to do. I'm hoping the extra difference will help him out and he gets a clean trip.”

The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro is graded stakes-placed and has run respectably in a few Grade 1 stakes, but he is still seeking to win his first stakes in a steady 23-race career.

Albaugh Family Stables LLC's Dennis' Moment enters the Mr. Prospector coming off his first win since capturing the 2019 Iroquois at Churchill Downs. The Dale Romans-trained son of Tiznow captured a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance at Keeneland.

Corey Lanerie has the call aboard Dennis' Moment.

Drain the Clock was nominated to the Mr. Prospector, but trainer Saffie Joseph has opted to run the Grade 1 winner in a Friday optional claiming allowance off a layoff and run Daniel Alonso's Wind of Change and Vegso Racing Stable's Officiating in Saturday's stakes.

Wind of Change, who won the ungraded Mr. Prospector at Monmouth in May, is coming off a second-place finish in an optional claiming allowance in his first start on Gulfstream's Tapeta course.

“I thought he handled it well. Obviously, going in there was a bit of unknown because he had never been on it. Overall, I thought it was a good race,” Joseph said. “The horse that beat him [King of Dreams] came back and won a stake. A good horse beat him.”

Joseph expects Wind of Change to be a forward factor in the Mr. Prospector.

“His best style of running is on lead, so we're trying, hopefully, to go to the lead,” he said.

Edgard Zayas has the mount aboard the Brazilian-bred 6-year-old.

Officiating, who made a strong middle move on Tapeta before fading in the Showing Up, won the off-the-turf Bear's Den at seven furlongs over a sloppy track in his previous start.

“He's kind of a weird kind of horse. We've only had him for four starts, and he's trained really well on the dirt. We only ran him once on dirt, and it was on the slop, and he handled it well. He won a stake,” Joseph said. “His previous races on dry dirt, he's never hit the board. It's kind of an experiment. He's training so well on the dirt. I want to give him one try.”

Luis Saez is scheduled to ride Officiating for the first time.

Calumet Farm's Flap Jack, Russell Staggs' Doc Amster and Stonehedge LLC's Poppy's Pride round out the field.

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A total of 76 stakes (37 graded) worth $14.26 million, more than $1 million than the previous year, will be run during the prestigious winter meet that will get underway Dec. 3 and run through April 3.

The $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) will debut on the Jan. 29 program that will be co-headlined by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up on turf. The 1 1/16-mile turf event for older fillies and mares, which will replace the Marshua's River (G3) on the new schedule, will be one of seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million on a World Class Thoroughbred racing program that will be supported by high-end entertainment, cutting-edge fashion, and fine dining.

For more information on Pegasus tickets and festivities for Pegasus World Cup visit pegasusworldcup.com the week of Oct. 11.

Purses for all 3-year-old stakes on Gulfstream Park's Road to the Triple Crown have been increased, most notably the 70th running of the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on April 2. The historic 1 1/8-mile stakes, which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown races, will be renewed for a purse of $1 million, a $250,000 increase over last season. The Florida Derby will be supported by six graded stakes, including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $200,000 Kitten's Joy Pan American (G2), a 1 ½-mile turf event for older horses. Total purses for 10 stakes races on Florida Derby Day will be $2.2 million.

The Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) will be renewed for $400,000, up from last season's purse of $350,000, on a March 5 program that will feature nine graded-stakes. The 1 1/16-mile key prep for the Florida Derby, will be supported by three other Grade 2 stakes, including the $200,000 Davona Dale, a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies; the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; and the $200,000 Mac Diarmida, a 1 3/8-mile turf event for older horses.

The Mucho Macho Man, a mile race for 3-year-olds, will kick off Gulfstream's Road to the Triple Crown Jan. 1 with a $50,000 purse increase to $150,000. The Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Florida Derby and Triple Crown hopefuls, will be renewed Feb. 5 with a $400,000 purse, a $50,000 increase over last season. The Holy Bull will be supported by the $100,000 Claiborne Swale (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds; the $100,000 Forward Gal (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies; the $100,000 Kitten's Joy (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds; and the $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

The Claiming Crown, the nine-race event for the blue-collar horses that have run for claiming prices, will be held for the 10th consecutive year at Gulfstream Park Dec. 4. The $125,000 Jewel, the 1 1/8-mile headliner for 3-year-olds and up, was won last season by Jesus' Team, who went on to finish second behind Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup.

The first multi-graded-stakes program is scheduled for Dec. 13, featuring the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up. The card with five graded stakes will also include the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3), 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up that received a $50,000 purse increase; the $100,000 Rampart (G3), a mile race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Sugar Swirl (G3), a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up; and the $100,000 Suwannee River (G3), a mile turf event for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up.

In addition to the Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf, and the Pegasus F&M Turf, the Jan. 29 program will offer four other graded stakes – the $200,000 Inside Information (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares; the $150,000 William L. McKnight (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up that received a $50,000 purse boost; the $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf race for older fillies and mares; and the $150,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3), a mile event for 4-year-olds and up.

The Florida Derby Day program will offer 10 stakes for a total of $2.2 million in purses. In addition to the Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park Oaks and the Kitten's Joy, graded-stakes action will include the $100,000 Ghostzapper (G3), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Appleton (G3), a mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up; and the $150,000 Orchid (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf event for older fillies and mares that received a $50,000 purse boost.

There are no stakes scheduled for the newly installed Tapeta course, but the all-weather racing surface will be employed in the event stakes are transferred from the turf due to inclement conditions.

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The 27-year-old jockey, who rode a personal-best 74 winners during the recently concluded Championship Meet, made three visits to the winner's circle Friday after notching a double on Thursday's opening-day card.

“I had my best meet of my career in the Championship Meet. I'm hoping I can keep it going for the Spring/Summer Meet,” said Zayas, who also captured the 2020 title at Gulfstream Park West.

The Puerto Rico native, who rode his first career race at Gulfstream in 2013, has ridden 1755 winners while based in South Florida.

“I love Florida. Everyone asks me why I don't go somewhere else. I feel so comfortable here. It feels like home to me. I can stay here year-round. It's great for the family,” the father of two said. “But, next year, if things keep getting better, I could go somewhere else.”

Zayas scored back-to-back aboard Swirling Candy ($4.60) in Race 1 and Systematic ($2.60) in Race 2 before winning aboard Pearlescent ($9.40) in Race 6

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“We are pleased to be in a position to raise purses for horsemen who have been so supportive during this racing season,” he added.

Gulfstream enters the ninth weekend of its Championship Meet with nine stakes (eight graded) Saturday highlighted by the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., GII Davona Dale S., and GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile. The three races will be three of the five graded stakes making up the Rainbow 6. The Late Pick 4 Saturday will include all graded stakes.

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The 27-year-old Zayas, however, is doing much more than just holding his own while enjoying break-out success during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet.

After winning 18 and 29 races during the past two injury-interrupted seasons, Zayas has already ridden 42 winners, ranking fourth in the standings, just eight winners less than two-time defending Championship Meet titlist Irad Ortiz Jr.

“I have been blessed. I've been getting a lot of opportunities this meet. It's worked out perfect. Thankfully, I've been healthy the whole year, that's the main part of it,” Zayas said. “It's been 2, 2 ½ years since I've ridden this whole meet because of injuries. I've been getting a lot of support from owners, trainers and my agent.”

Zayas' greater opportunities include mounts in both the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Saturday at Gulfstream Park. He has the call on Grade 1 winner Math Wizard in the Pegasus and 2020 Del Mar Derby (G2) winner Pixelate in the Pegasus Turf.

“The Pegasus, riding here year-round, is a race I've been really wanting to ride in,” Zayas said. “I've been blessed this year, riding in both – both on horses with a very good shot. I'm just hoping for the best.”

Although still young, Zayas has benefited from nearly a decade of riding since leaving his home in Puerto Rico for South Florida in 2012.

“I think I've grown a lot through the years after all the ups and downs and injuries. Things that happened in my career I've learned a lot from,” Zayas said. “I've always said, 'If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.' I've been riding with a lot of confidence, not getting the horses out of their pace, riding the way the race comes up, and trying to be smarter.”

Zayas left Puerto Rico's Esquela Vocational Hipica riding school two months before graduation to get the jump on his classmates to start his career and moved directly to South Florida. Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero took him under his wing and worked with him every day of the 2012-2013 Championship Meet. He continues to learn the art of riding Thoroughbreds from Hall of Famer Edgar Prado.

“As a bug boy, Angel really helped me out that first year. Now, I have Edgar Prado in my corner every day. He's not riding as much now, but he has the experience of being a Hall of Fame rider and winning so many races,” Zayas said. “To this day, it doesn't matter if I win race, he'll tell me what I did wrong. That really helps a lot. Every time I'm riding a race, he's always watching. I'll text him and ask, 'What do you think of this race?' He always tells me his opinion.”

Prado, who is riding year-round in South Florida, has been only too happy to impart his knowledge on Zayas.

“He's a good rider and a good kid, and he's willing to learn,” Prado said. “I'm willing to help anyone who listens. I concentrate on the ones who want to learn. We've changed some things, and he's applied them, and it's working out.”

Zayas also credits the years riding alongside the best riders in the country during past Championship Meets with helping him refine his riding style.

“Watching them, how they ride and how patient they ride. Watching them ride and how they get there and how they make their horses run, has definitely made a big difference,” he said. “Every day you learn, no matter how many years you've been riding.”

Zayas has been enjoying success while balancing his career and his family life. He and wife, Ashley, the proud parents of soon-to-be-4 Lilly, recently welcomed little sister Lilah to the family.

“I'll come home from the races, and I'll sit there at dinner and I'm on my iPad watching the races. Ashley will tell me, 'Put that down,'” Zayas said with a chuckle. “It's hard to balance. On my off days, I try to get away from horse racing and dedicate my time to them. When it's racing time, it's business time. They're a big part of my life and have really helped me mature.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed pressure on his career as well as his family life.

“This year has been very challenging for everyone. Not working horses has been a little challenging, especially when the 2-year-old season started. You don't know what kind of horses you're riding. You only know what the trainer tells you,” said Zayas, referring to the protocols that restrict jockeys from entering the backstretch. “It's been challenging, but we've been very blessed at Gulfstream. They've done a very good job of keeping us running year-round without stopping. We've had no problems.”

No matter how many races he wins in the future, Zayas' resume will always have a nagging void until he can call himself a winning jockey in Puerto Rico.

“I left the jockey school two months earlier and came straight here to Florida, so I never got to ride in Puerto Rico. I went back one day and rode a couple races there, but I still haven't won a race there,” he said. “It bothers me a little bit. Eventually, I'll get back there and win a race someday. It's something that you grew up around and you need it.”

For now, Zayas will keep his focus on continuing his success during the Championship Meet in Saturday's Pegasus and Pegasus Turf.

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