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Zayas To Have New Competition When Gulfstream Spring/Summer Meet Opens Thursday

The Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., will kick off Thursday with an eight-race program. First-race post time is set for 1 p.m. ET during the meet that will run through Sept. 30.

The Spring/Summer Meet stakes schedule will be worth $3.5 million with $500,000 in incentives offered by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association for Florida-bred and Florida-sired horses.

The $350,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) and the $200,000 Smile Sprint Invitational (G3) will be contested on the July 3 Summit of Speed card, highlighting a program of 34 stakes.

The seven-furlong Princess Rooney is a designated Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' race with the winner earning a spot in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

The tradition-rich FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series will offer a total of $1.3 million in purses for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions. The popular series will kick off with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $100,000 Desert Vixen July 31, followed by the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan's Girl Aug. 28 and the $350,000 In Reality and $350,000 My Dear Girl Sept. 25.

On Thursday's opening day program, Stonehedge LLC's Seazan, who finished third in both the Affirmed and In Reality last year, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Race 2 feature, a $47,000 optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-olds at a mile. The Ralph Nicks trainee, who finished off the board while trying turf for the first time last time out, was beaten by just a half length while finishing second in an open optional claiming allowance at a mile in his previous start.

Jockey Edgard Zayas, the defending Spring/Summer Meet titlist, has seven mounts Thursday while coming off a career-best Championship Meet.

Gonzalez Gets Acquainted with Gulfstream Winner's Circle
Journeyman Edwin Gonzalez rode three winners on Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park while preparing to ride during the Spring/Summer Meet for the first time.

The Puerto Rico-born jockey, who had been winning at over a 30-percent clip the past few years while dominating at Penn National, scored aboard Ian Wilkes-trained Keitany ($5.40) in Race 1 with a ground-saving journey in the 1 1/16-mile maiden claiming race on turf. He came back to score aboard Keep Quiet ($) for trainer Saffie Joseph in Race 7, a $16,000 claiming race at one mile on turf, and Race 10 aboard Phat Man ($11.20).

“I'm looking forward to riding here during the summer. I'll keep working hard to win some races,” Gonzalez said. “I love Florida.”

On Saturday, his first day of riding at Gulfstream, Gonzalez came within a half-length of winning Saturday's Sir Shackleton aboard Frosted Grace, who held gamely to finish second behind multiple Grade 1 winner Basin.

Gonzalez, who rode 443 winners in Puerto Rico, scored his 1000^th win in the U.S. March 10 at Penn National.

Agent Kevin Meyocks will book mounts for Gonzalez, who has been named on four horses Thursday.

Other new faces in the jockey colony for the Spring/Summer meet include Chantal Sutherland and Jose Morelos, who will both see action Thursday.

Sutherland, a multiple graded stakes-winning jockey with more than 1000 career wins, has returned to Gulfstream Park after a long absence. Agent John Salamone has booked two mounts for Sutherland on the opening day card.

Jose Morelos, a 20-year-old jockey from Panama, is scheduled to ride for the first time in the U.S. at Gulfstream Thursday. The 2016 graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. riding school has been booked on three mounts by agent Jay Rushing.

Championship Meet Titlists Honored Sunday
The leading trainer, jockey and owner for the 2020-2021 Championship Meet were honored on Sunday's closing-day program at Gulfstream Park.

Todd Pletcher, who won his record 17th title with 58 wins, was honored in the winner's circle following Race 8. Irad Ortiz, who won his third straight title with a record 140 wins, was honored following Race 9. Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, who had 13 winners, were recognized following the Race 7.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 Guaranteed Jackpot $250,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $250,000 for Thursday's Spring/Summer Meet opening-day card at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday following Saturday's mandatory payout. Multiple tickets with six winners were each worth $24,008.72 Sunday.

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.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 will Span Races 3-8.

WHO'S HOT: Tyler Gaffalione, who finished third in the Championship Meet jockey standings, ended the meet with four wins. He won Race 3 aboard Don't Call Me Mary ($4), Race 8 on Girolamo's Attack ($6.80), Race 9 on My Sea Cottage ($7) and Race 12 aboard Young Flint ($9).

Saffie Joseph Jr., who finished second behind Todd Pletcher in the Championship Meet's standings, saddled back-to-back winners in Race 7 and Race 8, scoring with Keep Quiet ($16.20) and Girolamo's Attack ($6.80), respectively.

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Noble Drama Tops Saturday’s FTBOA Stakes At Tampa Bay Downs

Florida's historic Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry will be on display on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, with a pair of $100,000 stakes races sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association highlighting the 10-race card.

Post time for the first race is 12:12 p.m. The FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for colts and geldings is the third race, with the FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for fillies and mares the seventh race. Both races are for registered Florida-breds 3-years-old and upward who are sired by an FTBOA-registered Florida stallion. Each race will be contested on the main dirt track at a distance of 7 furlongs.

With a forecast of sunny skies and temperatures climbing into the mid-70s, fans are encouraged to be part of the excitement. Spectators are required to wear masks and encouraged to practice social distancing.

Despite having only seven entrants, the Marion County might be the most wide-open race on the card. The 3-year-old gelding Legal Deal, 4-year-old colt Jackson and 3-year-old colt Shivaree – the first, second and fourth-place finishers, respectively, in the Nov. 14 Millions Sprint Preview Stakes sprinting 6 furlongs on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park West – are set to resume their rivalry.

None of those three, however, are likely to be the betting favorite. That role should fall to 5-year-old gelding Noble Drama, who on that same Nov. 14 card was upset by 27-1 shot Quenane in the 1-mile Millions Classic Preview Stakes. Before that, Noble Drama had won the Benny The Bull Stakes and the FTBOA Florida Sire Wildcat Heir Stakes back-to-back at Gulfstream Park, giving him five career stakes victories.

Noble Drama races for his breeder, Harold L. Queen, and is trained by David Fawkes. He will be ridden by leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho. Noble Drama's victories include the 2018 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Jackson, bred and owned by Tracy Pinchin and trained by her husband, Jose Pinchin, won the Grade III World of Trouble Sprint Stakes back in February at Gulfstream Park. He is 3-for-3 at Tampa Bay Downs, all state-bred stakes victories. His victory in the 2019 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes was achieved in track-record time of 1:38.86 for the mile-and-40-yard distance.

Antonio Gallardo will ride Jackson.

Shivaree, bred and owned by Jacks or Better Farm and trained by Ralph Nicks, might be the most intriguing Marion County entrant. He's a multiple-stakes winner, and back in February and March he finished second in the Grade III Swale Stakes, the Hutcheson Stakes and the Grade I Curlin Florida Derby in succession, all at Gulfstream. He also competed in the Grade II Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Grade I Runhappy Travers at Saratoga. Roberto Alvarado, Jr., has the riding assignment.

The City of Ocala has attracted nine hopefuls, with 5-year-old mare Heiressall the probable favorite. Owned by My Purple Haze Stables and trained by Teresa Pompay, she won the Sheer Drama Stakes on Sept. 6 at Gulfstream before a fifth-place finish in the slop on Nov. 14 at Gulfstream Park West in the Millions Distaff Stakes. Gallardo will be the rider.

Other likely contenders include 5-year-old Tiz Possible Dear, who won that Millions Distaff Stakes; 4-year-old filly R Prerogative, who finished third in last year's City of Ocala; and 3-year-old Independent Miss, who has finished in the money in six consecutive starts.

Hector Diaz, Jr., will ride Tiz Possible Dear for owner Paradise Farms Corp. and trainer Peter Walder, while Camacho has the assignment on R Prerogative for owners Averill Racing and CCF Racing Stable and trainer Georgina Baxter.

Independent Miss races for her breeder-owner, Stonehedge LLC, and is trained by Michael Yates. Alberto Burgos is the jockey.

Bettors who choose to overlook 3-year-old The Goddess Lyssa, a supplemental entry, do so at their own risk. Although off since May 8, she is 3-for-4 for owner Team Equistaff, Inc., and leading Oldsmar trainer Gerald Bennett. Alvarado is the jockey.

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Gulfstream: Florida-Bred Bonuses Announced for 13 Championship Meet Stakes

Thirteen stakes races during Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet – including the Florida Derby (G1), Fountain of Youth (G2), Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Fred W. Hooper (G3) and Sunshine Millions – will have bonuses for Florida-breds properly registered with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA).

A total of $400,000 in bonus money will be distributed throughout the meet beginning Jan. 9 with the $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3).

While a dozen of the races will have a $25,000 'win only' bonus, the $800,000 Florida Derby (G1) will have $100,000 in Florida-bred distributive purse supplement funds available with 70 percent to a registered Florida-bred winner, 20 percent for a second-place finish and 10 percent for a third-place finish.

The $25,000 'win only' bonuses will be available to properly registered Florida-breds in the races below:

Jan. 9:

$100,000 Tropical Turf (G3)

Jan. 16:

$100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Turf
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf

Jan. 23:

$150,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3)

Jan. 30:

$200,000 Holy Bull (G3)
$100,000 Swale (G3)

Feb. 13:

$100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3)

Feb. 27:

$350,000 Fountain of Youth (G2)
$200,000 Davona Dale (G2)

March 27:

$250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)
NOTE: The $800,000 Florida Derby (G1) March 27 will have a $100,000 Florida-bred bonus.

Gulfstream's Championship Meet begins Wednesday, Dec. 2. The first Saturday of the meet will feature the $835,000 Claiming Crown. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Gulfstream's program will include five stakes, four graded, including the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) on the turf and the $100,000 Rampart (G3).

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FTBOA, Tampa Bay Downs Offer Lucrative Florida-Bred And Florida Sire Stakes Programs For 2020-21 Season

From the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association and Tampa Bay Downs will again present several added-money events and $860,000 in purse supplements for Florida-breds and Florida Sires Stakes-eligible runners during the Oldsmar, Fla. track's 2020-2021 season that is offering 90 days of thoroughbred racing from Nov. 25-May 2.

Horses eligible for the lucrative Florida Sire Stakes program will have extra money to run for starting Dec. 5 when the track presents the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-olds and the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, both set for six furlongs. The purse for each race includes a $50,000 win-only supplement for horses eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes program.

The following weekend, the track will offer the renewal of both the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County for FSS-eligible horses, 3-years-old and older at seven furlongs; and the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala for fillies and mares eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes, 3-years-old and older, also at seven furlongs.

“We are pleased to, once again, partner with Tampa Bay Downs and their horsemen in offering some very nice stakes purses and supplements for our Florida-breds competing there this Winter and Spring,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “We enjoy working with the Tampa Bay management and ownership team and appreciate how hard they work the meet while attracting a nice on-track crowd filled with out-of-state 'snowbirds' while continuing to offer a very competitive and popular simulcast signal nationwide.”

Florida Sire Stakes horses and Florida-breds will have the first extra incentives of the New Year in the $125,000 Pasco Stakes and in the $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes.

The Pasco is for 3-year-olds and the Gasparilla is for 3-year-old fillies, both set to go seven furlongs.

The Pasco and Gasparilla purses both include a $50,000 win-only supplement for Florida Sire Stakes eligible runners and a $25,000 win-only supplement for registered Florida-breds.

“We are very excited to offer these supplements for Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes-eligible horses,” Tampa Bay Downs racing secretary Allison DeLuca said. “We will feature these purse enhancements throughout the season and look forward to attracting excellent fields.”

A celebration of Florida's rich thoroughbred breeding and racing heritage takes place Sunday, March 28, 2021, when Tampa Bay Downs plays host to its 18th annual Florida Cup Day for registered Florida-breds.

The Florida Cup is made up of six stakes races, each offering $110,000 in purse money and is a collaborative endeavor between Tampa Bay Downs; the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association; and the Tampa Bay Downs Division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. Those purses include a $10,000 win-only supplement for Florida Sire Stakes-eligible competitors.

“Last year we had to cancel the Florida Cup races because of the impact of COVID-19,” DeLuca said. “So this year, we are more excited than ever to have our biggest day for Florida-breds. It is a very popular day with the horsemen and fans alike.”

Florida Cup 2021 will be made up of the following races restricted to registered Florida-breds.

$110,000 Grey Goose Turf Classic, 4-year-olds-and-older, mile-and-an-eighth, turf
$110,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs, dirt
$110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf, 3-year-olds, mile-and-a-sixteenth, turf
$110,000 NYRABets Sprint, 4-year-olds-and-older, 6 furlongs, dirt
$110,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies, 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs, dirt
$110,000 Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf, fillies and mares 3-years-old-and-older, mile-and-a-sixteenth, turf

The Florida Cup has seen such national stars as Live Oak Plantation's 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1)-winner World Approval, who was also honored that year with an Eclipse Award as the North American champion turf male. That year, World Approval started his banner campaign, that included two Grade 1 wins in the Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga and the Ricoh Woodbine Mile in Canada, with a victory in the EG Vodka Turf Classic Stakes.

Imperial Hint, the 2018 FTBOA Horse of the Year and an earner of more than $2 million in his career, won the 2016 Ocala Breeders' Sales Sophomore Stakes in his second career start before going on to twice win both the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes and the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.

Several other stakes throughout the season will offer purse supplements.

There will be a $25,000 win-only supplement for Florida-breds in four other stakes including the $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (Grade 3) for older horses going a mile-and-one-sixteenth on the turf, the $175,000 Endeavour Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at a mile-and-one-sixteenth, both to be run on Feb. 6; the Feb. 13, $100,000 Pelican Stakes for older horses going six furlongs; and in the Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile-and-one-eighth on March 6.

The $100,000 Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares and the $100,000 Turf Dash for older horses will offer $25,000 win-only supplements on Feb. 20 that will be a paid to Florida-breds that finish in the top six on a 60%-20%-10%-5%-3%-2% basis.

On March 6, the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) for 3-year-olds at a mile-and-one-sixteenth and the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-one-sixteenth on the turf, will offer $50,000 supplements for Florida-breds to be paid on the same 60-20-10-5-3-2 basis.

For more information on races for Florida-breds and Florida Sire Stakes-eligible runners at Tampa Bay Downs, contact Allison DeLuca, Tampa Bay Downs racing secretary or Margo Flynn, with Horsemen's and Horsewomen's Services at 813.855.4401.

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