‘Total Rock Star’ Tune In Ready To Roll In Claiming Crown Jewel

Very much the 'poster horse' for what the annual Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park represents, Mastic Beach Racing's Tune In will seek his seventh win in his last 10 starts in Saturday's $75,000 Jewel.

The Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who have run for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2020-2021, will headline an 11-race program offering nine starter stakes worth $810,000 in purses for the celebration of the blue-collar horses that support day-to-day programs at racetracks across the country.

Post time for Saturday's 11-race program is noon.

Tune In, who opened his career with a 3 ½-length win in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Keeneland in April 2019, has developed into a tough-as-nails competitor with a resolute will to win. The Diane Morici-trained gelding has notched a record of six wins, two places and one third in his last nine races.

“He's a cool dude,” Morici said. “He's a rock star; he's a total rock star.”

The son of Country Day, who is coming off a dominating victory in a one-turn mile starter allowance at Gulfstream, will attempt to win for the first time around two turns on dirt in the Jewel. His most recent attempt at two turns on dirt came Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs, where he held the lead in the stretch before settling for second behind multiple graded stakes-placed Major Fed.

“He went two turns at Churchill and got beat by a very nice horse,” Morici said. “At this level I think he should be fine.”

Tune In, who kicked off his impressive 9-race run with back-to-back two-turn victories over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream last winter, came back from his Churchill race six weeks later to return to winning form at Gulfstream. He will return in the Jewel off only three weeks between races.

“This is the first time I'm running him back this quick. I usually give him a little bit more time between races, but he did come out of his last race really well,” Morici said. “He shipped to Kentucky twice and ran his eyeballs out. He never missed an oat. He's a good eater. He's a class act. He's just a class act.”

Leonel Reyes as the return mount aboard Tune In.

John Fanelli, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch's Girolamo's Attack will also attempt to win for the first time around two turns in the Jewel. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding is coming off a victory in the one-turn mile Hollywood Lakes at Gulfstream.

“His best race seems to be a one-turn mile. He's 3-for-3 at Gulfstream at a one-turn mile,” Joseph said. “We're experimenting going two turns for the first time at a mile-and-an-eighth. We're going to give it a shot. It's a question mark if he wants to go two turns.”

Privately purchased after breaking his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream in April 2020, the son of Girolamo is usually forwardly placed while sprinting.

“Going longer, it allows him to get into an easier rhythm than when we were sprinting him earlier. I think that was the mistake we were making,” Joseph said. “It's a slower tempo [around two turns].”

Edgard Zayas has the return call aboard the son of Girolamo.

Joseph will also be represented by Magic Cap Stables' Twelve Volt Man, who became eligible for the Jewel two races back when he won an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while running for a $35,000 tag. The 3-year-old Violence colt finished fourth in the Showing Up Nov. 6 in next start.

Edwin Gonzalez has the mount on STwelve Volt Man.

Glenn Fagan's Glory of Florida enters the Jewel off a close second-pace finish behind Girolamo's Attack in the Hollywood Lakes, in which he rallied from mid-pack but was unable to sustain his drive in deep stretch. The Laura Cazares-trained 5-year-old son of Dialed In will be ridden back by Miguel Vasquez.

Michel Winters' Strike Appeal has ventured from West Virginia to Gulfstream Park with an impressive two-turn record. The Odin Londono Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding has won eight of his last 10 starts, all around two turns, at Thistledown and Mountaineer Park. The son of Tonalist was claimed two starts back for $25,000 out of an optional claiming allowance. Jockey Erik Barbaran has accompanied Strike Appeal from Mountaineer for the Jewel.

Trainer Michael Maker, who has saddled a record 18 winners of Claiming Crown races, will be represented in the Jewel by Ten Strike Racing and Thorough Crowd's Hanalei's Houdini. The 5-year-old Jersey Town gelding, who has raced for a claiming price as low as $16,000, will make his first start for his new connections Friday after being claimed for $50,000 out of a fifth-place finish at Keeneland. Paco Lopez has the call.

J. Richard Perkins' Ludington, a back-to-back optional claiming allowance winner; Bianco Stable's Braccio Di Ferro, who captured a $20,000 claiming race by 3 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Nov. 19; GU Racing Stable's Mo Hawk, who finished second in the 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance on Tapeta last time out; and Partner Stable LLC's Hard Lighting, who ran in the 2020 Blue Grass (G2); round out the field.

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Saffie Joseph Jr. Sets His Sights On Winning Gulfstream Championship Meet Training Title

After adding the inaugural Fall Meet title to his ever-growing list of accomplishments at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is setting his sights on the upcoming 2021-2022 Championship Meet.

Joseph, whose 36 victories during the fall more than doubled the total of nearest competitor Jorge Delgado, finished second behind perennial leader Todd Pletcher during last season's Championship Meet, eight wins behind the Hall of Famer's total of 58 wins.

“The Championship Meet is Todd's meet. Last year, we were pretty close, but we didn't have as many horses as we have this year. I think we can give him a run for his money,” Joseph said. “He's a legend at Gulfstream. What is it, 15, 16, 17 years? We hope to follow in his footsteps and one day take a run at him. Will it be this year, next year, or the future? I think with the horses were getting and with so many owners supporting us, I think it's possible.”

The 34-year-old Barbados native has long been a fan of the newly inducted Hall of Famer, who has captured 18 consecutive Championship Meet titles.

“I grew up coming here from Barbados on holiday when I was 16, 17, seeing Todd. I would just bet Todd and Johnny V [Velazquez]. That was my favorite combination,” Joseph said. “Just being able to compete against him – he's an icon trainer – I'm just thankful to be in this position.”

Joseph understands he, alone, can't dethrone the longstanding king of Gulfstream.

“I'm just thankful for the horses we have for the people we train for. We have a good team. That's the important thing – you need the horses and a good team behind you,” Joseph said.

Joseph did get the better of Pletcher Sunday when he saddled Girolamo's Attack ($4.20) for a front-running victory in the $60,000 Miami Gardens Handicap. Pletcher-trained Fearless, who captured the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile in February, finished second while coming off a six-month layoff.

Jockey Edgard Zayas, who dominated the Fall Meet title race with 43 wins, once again enjoyed success while teaming with Joseph Sunday while guiding Girolamo's Attack to victory in the mile overnight handicap, in which he carried five pounds fewer than Fearless, the 125-pound highweight.

Girolamo's Attack, who captured the Oct. 27 Miami Beach Handicap in similar fashion, set fractions of :24.12 for the first quarter and :46.57 for the first half mile before holding off Fearless through the stretch to win by a length in 1:34.50.

“His last race was a huge race, but I wasn't sure if because the fractions were so slow, he kicked on and got brave. But today, he definitely showed he's getting better and getting to be a nice horse,” Zayas said. “Early in this horse's career, he had some mental problems. He was a little crazy, but I think he's getting it all together. Today, he acted super professional.”

Fresh off a dominant Spring/Summer Meet title campaign, the 28-year-old native of Puerto Rico finished with 14 wins more than runner-up Chantal Sutherland.

“I'm really happy and blessed. I'm really appreciative of all the opportunities I get from the owners and trainers,” Zayas said. “The quality of horses in South Florida this time of year is getting better, and I've been getting on some nice horses. Hopefully, there are some big things coming up.”

Zayas finished fifth in wins and purses-won during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet and looks forward to the upcoming winter meet that gets underway Dec. 3.

“It's definitely a new challenge. We did pretty good last year. We finished in the Top 5. I'm looking forward to the Championship Meet. I'm super, super excited,” Zayas said.

Zayas and Joseph also teamed for a victory with Designed for Kitten ($6.40) in the Fall Meet's finale.

In Sunday's co-featured Opa-Locka, a mile overnight handicap for fillies and mares, Helping Lisa D ($9.40) pulled off a mild upset following a ground-saving ride by Paco Lopez. The Steven Dwoskin-trained 6-year-old daughter of Flat Out, rated well off the early pace set by 8-5 favorite Dance d'Oro before rallying along the rail to score by 1 ½ lengths in 1:36.50.

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Mandatory Rainbow 6 Jackpot Payout Yields $41,039 Payoff Saturday At Gulfstream

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool yielded multiple payoffs of $41,039.94 Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The popular multi-race wager had gone unsolved for 21 racing days in a row following a $461,035.47 jackpot payoff Oct. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

There was one ticket eligible to take down the whole pool heading into the final race of the six-race sequence (Races 5-10) with No. 5 Spinning Kitten, who finished off the board.

The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is usually 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 usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. However, on mandatory-payout days, the entire pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the six-race sequence.

A jackpot pool of $450,473.78 was carried over to Saturday's program. Betting on the six-race sequence reached $2,048,201 Saturday.

The Rainbow 6 will start anew Sunday, the closing day of the inaugural Fall Meet, with a $75,000 jackpot pool guarantee. Sunday's first-race post time is sent for Noon.

Sunday's program will be co-headlined by a pair of $60,000 overnight handicaps at a mile – the Miami Gardens for 3-year-olds and up in Race 3 and the Opa-Locka for fillies and mares in Race 10.

Todd Pletcher-trained Fearless, who captured the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile last winter, is scheduled to come off a six-month layoff in the Miami Gardens. Rated as the 1-2 favorite in the morning line, the Repole Stable's 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper followed up his Gulfstream Park Mile score with a close second in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap and a third in the G3 Pimlico Special before going to the sidelines. Paco Lopez has the call.

Steve Budhoo-trained Eye of a Jedi, who captured the G3 Ghostzapper during the Championship Meet, and Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Girolamo's Attack, who captured the Oct. 27 Miami Beach Handicap, will challenge Fearless.

Joseph Jr.-trained Queen Nekia, also a graded-stakes winner during the Championship Meet, is scheduled to return from a three-month layoff in the Opa-Locka. The 6-year-old daughter of Harlington, who captured the G3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream, went on to finish fourth in the G1 Ogden Phipps at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and third in the G2 Delaware Handicap in Wilmington, Del.

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Maker Leads With 20 Horses Nominated For Claiming Crown At Gulfstream

Graded stakes-placed in his most recent start, Three Diamonds Farm's Doubly Blessed is among six Mike Maker-trained nominations for the $125,000 Jewel, the centerpiece of the $810,000 nine-race Claiming Crown Dec. 4 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Doubly Blessed, who finished third in the Sept. 21 Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., is among 27 nominees for the Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds and up who have started for a claiming price for $35,000 or less in 2020-2021. Maker, who has saddled a record 18 winners of Claiming Crown races, is also represented on the noms list by Auburn Hills, First Line, Healing, Malthael, and Mr. Tip.

Maker, who has saddled two Jewel champions, has nominated 20 horses for the Claiming Crown, the annual showcase for the blue-collar Thoroughbreds that are the day-to-day backbone of the racing industry throughout the country.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has nominated four horses for the Jewel, including John Fanelli and partners' Girolamo's Attack who most recently captured the Oct. 27 Miami Beach Handicap, and Sonata Stable's Calibrator, who most recently romped to a dominating optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream.

The Claiming Crown, which attracted a total of 267 nominations for nine starter stakes, will headline opening weekend of the 2021-2022 Championship Meet that will get underway Friday, Dec. 3.

The $95,000 Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up who have raced for a claiming price of $25,000 or less during 2020-2021, leads all Claiming Crown races with 50 nominations, including five trained by Maker, who has saddled a record seven Emerald winners. Bruno Schickedanz's War Bomber, who captured the $125,000 Toronto Cup Sept. 12 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, in his first start after being claimed for $25,000, is also prominent on the noms list.

The $95,000 Tiara, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-2021, drew 30 nominations, including Mike Repole's Kitten by the Sea, whom Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher saddled for back-to-back optional claiming allowance races at Saratoga.

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The $90,000 Distaff Dash, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less, drew 27 nominations; the $90,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less, attracted 33 nominations; the $85,000 Rapid Transit, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up who ran for a $16,000 claiming price or less, got 27 nominations; the $80,000 Glass Slipper, a one-mile stakes for fillies and mares who ran for a $12,500 claiming price or less, attracted 24 nominations; the $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who raced for a claiming price of $9000 or less, drew 25 nominations; the $75,000 Express, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up who have run for a claiming price of $8000 or less, received 24 nominations.

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