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Gulfstream Park: Castellano Returns, Irad Ortiz Jr. Rides Five Winners; Jackpot Has $400,000 Guarantee On Thursday

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano returned to action Wednesday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., after sitting out for three months while rehabbing from surgery on his right leg.

The five-time Championship Meet titlist finished fourth aboard Sexy Dream in Race 9, a mile optional starter allowance for 3-year-old fillies that was taken off the turf. While the result may not have been what he would have likes, Castellano was more than happy to get back to riding horses in the afternoon.

“I'm every excited, very motivated,” Castellano said. “That was my first mount. We all are looking to win first time. It didn't work out, but we're looking at the big picture. We're looking to get fit, riding a lot of horses. I'm looking to work hard. Hopefully, I'll get a lot of support from the owners and trainers.”

A winner of 5,328 races and more than $354 million in purse earnings, Castellano had arthroscopic surgery to clean up some debris in his right leg, near the hip, Nov. 16 in New York. He went through physical therapy and returned to Florida earlier this month to start getting on horses.

Castellano is named on two horses Thursday – Todd Pletcher-trained Deemed Essential in Race 7, a maiden special weight on turf for 3-year-old fillies, and Graham Motion-trained All Come True in Race 10, a mile optional claiming allowance for older fillies and mares on turf.

Castellano won a record five consecutive Championship Meet riding titles at Gulfstream from 2011-12 through 2015-16. During that time, he was voted the Eclipse Award as champion jockey four times, from 2013-16.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $400,000 Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for a second racing day following Saturday's mandatory payout. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $4,130 Wednesday.

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.

WHO'S HOT: Fresh off a natural grand slam Sunday, defending two-time Championship Meet titlist Irad Ortiz Jr. rode another five winners Wednesday, scoring aboard Cat Lady ($4.60) in Race 1, Jacohare ($13.80) in Race 2, American Matters ($7.60) in Race 5, Dem a Wonder ($4.60) in Race 6, and Subsidiary ($10.60) in Race 8.

Ortiz sits atop the jockey standings with 93 wins.

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Greatest Honour ‘No Pushover’ In Early Training, But Holy Bull Winner Definitely Moving Forward Now

Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour, who established himself as a prime 2021 Triple Crown prospect with a powerful victory in the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3), is scheduled to return in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

The Shug McGaughey-trained son of Tapit is prominent on the list of 36 nominations for the 1 1/16-mile major prep for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n Dale at Xalapa March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Greatest Honour, who broke his maiden in his fourth career start Dec. 26 at Gulfstream, rallied from seventh in a field of nine to draw away by 5 ¾ lengths under Jose Ortiz in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

“I had a lot of confidence that he'd run well, but I didn't know what that meant. I maybe was a little surprised how well he ran and how much he dominated those horses,” his Hall of Fame trainer said. “I was very pleased and pleased the way he came out of it.”

Courtlandt Farms' homebred colt launched his career with a pair of strong closing third-place finishes in maiden special weight sprints at Saratoga and Belmont before losing a photo finish in his first trip around two turns at Aqueduct and completing his juvenile season with his 1 1/16-mile maiden breaker at Gulfstream.

“Two turns is a big help. All of his races around two turns have been good,” McGaughey said. “I think he'll run as far as a horse wants to run.”

McGaughey, nevertheless, was impressed with how quickly he came to hand upon joining his stable last year.

“One of the things about him is that he's a big colt with a distance pedigree, so for him to get to the races at Saratoga shows what an athletic-type horse he is,” McGaughey said. “That's a big feather in his cap. One of the things that impresses me is when I saw him in March at Courtlandt Farms and if you told me that he was going to run right off the bat at Saratoga, he didn't give me that impression. He looked more like a late-fall horse.”

Not that getting Greatest Honour to the races came without challenges.

“He's no pushover by any means. He had some things about him in his training that we had to get out of him. Being by Tapit, they can be a little difficult at times and he wasn't an exception to that rule,” McGaughey said. “But once we got him going in a forward position, he's taken everything really well. It's interesting how well he acts on race day and in the paddock and those types of things.”

McGaughey is hoping that Greatest Honour will follow in the hoofprints of Orb, whom he saddled for victories in the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2013.

Three Diamonds Farms' Fire At Will is among the most accomplished Fountain of Youth nominees, having captured the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland in his most recent start. The Mike Maker-trained son of Declaration of War also captured the Pilgrim (G2) on turf at Belmont but broke his maiden in the off-the-turf With Anticipation at Saratoga in his second career start. Fire At Will is scheduled to make his second career start on dirt in the Fountain of Youth.

Godolphin LLC has a pair of nominees for the Fountain of Youth – Brad Cox-trained Essential Quality, last year's 2-year-old champion who is not scheduled to run, and Brendan Walsh-trained Prevalence, a dazzling 8 ½-length debut winner at Gulfstream who being considered for a return in the 75th running of the race.

Trainer Doug O'Neill has two on the list of FOY nominees – Roadrunner Racing and partners' Hot Rod Charlie, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up who finished a close third most recently in the Robert Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita; and ERJ Racing LLC and partners' The Great One, the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) runner-up who broke his maiden Jan.23 at Santa Anita.

SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and partners' Tarantino and WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s Prime Factor, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Holy Bull, are also notable names on the FOY nominations list.

Rodolphe Brisset-trained Tarantino, pressed the pace before finishing second in his first start on dirt. The son of Pioneerof the Nile finished 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Todd Pletcher-trained Prime Factor who raced evenly to finish third in his first start since capturing his debut by 8 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream Dec. 12.

Pletcher-trained Promise Keeper and Unbridled Honor are also FOY nominees. WinStar Farm LLC and Woodford Thoroughbreds' Promise Keeper, a son of Constitution, romped to a debut victory by five lengths in his second career start at Gulfstream Feb. 6; Whisper Hill Farm LLC's Unbridled Honor, a son of Honor Code, broke his maiden last time out at Tampa Bay Downs around two turns.

Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and partners' Drain the Clock, who is coming off a 6 ¼-length victory in the Swale (G3) and a 7 ½-length score in the Limehouse at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is likely to return in either the Fountain of Youth or Gotham at Aqueduct.

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Champion, Breeders’ Cup Winner Vequist Tops Nominees To Feb. 27 Davona Dale

Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swilcan Stable's Vequist, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2020, stands out among 30 nominees as she is poised to launch her sophomore season in the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) Saturday, Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

The one-mile Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies is among eight stakes, seven graded, on a spectacular program supporting the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds, and serves as the next step for sophomore females on the road to the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 27.

Last year's Gulfstream Park Oaks was won by Swiss Skydiver, who would go on to defeat males in the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) and win the Alabama (G1) en route to the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly.

Trained by Robert E. 'Butch' Reid Jr., Vequist broke her maiden in her second start – a 9 ½-length romp in the seven-furlong Spinaway (G1) last summer at Saratoga. From there, the daughter of 2016 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist ran second in the one-mile Frizette (G1) and captured the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland by two lengths.

Vequist has spent the winter in South Florida, posting four works at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. Her most recent came Feb. 13, when she went five furlongs in 59.65 seconds, second-fastest of 30 horses.

Trained and co-owned by Timothy Hamm, Dayoutoftheoffice is also nominated to the Davona Dale. She broke her maiden sprinting 4 ½ furlongs last May at Gulfstream, then won the Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga and beat Vequist in the Frizette before suffering her first loss when second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Others prominent among Davona Dale nominees are Ken McPeek-trained stablemates Simply Ravishing and Crazy Beautiful, 1-2 finishers in the Alcibiades (G1) last fall at Keeneland; trainer Todd Pletcher's undefeated duo of Zaajel, winner of the Jan. 30 Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream, and Malathaat, yet to race at 3 after capturing the Tempted and Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct; and stakes winners Adios Trippi, Competitive Speed, Curlin's Catch, Dreaming of Drew, Gulf Coast, No Mo' Spending, Oliviaofthedesert and Quinoa Tifah.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, pointing Holy Bull (G3) winner Greatest Honour to the Fountain of Youth, also has Performer among 18 nominees to the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) for 4-year-olds and up on the main track. Grade 1-placed Performer's two Grade 3 wins include the Fred Hooper Jan. 23 at Gulfstream.

Claimer-turned Grade 1-winner Math Wizard is also nominated, along with multiple graded-stakes winner Tax, cross-nominated in the Mac Diarmida but yet to run on turf; Eye of a Jedi, second in the Hooper and Harlan's Holiday (G3) this winter; Sunshine Classic winner Last Judgment; Mr Freeze, winner of the Fayette (G2) and second in the Pegasus World Cup last year; 2020 Hooper winner Phat Man and War Stopper.

Twenty-nine older horses were nominated to the $200,000 Mac Diarmida (G2) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf, 11 of them by Mike Maker, who captured the past two editions of the race with Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Zulu Alpha. Among his contingent are Grade 1 winner Aquaphobia; Bemma's Boy, winner of last year's Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream; Cross Border, most recently third in the Pegasus Turf Jan. 23; and Tide of the Sea and Temple, 1-2 in Gulfstream's W.L. McKnight (G3) Jan. 23.

Pletcher nominated Pegasus Turf winner Colonel Liam and War Stopper, a two-time winner on dirt during the Championship Meet. Multi-millionaire Sadler's Joy won the Mac Diarmida in 2018 and most recently ran fourth in the McKnight to open his 8-year-old season. Graded-stakes winners Admiralty Pier, Admission Office, Eons and Spooky Channel are also on the list of nominees.

Colonel Liam is also one of 23 horses nominated to the $125,000 Canadian Turf (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles, along with Largent, the Dec. 12 Fort Lauderdale (G2) winner, and 2020 Appleton (G3) winner Social Paranoia, who respectively ran second and fourth behind their stablemate in the Pegasus Turf.

Fillies and mares 4 and up will contest the $125,000 The Honey Fox (G3) going one mile and the $125,000 The Very One (G3), contested at 1 3/16 miles. Got Stormy, a multiple Grade 1 winner of more than $2 million, and Marshua's River (G3) winner Zofelle top 27 Honey Fox nominees, while the 22 The Very One noms include Always Shopping, who became a graded winner on turf and dirt with her victory in the Jan. 23 La Prevoyante (G3) going 1 ½ miles.

Aside from the Fountain of Youth, sophomores will share the spotlight in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride (G3) for fillies and the $100,000 Palm Beach, both at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Gulfstream stakes winners Con Lima, Quinoa Tifah and Spanish Loveaffair are among 20 Herecomesthebride nominees, while the Palm Beach attracted 22 nominations led by Kitten's Joy (G3) winner Chess's Dream.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Fire At Will and Tarantino, second in the Holy Bull (G3) in his dirt debut, are also nominated to the Palm Beach but are being pointed to the Fountain of Youth.

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Catalog For Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale Now Online

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 184 entries for The Gulfstream Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training, to be held on Wednesday, March 31, in the racetrack's walking ring. The sale will begin at 2 p.m.

The under tack show is scheduled for Monday, March 29, beginning at 9 a.m.

“We are excited to be returning to Gulfstream Park in March to conduct the nation's premier 2-year-olds in training sale,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “The Gulfstream Sale annually provides an unrivaled concentration of quality, and this year's catalog is loaded.”

This year's catalog cover features several of the sale's recent star graduates. These include Nadal, winner of last year's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Grade 1 and multiple graded stakes winner Bellafina, as well as talented graded stakes winners Yaupon, Donna Veloce, and Share the Ride.

The catalog's back cover provides a list of important races won by Gulfstream graduates since the sale was first conducted at the Hallandale Beach facility in 2015.

“In a short period of time, Gulfstream grads have won 13 different Grade 1 races, including the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Met Mile, and the Florida Derby twice,” continued Browning. “If you want to play at the top of the game, this sale – and its dirt race track – will get you there.”

The catalog may now be viewed online and will also be available via the Equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogs will be available from Fasig-Tipton offices in late February.

Fasig-Tipton will also offer a supplemental catalog once again this year. Supplemental entries will be accepted on an approval basis.

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