Gulfstream | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Right Opportunity’: Distance Should Suit Always Shopping In Saturday’s Via Borghese

Always Shopping, a stakes winner on turf and dirt, and stablemate Cap de Creus, seeking her first career stakes victory, will line up together for the first time in Saturday's $100,000 Via Borghese at Gulfstream Park.

The 3 1/6-mile Via Borghese for fillies and mares 3 and up on the grass will be the fourth stakes try for Gainesway Stable's Cap de Creus, exiting a fifth in the 1 ½-mile Zagora Oct. 31 over a yielding course at Belmont Park.

A 4-year-old daughter of Tapit, Cap de Creus ran four times during last winter's Championship Meet, running second in a pair of allowances by a half-length combined and finishing eighth in the The Very One (G3) and fourth in the Orchid (G3).

Overall, Cap de Creus has finished third or better in 10 of 18 starts. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride from Post 4 in a field of nine.

“Cap de Creus has consistently run well and we're trying to get some black type by her name. She's certainly run well enough to deserve it, she just hasn't quite done it,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Always Shopping is coming off a couple of really good efforts and the distance should suit her. I'm happy with both of them.”

Winner of the 2019 Gazelle (G2) last April over Aqueduct's main track, Repole Stable's 4-year-old Always Shopping made her grass debut running fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Treasure Coast June 7 and won the 1 1/16-mile Monroe Sept. 7, both over the Gulfstream turf. She was beaten a head when second in the 1 ½-mile Dowager (G3) last out Oct. 18 at Keeneland.

“We always kind of had [turf] in the back of our mind; we were just kind of looking for the right opportunity,” Pletcher said. “She's a filly that wants a lot of distance and, obviously, there's more opportunities for those types on the turf.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Always Shopping from Post 8.

In a loaded edition of the $100,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) featuring Grade 1 winners Firenze Fire and Mind Control and defending champion Diamond Oops, Pletcher will send out Shadwell Stable homebred Haikal.

The seven-furlong Mr. Prospector will be the first start for Haikal since running fifth in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) Feb. 29 for previous trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Haikal joined Pletcher after McLaughlin retired to become jockey agent for Luis Saez, and the 4-year-old colt has been training steadily at Palm Beach Downs for his return.

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Dec. 19 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

SIX-FIGURE MEDAG COLT MAKES FIRST START AT TAMPA

3rd-TAM, $27.5K, Msw, 2yo, 1m 40yds, 1:12 p.m.

Godolphin’s NEW DAWN (Medaglia d’Oro), a $600,000 KEESEP buy, will face the starter for the first time Saturday at Tampa. She is out of SW Wait Til Dawn (Giant’s Causeway), who is a full-sister to GSW Excited, who in turn is the dam of SW & MGSP Thrilled (Uncle Mo). This is also the family of MGISW Spain (Thunder Gulch). TJCIS PPs

PLETCHER UNVEILS PRICEY ‘CHROME’ COLT

5th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:45p.m.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable joined forces to secure INSPIRATION POINT (California Chrome) for $725,000 at the delayed OBS April Sale and the colt debuts here for Todd Pletcher. A $65,000 RNA at KEESEP, the gray became his sire’s most expensive offspring after breezing in a sharp :20 3/5. He has continued to breeze sharply for Pletcher, including a half-mile bullet in :47 flat (1/34) two works back over the Belmont training track Dec. 9. His unraced dam Diva Style (Unbridled’s Song) is a half to GSW Tizfiz (Tiznow), who is the dam of MGISW Tiz the Law (Constitution). TJCIS PPs

STONESTREET DEBUTANTE DEBUTS IN NOLA

8th-FG, $50K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:25 p.m.

Stonestreet homebred PAULINE’S PEARL (Tapit) looks to follow in the hoofprints of her talented dam Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union) as she gets her career started for the same trainer, Steve Asmussen, at the Fair Grounds Saturday. Barbara Banke purchased Hot Dixie Chick for $435,000 at the 2009 FTFFEB juvenile sale and she won four times, including the GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga. She is also the dam of Union Jackson, who carried the Stonestreet colors to a pair of stakes win and a graded-stakes placing during his tenure in the Asmussen barn. He now stands stud at Becky Thomas’ Sequel New York. Out of GSW Above Perfection (In Excess {Ire}), Hot Dixie Chick is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and GSW Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), who brought $1.5-million from Spendthrift at FTKNOV last month. Pauline’s Pearl enters off a best-of-21 five panels at Fair Grounds in 1:00 1/5 Dec. 10. Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider homebred Symptom (Runhappy) also makes her first trip to the post here. The bay is out of GSW Sign (Pulpit), who is a half-sister to GSW Vexed (Arch). She prepped for this with a half-mile bullet in :47 1/5, the best of 78 at the distance, in NOLA Dec. 11. TJCIS PPs

EXPENSIVE QUALITY ROAD COLT MAKES CAREER BOW

11th-GP, $50K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:14 p.m.

John Oxley’s $625,000 KEESEP acquisition COURAGEOUSLY (Quality Road) debuts in this spot for trainer Mark Casse. Out of MSW Miss Red Delicious (Empire Maker), the dark bay is a half to GSW Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}) and SP Follow No One (Uncle Mo). Miss Red Delicious is a half to MGSW & GISP Lady Apple (Curlin), who brought $1.2 million at FTKNOV; SW & GSP Dr. Diamonds Prize (Pure Prize); and the dam of SW & GISP Parlor (Lonhro {Aus}). Todd Pletcher saddles another intriguing firster in Ultimate Gift (Pioneerof the Nile). The $350,000 KEESEP buy is out of GSW Savvy Supreme (Distorted Humor), a full-sister to two-time GI Whitney S. winner Commentator.

TJCIS PPs

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Laurel Park, Gulfstream Gear Up For Stronach 5

Friday's Stronach 5, featuring an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will feature five competitive races from Gulfstream Park and Laurel Park, including two on the turf.

The Stronach 5 kicks off at 3:49 ET with the eighth race from Laurel and concludes with Gulfstream's 10^th race at 5:10 ET.

Handicappers from Gulfstream and Laurel have put together an All-Star Stronach 5 ticket of $108.

All-Star Ticket: https://www.xbtv.com/video/stronach-5/stronach-5-all-star-ticket-for-december-18th-2020/

Laurel's eighth race begins the sequence. The six-furlong optional allowance event brings together Trunk of Money, a winner of three consecutive races for trainer Scott Lake, and Fille d'Esprit, a winner of her last three and six of her last seven. John Robb trains.

The second leg of the sequence, Gulfstream's eighth race, is a starter optional claimer at a mile on the turf. Mike Maker sends out Storming Lion, a maiden winner at Churchill Downs last time out. Thinkaboutit, trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., enters the race off a victory against maiden claimers at Gulfstream Park West as does Honorable from the stable of Todd Pletcher.

After a two-turn claiming event at Laurel for $5,000 claimers which attracted a field of 10, the Stronach 5 wraps up with two races from Gulfstream. The fourth leg of the sequence, Gulfstream's ninth race, an allowance optional claimer contested over a mile turf course for fillies and mares, brings together a competitive field of 10 including graded-stakes placed Sister Hanan from the Brad Cox stable and six other stakes-placed fillies and mares. Gulfstream's 10^thrace wraps up the Stronach 5 as a field of 10 claimers go six furlongs.

Friday's races and sequence:

– Leg One – Laurel Park 8^th Race: (10 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:49 ET, 12:49 PT

– Leg Two –Gulfstream Park 8^th Race: (9 entries, 1 mile turf) 4:08 ET, 1:08 PT

– Leg Three –Laurel Park 9^th Race: (10 entries, 1 1 1/6 mile) 4:18 ET, 1:18 PT

– Leg Four –Gulfstream Park 9^th Race: (10 entries, 1 mile turf) 4:39 ET, 1:39 PT

– Leg Five –Gulfstream West 10^th Race: (10 entries, 6 furlongs) 5:10 ET, 2:10 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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‘Everything Fell Into Place’: Alvarado Back At Gulfstream Full Time

A year-round force on the New York racing circuit for the past several years, jockey Junior Alvarado has returned to south Florida for the winter months to compete at Gulfstream Park, where he rode his first winner in the U.S. in 2007.

“It's around 12 years since I've ridden full time here. I'm pretty happy to be here again. I love Florida. You can't beat this nice weather in the wintertime,” Alvarado said. “I'm glad things worked out this year. It's very important to start off on the right foot.”

On his first day of riding during the 2020-2021 championship meet, Alvarado guided Barclay Tagg-trained Niko's Dream to victory in the $75,000 My Charmer and finished second aboard Tagg-trained Doswell in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (Grade 2).

Alvarado's move from Aqueduct to Gulfstream for the winter is hardly a case of needing a change of scenery. The 36-year-old journeyman has been extremely successful during the winter months at Aqueduct where he has won at rates of 27 percent, 24 percent and 23 percent the past three years.

“It was always on my mind, but sometimes you have to measure the right time. Things have to fall into place. I think this year with the COVID, having two kids being able to do school on the computer makes it easy for me to bring them here with me,” said Alvarado, who has three children, sons Adrian and Axel, and daughter Adalyn, with his wife, Kelly. “This year, everything fell into place.”

Alvarado, a son of a jockey, rode his first winner in Venezuela in 2005 before venturing to south Florida in 2007. He rode in his first race in the U.S. at Gulfstream Feb. 2, 2007 and registered his first win aboard Satira in a maiden claiming race at Gulfstream two weeks later. Alvarado moved on the Chicago circuit in 2008, winning the riding title at Arlington Park in 2009 before venturing to New York in 2010. He has become so well-established that he became Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's year-round go-to jockey in New York.

While he has remained behind in New York in past winters, Alvarado has followed Mott to south Florida this year.

“That was one of the main reasons. Riding a lot of good horses for Bill Mott definitely pushes you to move your tack down here,” said Alvarado, who has ridden 1,760 winners during his career in the U.S.

Although he hasn't ridden regularly in south Florida for several years, Alvarado ventured to Gulfstream in 2016 to ride Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Mohaymen to victory in the Holy Bull (G2) and Fountain of Youth (G2), After a subpar showing in the Florida Derby (G1), Mohaymen finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) while providing Alvarado with his first Triple Crown mount.

Through past experience and close observation of racing at Gulfstream, Alvarado was prepared for the switch from New York to south Florida.

“It's definitely something you have to adjust to. You can't leave a horse with too much to do, because you'll never get there,” he said. “I've been watching races to be able to translate that. Sometimes you need to adjust. That's what I've been trying to do with the first horses I've been riding – to make sure to put them in the right spot, close enough so they don't have too much to do.”

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