Hallandale Beach | Horse Racing Free Tips

John Minchello's Competitive Speed closed from far back to capture Saturday's $60,000 Hallandale Beach at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., returning to winning form in her second start since a troubled run in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Hallandale Beach, a seven-furlong overnight handicap for fillies and mares, was featured on a 13-race program that was headlined later in the day by the $75,000 Carry Back, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

Competitive Speed, who finished off the board in the April 30 G1 Kentucky Oaks after encountering hard bumping at the start, returned to finish second in the June 5 Game Face Stakes, in which she got off to a slow start before making a solid late run. The daughter of Competitive Edge was once again a bit slow leaving her rail post position Saturday, but that would not turn out to be a handicap this time.

Shea D Summer, who registered a front-running victory while defeating Competitive Speed by 2 ½ lengths in the Game Face, reared in the gate to miss the start of the Hallandale Beach as Restofthestory and Emunah broke alertly to contest the early pace. Competitive Speed saved ground in sixth along the backstretch several lengths off the pacesetters, who set fractions of :23.08 for the first quarter and :45.56 seconds for the first half-mile. Shea D Summer, the 6-5 favorite ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, made a strong recovery to make a three-wide sweep into contention on the turn into the homestretch.

Jockey Leonel Reyes angled Competitive Speed off the rail on the turn into the homestretch to launch a four-wide drive as Shea D Summer kicked on to take a brief lead in mid-stretch. The Carlos David-trained favorite, however, was no match for the fresh legs of Competitive Speed, the 2-1 second betting choice who drew away to a length victory. Coach Jer's Joy rallied widest of all under J. C. Diaz Jr. to finish second, a length ahead of Restofthestory and jockey Edgard Zayas. Shea D Summer shortened stride late to finish fourth.

Competitive Speed ran seven furlongs in 1:24.24.

“They set a good pace for her. She was a little farther back, but the track is a little deep today and she was getting too much dirt and she didn't like that,” trainer Javier Gonzalez said. “When she got to the outside, she did what she was supposed to do – what she likes to do.”

Competitive Speed had earned her way into the Kentucky Oaks field with a strong Championship Meet, during which she won the Glitter Woman Stakes and registered third-place finishes in the Grade 2 Davona Dale and the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

“I was sad with what happened to her in the Kentucky Oaks,” Gonzalez said “She dealt with that, and now she's been getting better and better every day. She has a big heart.”

The post Competitive Speed Finds Winner’s Circle Again At Gulfstream Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prepping for a planned start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (Grade 1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team returned to winning form in Saturday's $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at the historic Hallandale Beach racetrack.

The Jewel headlined the 22nd edition of the Claiming Crown, a nine-stakes event that pays tribute to the claiming horses that provide the backbone of day-to-day racing programs at racetracks throughout the country.

Jesus' Team hadn't won in six starts since defeating $25,000 claimers at Gulfstream May 8, but the 3-year-old son of Tapiture earned 2-5 favoritism Saturday after finishing third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland in his two most recent starts.

“I think the race was good for him because he only had the one work since the Breeders' Cup. After the Breeders' Cup he was in Ocala in a round pen and small paddock,” trainer Jose D'Angelo said. “I think he's going very well into the Pegasus World Cup.”

Ridden by Luis Saez, Jesus' Team saved ground while racing directly behind Storm Runner, who set fractions of 23.14 and 46.40 seconds for the first half-mile of the 1 1/8-mile stakes for horses that had raced at least once for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower in 2019-2020. Storm Runner, who finished off the board in the 2019 Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1), set an uncontested pace along the backstretch and around the far turn under Corey Lanerie before entering the homestretch with a clear lead. Saez eased Jesus' Team off the rail coming off the turn into the homestretch, and the overachieving colt gradually wore down the pacesetter to prevail by three quarters of a length.

“This is a very nice horse, who ran a very big race last time. I knew today would be a little tough, because he ran so big last time out, but he has such a big heart,” Saez said. “Today, I had to ride him a little hard, but he gave me that kick and always tries. He's a nice horse.”

Jesus's Team ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.30.

“I know the speed might be hard to beat, so I'm very happy with his race,” D'Angelo said.

Dale Romans-trained Storm Runner, who won a $20,000 claiming race and a starter allowance race in his only two starts this year, finished two-lengths ahead of Dack Janiel's, who had stalked the pace outside Jesus' Team.

After winning the $25,000 claiming race in May and finishing second behind graded-stakes winner Sole Volante in an allowance in June at Gulfstream, Jesus' Team finished fourth in the Haskell (G1) and second in the ungraded Pegasus at Monmouth. He went on to finish third in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga before earning G1 placings in the Preakness and Dirt Mile.

“I am very sure he's going to improve because this race worked out very good for him,” D'Angelo said. “I can give him some days off and prepare him for the Pegasus World Cup.”

D'Angelo was a champion trainer in Venezuela and saddled his first starter in the U.S. after venturing to South Florida in June 2019.

“I feel blessed,” D'Angelo said.

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