Juan Carlos Diaz Jr., the son of a Puerto Rican legend, made a return to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Saturday, more than two years after a brief stopover on his way to Southern California during his apprentice year.
The 20-year-old son of Juan Carlos Diaz rode Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Uncork the Bottle ($15.60) to a deep-closing victory in Race 3 aboard his second mount since his return to Gulfstream for the Spring/Summer Meet. Diaz rode Joseph-trained Braver Than We Are for a victory on March 10, 2019, during a 13-race stint at Gulfstream before riding out his apprenticeship in Southern California.
“I thank Saffie Joseph Jr. He has always supported me,” said Diaz of the Gulfstream Park-based trainer who notched stakes victories Saturday at Aqueduct with Mischevious Alex in Carter (G1) and Drain the Clock in the Bay Shore (G3).
Diaz rode a majority of his 79 career victories during his apprenticeship in Southern California before returning to Puerto Rico for the past few months to ride alongside his father, who has ridden 5,298 winners.
“I liked California. I did good there, but with COVID-19, I went home and rode there for two months. Now, I'm here,” Diaz said. “My father has helped me a lot. He told me to go to Miami.”
Romero Maragh, who notched his first career win at Gulfstream March 29, 2018, before eventually making his way to New York, also got reacquainted with the Gulfstream winner's circle Saturday on his second day of action during the Sprint/Summer Meet. Maragh guided Cuy ($10.20) to victory in Race 1.
Sunday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $400,000 for Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the fourth racing day in a row since last Saturday's mandatory payout. Tickets with all six winners were each worth $29,537.72.
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.
The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10 on the Easter Sunday program that will get underway at 1 p.m.
There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover into the first race Sunday of $2,471.10.
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