Janus Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Horse For The Course Carotari Scores Janus Win On Gulfstream Turf

William A. Branch's multiple stakes winner Carotari made a triumphant return to his favorite course, cruising to a front-running 1 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 Janus at Gulfstream Park to open Friday's New Year's Eve program at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track.

The Janus for 3-year-olds and up sprinting five furlongs on the grass was the first of three $100,000 stakes on the card, followed by a pair of turf events – the 1 3/8-mile Via Borghese and five-furlong Abundantia, both for fillies and mares 3 and older.

Sent off the even-money favorite in a field of eight that featured four other stakes winners including Group 1 winner Extravagant Kid, Carotari ($4) broke from outside each of his seven rivals but was outrun early by 45-1 longshot Breakthrough until taking over the top spot after a quarter-mile in 23.22 seconds.

Championship Meet-leading jockey Luis Saez was able to steer Carotari toward the rail leaving the turn and set him down for a drive through the stretch as Extravagant Kid launched his bid on the outside of Yes I Am Free, with Smokin' Jay rallying up the inside. After running a half in 47.38 seconds, Carotari finished up in 59.07 over a firm course.

Extravagant Kid held on for second by a head over Smokin' Jay, with Yes I Am Free another neck back in fourth and Laurel Dash winner Xy Speed fifth. Carotari came into the Janus having snapped a four-race losing streak with a three-quarter-length allowance triumph Oct. 22 at Keeneland.

“It's good to get him back down here. It's a track he really seems to do well over during the winter,” winning trainer Brian Lynch said. “It's nice to get him back rolling. He came out of a good race at Keeneland. This was an ideal distance for him, ideal timing, so it's just neat to have him back on track. Now we've got a loaded horse for the winter down here.”

In five career tries over the Gulfstream turf, Carotari now owns four wins including prior stakes victories in the 2020 and 2021 Silks Run and a second in the 2020 World of Trouble Turf Sprint, beaten a neck by Grade 2 winner Texas Wedge.

Overall, the gelded 5-year-old son of 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Artie Schiller has eight wins from 24 career starts and topped $500,000 in purse earnings with the Janus victory.

“I think as he's gotten older he's getting better and better,” Lynch said. “I think this year coming up could be his best year. We're pretty excited about him.”

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Extravagant Kid, Carotari Set To Clash In Friday’s Janus

During his 54-race career, Extravagant Kid has established himself as one of the all-time great claims while winning a worldwide legion of fans with his year-in-year-out success in turf sprints.

DAARS Inc.'s enduring gelding with relatively obscure bloodlines will seek to add to his impressive resume in Friday's $100,000 Janus Stakes, a five-furlong turf sprint which will be featured on Gulfstream Park's eight-race program with the $100,000 Abundantia, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, and the $100,000 Via Borghese, a 1 3/8-mile turf event for fillies and mares. One day before his official ninth birthday, the Florida-bred son of Kiss The Kid will make his fifth career start in the Janus.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Extravagant Kid was claimed for $75,000 out of a Jan. 18, 2018 optional claiming allowance victory at 36-1 odds at Gulfstream, and he has more than justified that rather extravagant gamble. Heading into the Janus, he has a record of 15-17-4 in 54 starts and earnings of more than $1.6 million. His biggest career performance came earlier this year when he captured the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai, three starts after he came up a neck short of defending his 2019 Janus title by a neck.

Extravagant Kid, who finished third in the King's Stand (G1) at Ascot following his Dubai score, will make his first start Friday since finishing off the board in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

Tyler Gaffalione has the call aboard Extravagant Kid in Friday's Race 1 feature.

William Branch's Carotari has also established himself with Gulfstream fans in recent years while showing a distinct affinity for the local turf course. The Brian Lynch trainee has won three of four starts at Gulfstream, including back-to-back editions of the Silks Run Stakes, his only loss being a close-up second-pace finish in the 2020 Gulfstream Turf Sprint.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Artie Schiller will be making his first start since winning an Oct. 22 optional claiming allowance at Keeneland.

Leading rider Luis Saez has the call.

Crown Way Racing LLC's Smokin Jay, Michael Dubb's Xy Speed, Mohamed and Bibi Jehaludi's Omaha City, Pedro Estevez's Breakthrough, Move Horse Inc.'s Romario, and Golden Kernel Racing Stable's Yes I Am Free are also entered in the Janus.

David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa's Miss Auramet, the ever-versatile 5-year-old mare with 10 victories and 21 in-the-money finishes in 26 career starts, will seek to rebound from a rare off-the-board finish in last year's $100,000 Abundantia, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares that has been carded as Race 8 Friday at Gulfstream.

The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained daughter of Uncaptured was eliminated from contention in last year's edition of the Abundantia after being bumped between horses at the start. The Florida-bred mare enters this year's renewal off a dominating three-length optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while coming off a four-month layoff.

In addition to establishing herself as a talented turf sprinter, Miss Auramet has demonstrated uncommon versatility while finishing first or second in all five starts on off tracks and winning two of four races run on fast dirt tracks.

Leading rider Luis Saez has the call aboard Miss Auramet.

Colts Neck Stables LLC's Introduced is no stranger to Miss Auramet, whom the Jorge Duarte Jr. trainee met three times at Monmouth Park during the summer. The 5-year-old daughter of El Padrino scored back-to-back victories over the Plesa trainee in turf sprints after finishing fourth behind the victorious Miss Auramet in the off-the-turf Politely Stakes on a sloppy track.

Introduced, who is coming off a third-place finish in the Oct. 17 Floral Park at Belmont Park, will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder Stables, Tony Weintraub and Brandon Dalinka's Miss J McKay, a multiple stakes winner at five furlongs on turf, enters the Abundantia off a Nov. 21 six-furlong optional claiming allowance win over Aqueduct's turf course.

T-N-T Equine Holdings LLC's Dana's Beauty, Freddy Lewis Jr.'s Strong Odor, Willow Lane Stables Inc.'s Morning Molly, Glen Hill Farm's Drapes, Voodoomon Racing's Ambassador Luna, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Palomita and Winning Stables Inc.'s Beautiful Grace are also entered in the Abundantia.

Repole Stable's Always Shopping will seek to regain her winning form while making a title defense in Friday's $100,000 Via Borghese, a 1 3/8-mile stakes for fillies and mares carded as Race 5 at Gulfstream Park.

The Todd Pletcher-trained 5-year-old mare scored a dominating three-length victory in last year's Via Borghese before winning the Le Prevoyante (G3) by three lengths in her very next start at Gulfstream.

Always Shopping has gone winless in six subsequent starts, which include a pair of graded-stakes placings. The daughter of Awesome Again is scheduled to make her third start off a 3 ½-month layoff with Tyler Gaffalione scheduled to ride her for the first time since finishing a close second in the Dowager (G3) at Keeneland in October 2020.

Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd.'s Beautiful Lover enters the Via Borghese off a second-place finish at Belmont in the Nov. 7 Zagora, in which Always Shopping finished sixth. The Christophe Clement trainee is a multiple graded stakes-placed 5-year-old daughter of Arch.

Clement is also scheduled to saddle Sorrel, who is scheduled to make her second start off an eight-month layoff and third start since being imported from Europe. The 4-year-old daughter of Dansili, who finished five in the Nov. 27 Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct off the layoff, finished third in last season's Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream.

Luis Saez is scheduled to ride Beautiful Lover for the first time Friday, while Paco Lopez has the call on Sorrel.

Jordan Wycoff's Candy Flower enters the Via Borghese off a close second-place finish in the Long Island two starts after being claimed for $40,000. The Mike Maker trainee finished third in the Zagora in her first start off the claim.

Emisael Jaramillo is slated to ride the 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride for the first time in the Via Borghese.

Carolyn Friedberg's Sweet Serenade, Emory Hamilton's Hungry Kitten, Arindel's Onyx and Key Biscayne, Flaxman Holdings Ltd.'s Harajuku, and Sanford Bacon and Patrick Biancone's Kelsey's Cross are also entered.

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Imprimis Stays Perfect On Gulfstream Turf; One Of Five Winners On Day For Irad Ortiz Jr.

Breeze Easy LLC's Imprimis made a triumphant return to action at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Friday, following up a troubled trip in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) with a gutsy victory over Extravagant Kid in the $75,000 Janus.

The Janus, a five-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and up, was the first of three stakes on the New Year's Day card, including the $75,000 Cash Run, and the $75,000 Abundantia. Imprimis' jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. also rode Gulf Coast to victory in the Cash Run and guided Hear My Prayer to win the Abundantia to finish the 11-race card with five victories.

Imprimis, the 4-5 favorite, ran his career record to 5-for-5 over the Gulfstream Park turf course, providing a measure of comfort for the disappointment his trainer felt following the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.

“I even said, 'I'm feeling more pressure today that I did at the Breeders' Cup, and today he's supposed to win,” trainer Joe Orseno said.

Imprimis, who had to be checked hard by Ortiz after his stretch bid was shut off at Keeneland, didn't have another horse in his path while making his wide drive to the finish line, enabling him to finish a neck ahead of Extravagant Kid, who was beaten by only a length while finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“He ran down a credible horse. When Extravagant Kid got the jump on him, I thought I was in trouble, because he's a good horse. The horse made about a million dollars,” Orseno said. “I'm very pleased to get a good trip.”

Imprimis did experience a little crowding following the break, settling in fifth along the backstretch as The Critical Way showed the way into the homestretch while setting swift fractions of 21.09 and 43.22 seconds for a half-mile. Extravagant Kid, who rated fourth on the backstretch, made a three-wide move on the turn into the homestretch to get the jump on the favorite, who quickly joined him to his outside. The Critical Way, ridden by Paco Lopez, held gamely while tiring but was unable to hold off his two more high-profile rivals, finishing just a head behind runner-up Extravagant Kid, the 5-2 second choice.

The multiple graded-stakes winner Imprimis ran five furlongs on a firm turf in 54.82 seconds.

“Last time it was a little sad after the trip I had in the Breeders' Cup. I feel like it's one of those races that you probably could have won, and those races don't come back. It's one time the whole year, so I was so sad for them because he worked so hard and he deserved it. I probably made a bad decision, so I feel bad,” Ortiz said “But thank God, today I was able to ride him back, and to be able to be in the winner's circle is very special for me. Moving forward after this race, he's a nice horse and he's doing so good right now I think he's doing better than ever. I expect a good year for him.”

The $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3) Feb. 13 is a possibility for the 7-year-old son of Broken Vow's next start.

“The horse will tell me. The plan is to go to it. The plan was to go to the next one, not this one, but he was doing so well. It was hard to pass up. When they're hitting the ground like this and doing this well and feeling this good, you're afraid they're going to do something to hurt themselves. So, I took advantage and ran him in this race,” Orseno said “We'll see about the next one. If he's doing like this and is 100 percent, then yes.”

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Gulfstream Park: Will New Year Reverse Bad Luck For Imprimis In Janus Stakes?

Breeze Easy LLC's Imprimis will seek to put the bad luck of 2020 behind him and start off the New Year with a return to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle following Friday's $75,000 Janus Stakes at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track.

The Janus, a five-furlong turf dash for 4-year-olds and up, will be featured on Friday's New Year's Day program that will also include the $75,000 Abundantia, a five-furlong sprint on turf for older fillies and mares, and the $75,000 Cash Run, a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies. (First-race post time is set for 12:35 p.m.)

Imprimis concluded his 2020 campaign with a nightmare journey in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland, where he was “stymied” and “steadied” in the 5 ½-furlong dash, according to the Equibase chart caller. The veteran star turf sprinter was shut off while making a move between horses, forcing jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to sharply steady his mount during the stretch run.

“He got shut off for no reason. He was up in there and going. The horse was just starting to run,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “It was tough. It takes a lot to get him to where he is and peak like that and keep him like that. It wasn't like I had three or four in that day. I had one in and that was my best shot. He was the best horse but unfortunately the best horse didn't win. It was just a shame for all the connections. It was like a kick in the gut.”

Imprimis' 2020 season started off with some bad luck as well. The 6-year-old gelding came off a long layoff to prevail by 2 ¼ lengths in the Sept. 6 Troy (G3) at Saratoga, only to be disqualified through a controversial ruling by the stewards.

The son of Broken Vow came right back to tune up for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with a late-running victory in the $700,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3).

Imprimis has had nothing but good luck at Gulfstream, where he has been victorious in all four starts, including three victories in a row to launch his career. He came back the following year to capture the Silks Run.

“We were talking about waiting until the Gulfstream Turf Sprint Feb. 12, but he's doing so well,” Orseno said.

Ortiz has the return call on the Florida-bred gelding.

DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid, who finished fourth while avoiding trouble in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, is scheduled to defend his title in the Janus. The Brendan Walsh-trained 8-year-old gelding, who fell just a length short at Keeneland last start, defeated two next-out winners in last year's Janus and followed that score up with a victory in the Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint at Gulfstream.

Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for both victories, has the mount aboard the Florida-bred son of Kiss the Kid.

Blind Ambition, Fully Loaded, Harry's Ontheloose, Sayyaaf and The Critical Way round out the main body of the field. Edgemont Road and Frosted Grace are main-track-only entrants.

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