Tag: Javier Castellano

Gulfstream: Shamrocket Takes To Dirt In Sunshine Classic, Gatsby Breaks Through In Sprint

Donegal Racing's Shamrocket made a victorious debut on dirt Saturday at Gulfstream Park after 21 turf starts, rallying late to capture the $75,000 Sunshine Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race for older Florida-breds.

The Sunshine Classic co-headlined Saturday's program with the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint, a six-furlong race for older Florida-breds.

Shamrocket, a winner of one turf stakes with more than $400,000 in earnings, was sent to post as the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven.

“He's always trained well on it, and we were kind of looking for the right time to give it a try. I talked to [stable operator] Jerry Crawford and decided to go ahead and give it a try,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It could open up some options for him. I think he's a horse that might even handle some of these longer dirt races, marathon-type dirt races, down the road. I'm happy for the horse and proud of him for getting the job done.

Shamrocket had to work hard to prevail by a half-length over gutsy Sir Ollie, who had come under pressure throughout the Sunshine Classic. The Pletcher trainee settled in fourth along the backstretch, where a headstrong Big Venezuela dragged jockey Luis Saez to a brief lead before early pacesetter Sir Ollie regained the lead on the turn under Junior Alvarado, only to be headed by a three-wide Nacho Papa on the turn into the stretch. Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano got Shamrocket rolling on the turn and swung the 5-year-old son of Tonalist four-wide for the stretch run. Sir Ollie kicked on in the stretch but fell just shy of holding off the steady stretch bid by the favorite.

“I had a perfect trip. I didn't want to be too far back because he's the one-run type of horse. I didn't want him to think too much and didn't want him to get too much dirt in his face or get bounced around in his first race on dirt,” Castellano said. “I put him and the game and took it from there. I give all the credit to Todd Pletcher.”

Shamrocket, who finished second in the 2021 Sunshine Turf, ran 1 1/8-miles in 1:52.26 after sitting off fractions of 24.81 and 49.71 seconds for the first half-mile.

“I was a little concerned. There wasn't much pace on, and he wants to come from off of it,” Pletcher said. “Javier did a good job of not taking him out of his running style but tried to keep him close enough to be in striking distance.”

Sir Ollie held second following a game performance, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Nacho Papa.

Gatsby broke through with his first stakes victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park, capturing the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint by 1 ¼ lengths following a race-long duel with favored Cool Quest.

The Arindel homebred pressed Cool Quest past fractions of 21.75 and 44.23 seconds for the first half-mile of the six-furlong sprint for older Florida-breds, before edging away in the stretch to complete the the distance in 1:09.11.

Gatsby, the 2-1 second betting choice, was well-respected by the bettors following a gritty second-place finish to Grade 1 winner Drain the Clock in a Dec. 10 Gulfstream allowance, in which he pressed the pace before falling a half-length short of victory.

“That was kind of a preparation for this race. Having Drain the Clock in that race was really tough,” trainer Carlos David said. “When he ran a fast race like that, we knew he'd be competitive in this race.”

Leading jockey Luis Saez rode Gatsby to victory. Cool Quest finished second under Julien Leparoux, 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Pudding and jockey Javier Castellano.

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Sciacca: Trouble-Free Trip Key To Lobsta’s Say Florida Sandy Win Via DQ

Eddie F's Racing's Lobsta garnered an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory by disqualification in Saturday's $100,000 Say Florida Sandy, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-breds 4-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trainer Gary Sciacca credited Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano for keeping Lobsta out of trouble, despite having to sacrifice lengths with a wide trip.

“The inside was golden yesterday, but Javier is a world-class rider and I'm glad he flew in from Florida to come ride him,” Sciacca said. “Lobsta ran huge. I was real pleased with him.”

The 4-year-old Emcee colt entered from a game half-length score over returning rival My Boy Tate in the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 5 at the Big A.

Lobsta earned a career-best 96 Beyer in the Thunder Rumble where he enjoyed a six-pound advantage over My Boy Tate, but the foes were on even terms in the Say Florida Sandy, carrying a co-field high of 124 pounds.

“He probably bounced a little bit because he ran such a high number last time,” Sciacca said. “I would hope to see him improve off of this one and go even further.”

Castellano, who retained the mount on Lobsta from post 4, settled outside rivals in third position as Alpha Chi Rho, piloted by Jose Ortiz, led through splits of 22.84 seconds and 46.41 over the fast main track.

The Kendrick Carmouche-piloted Battle Station pressured in second position to the outside of Alpha Chi Rho late in the turn as Chestertown [Jose Lezcano] surged up the rail with My Boy Tate [Eric Cancel] queuing up behind rivals.

Battle Station angled over and put a head in front at the stretch call as a fading Alpha Chi Rho took back.

My Boy Tate, full of run and in need of racing room approaching the eighth pole, squeezed through a narrow opening to the inside of Battle Station and to the outside of rail-surging Chestertown, who checked and was forced to take back.

Lobsta continued to advance five-wide and squared off with My Boy Tate, the 2018 Say Florida Sandy champ, through the final sixteenth with the latter prevailing by a neck in a final time of 1:25.63. It was a further four lengths back to Battle Station in third, who was two lengths clear of Chestertown.

A stewards' inquiry and multiple claims of foul were launched, including Ortiz claiming foul against Battle Station at the top of the stretch which was disallowed.

A trainer and jockey's objection from the connections of Chestertown against My Boy Tate for interference at the eighth pole was allowed, resulting in My Boy Tate being disqualified from victory and placed fourth behind Chestertown. Battle Station was elevated to second with Chestertown placed third.

Sciacca said the disqualification was merited.

“It was a rough-run race and I guess the horse deserved to come down. He squeezed his way in there and put a lot of pressure on Lezcano [aboard Chestertown] down inside,” Sciacca said.

Lobsta now has two wins in as many starts after a five-month freshening going into the Thunder Rumble.

Sciacca said Lobsta had gone off the boil after a brisk spring/summer campaign that included third-place finishes in the Mike Lee at Belmont in May and the New York Derby in July at Finger Lakes.

“His feet were bothering him a little bit and he just needed to grow up,” Sciacca said. “He's a big horse and I wanted to give him some time. The owner is a patient guy and he said to give him all the time he wants, which is nice.”

Sciacca said Lobsta, who sports a ledger of 9-4-1-2 with purse earnings of $276,400, will target the $100,000 Haynesfield on March 20, a one-turn mile for New York-breds 4-years-old and up.

“I'm leaning towards that. That mile would hit him right between the eyes,” Sciacca said.

Out of the Chief Seattle mare Salty Little Sis, Lobsta is a full brother to the 5-year-old Chowda, who finished a game a second in an open allowance sprint on Saturday's undercard. Both horses were bred in the Empire State by Fedwell Farm.

Sciacca said Chowda is likely to come back at the same condition after Saturday's strong effort.

“He ran a big race. He probably should have won, but he just missed,” Sciacca said.

Chowda, who won the 2020 Gander at the Big A, finished fourth after pressing Lobsta's early pace in the Thunder Rumble.

Sciacca will saddle J.H. Racing Stable's Belleshazza for her dirt debut in Thursday's fifth race at the Big A, a six-furlong maiden special weight for sophomore fillies.

The Florida-bred daughter of Exaggerator made her first two starts on turf, finishing sixth in her maiden special weight debut in October sprinting six furlongs at Belmont ahead of a closing fourth in a maiden claimer on November 20 traveling one-mile at the Big A.

Sciacca said Belleshazza, a $70,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, has breezed well over the dirt, including an easy three-eighths in 38 seconds flat January 3 over the Belmont dirt training track.

“She's breezing OK and doing well. I hope she runs well. I think she will,” Sciacca said. “You have to run where you can get in. We'll sprint this time and next time I'll run her long.”

Cancel will guide Belleshazza from post 5 in the eight-horse field.

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Lobsta Elevated To Victory In Aqueduct’s Say Florida Sandy

Eddie F's Racing's Lobsta secured his second consecutive stakes win after being elevated to victory when My Boy Tate – who crossed the wire first – was disqualified and placed fourth in Saturday's $100,000 Say Florida Sandy, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-breds 4-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Alpha Chi Rho, piloted by Jose Ortiz, mark off splits of 22.84 seconds and 46.41 over the fast main track. But an eventful stretch run saw Alpha Chi Rho maintain a precarious lead late in the turn as Battle Station, under Kendrick Carmouche, loomed large while applying pressure from the outside.

With five horses in with a chance at the top of the lane, a tiring Alpha Chi Rho took back as Battle Station angled over to establish a head advantage at the stretch call.

The Eric Cancel-piloted My Boy Tate, full of run behind rivals approaching the eighth pole, squeezed through a narrow opening to the inside of Battle Station and to the outside of rail-surging Chestertown [Jose Lezcano], who checked and was forced to take back.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano kept to task aboard Lobsta, who was in the clear outside of the battling rivals, engaging in a stirring duel to the wire with My Boy Tate, who prevailed by a neck in a final time of 1:25.63. Battle Station finished third, four lengths back of Lobsta. Rounding out the order of finish was Chestertown, Saratoga Pal and Alpha Chi Rho.

A stewards' inquiry and multiple claims of foul were launched, including Ortiz claiming foul against Battle Station at the top of the stretch which was disallowed.

A trainer and jockey's objection from the connections of Chestertown against My Boy Tate for interference at the eighth pole was allowed, resulting in My Boy Tate being disqualified from victory and placed fourth. Battle Station and Chestertown each moved up one placing in the order of finish.

Castellano, who flew in from Florida to retain the mount aboard Lobsta, was full of praise for the disqualified winner.

“I think I was a beneficiary [of the disqualification]. I don't want to take anything away from [My Boy Tate]. It seemed to me he was much the best,” Castellano said. “He had a lot of trouble and tried to split horses. But he bothered a couple horses inside and cost the second, third and fourth places. You have to apply the rules. I think the stewards made the right decision. He didn't bother me, but he bothered the rest of the field when he tried to split horses. I believe I got lucky that I was on the outside and in the right place at the right time to finish second.”

Lobsta entered the Say Florida Sandy after earning a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure from a half-length score over My Boy Tate in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 5 at the Big A while carrying six pounds less than his rival. Lobsta and My Boy Tate were on even terms Saturday, carrying a co-field high 124 pounds.

Castellano said Lobsta was game to the wire.

“He got a little tired with the track today,” Castellano said. “Don't get me wrong – he tried really hard and fought all the way to the end. But he got tired a little bit in the end. We didn't have racing yesterday and had a lot of snow. The track had a lot of moisture and I think it seemed the speed carried a bit. They went pretty quick. It's good to see these two New York-breds match each other because I beat him good last time. Now he beat me good. I'm excited for the next race. If the owner wants me, I'll be back.”

Cancel said he tried to maintain his lane while guiding My Boy Tate between rivals.

“Lezcano [aboard No. 2, Chestertown] and I were there. Jose Ortiz [aboard No. 1 Alpha Chi Rho] was on the outside, so we had enough room for both of us, but once they started putting pressure from the outside that's when it got bad,” Cancel said. “I tried to maintain my spot but there wasn't a whole lot I could have done. It was really tight and too little of a spot to play with.”

Despite the disqualification, Cancel said his horse ran a winning race.

“He's a big grinder. He knows what he needs to do. You just have to sit patient on him and time it right and he'll give you everything he's got,” Cancel said. “I wanted to tip out a little bit, but I had three horses on the outside all lined up. I just tried to make the right choice with him. He knows what he needs to do and he can sit behind horses with no problem.”

Lezcano said Chestertown, who was elevated to third, might have won if not impeded.

“I think I had the best horse today, but we got killed. I got my spot taken,” Lezcano said. “There was too much pressure from the horse on the outside [Battle Station].”

For Eddie Fazzone, proprietor of Eddie F's Racing, the victory capped a good day that saw Lobsta's full brother, Chowda, finish a close second in an open seven-furlong allowance sprint in Race 2.

“He ran huge off the 96 [Beyer],” Fazzone said of Lobsta. “There was always a chance for him to bounce, but he didn't. He showed he was the real deal. Chowda ran a great race today too, so we have some real nice horses here. Hopefully, they both continue to do well. I think Lobsta is getting better with every start. My Boy Tate is a great horse. Take nothing away from him, he's a game horse and never runs a bad race.

“This is our third stakes win,” Fazzone added. “We're a small stable with nine horses and it seems like it just gets better and better. I've got his half-brother Oysta who just turned two, so hopefully we see him in the spring or summer. Hopefully, we continue the great ride.”

Bred in the Empire State by Fedwell Farm, Lobsta banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 9-4-1-2. He paid $7.40 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card headlined by the $100,000 Rego Park. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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Simplification Controls Mucho Macho Man On Front End

Ten weeks after turning heads with a powerful maiden victory over the same track, Tami Bobo's Simplification made an ever bigger statement in his stakes debut with a front-running triumph in Saturday's $150,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 11th running of the one-mile Mucho Macho Man, the first step on Gulfstream's road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby April 2, headlined five stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds worth $550,000 in purses on the New Year's Day holiday program.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano for trainer Antonio Sano, Simplification ($10.40) was in control from the outset in his fourth career start. The bay son of Not This Time, who drew several offers following his 16 ¾-length graduation Oct. 23, was stretching out beyond six furlongs for the first time.

“I told everyone, these are good horses but I thought the more distance would be better for my horse,” Sano said. “When the horse ran six furlongs for the first time, he won easy, but that was a maiden special weight.

“The next race the horse was not ready. He did not work every day because [we had] the option to sell the horse,” he added. “The horse was not sold. I told the owner, we'll enter January 1st for one mile. Castellano worked the horse. He's a special horse, a very good horse. I'm glad we ran the horse.”

Simplification broke alertly from Post 3 and dragged Castellano to the lead, where he was unmoved through a quarter-mile in 23.70 seconds and a half in 45.81, as Skippylongstocking and Mr Rum Runner alternated in second and third with 4-5 favorite Strike Hard rating along the rail in fourth.

Castellano and Simplification hit the top of the stretch full of run, while Strike Hard tipped out and split Skippylongstocking and Mr Rum Runner to mount a challenge. Castellano shook the reins and Simplification took off again, completing the distance in 1:35.04 over a fast main track to win by four lengths.

It was the second stakes win of the day for Castellano, the Championship Meet's only five-time leading rider, who also captured the Mucho Macho Man's companion race, the $100,000 Cash Run for 3-year-old fillies going one mile, aboard Kathleen O.

“Beautiful. That's what I was looking for today. It's exactly how I handicapped the race. I watched his replays and I worked the horse, and he's got speed but at the same time he is able to relax,” Castellano said. “We didn't expect to be on the lead, because we were trying to stretch out the horse and let him develop a good foundation, but he took it in the nice way. I didn't want to take away anything that comes easy, and he was straightforward.

“He was happy and satisfied on the lead, galloping along, and when I asked him he took off and re-broke at the quarter pole. I liked the way he did it,” he added. “I felt like he did it very easy, in a nice way. I didn't see the fractions, but he did a very comfortable, relaxed pace. I liked the way he galloped out. I don't think he'll have any problem stretching out. He's well-bred and has a good foundation. Fingers crossed.”

Strike Hard was a decisive second, 7 ¼ lengths ahead of Mr Rum Runner. They were followed by Graphic Detail, 41-1 long shot Sport Pepper, and Skippylongstocking.

Castellano considered remaining in New York for the winter before making his annual sojourn to Gulfstream, won the Mucho Macho man for the fourth time. He previously won with Mask (2018), Sonic Mule (2017) and Bluegrass Singer (2015).

“I think that's the type of horse, that's why the reason I'm here in South Florida, to help develop the new generation of 3-year-olds,” he said. “I'm very lucky and very fortunate to find this horse.”

The $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) Feb. 5 and $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) March 5, both going 1 1/16 miles, are the next steps on the road to the Florida Derby. Sano said he already has Simplification's next start picked out.

“Right now we're going on to the Holy Bull,” he said. “I think it's perfect.”

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