The Rusty Arnold-trained 5-year-old registered a maiden-breaking victory in his ninth career start that would set the tone for a most productive 2021 season that culminated in a start in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

“He started out his 4-year-old year as a maiden and he got good. During the year we figured out what he probably wanted to do – be a sprinter instead of going long. He had a great year,” Arnold said. “He didn't run well in the Breeders' Cup. He didn't finish off the year, but he's freshened up good and he's ready to go.”

Gear Jockey made a wide bid on the turn into the backstretch but flattened out in the stretch to finish sixth in the five-furlong Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“The race was fine. We broke good and got in a good spot. I'm not sure he's a perfect five-eighths horse. His best races have been from 5 ½ [furlongs] to three-quarters [of a mile],” Arnold said. “He might not be at his best at five-eighths. Sometimes you have trouble finding [longer races than five furlongs]. We'll stretch out a little bit when we leave here, but we just need a starting point to get going.”

The five-furlong Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint will co headline Saturday's program with the $100,000 Ladies Turf Sprint, a five-furlong dash for older fillies and mares.

“He's done great. He's had five works here in Florida – the last two were very good. He's ready to roll,” Arnold said.

Clearly, Gear Jockey was no ordinary eight-race maiden when he broke through with his first victory in a mile maiden special weight race on turf Jan. 21, 2021. He was a graded stakes-placed maiden when he finished third in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

“We've liked the horse all along. You could tell when we ran him in the Breeders' Cup as a maiden. He ran third, beaten about a length or so,” Arnold said.

Gear Jockey came up a half-length short while finishing third in the Canadian Turf (G3) in his next start. He went on to win a mile allowance at Keeneland before flattening out late to finish fourth in a mile allowance at Churchill Downs. Arnold opted to try him at sprinting distances at Saratoga, where he won an allowance and finished a late-closing third in the Troy (G3), both at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

“He just didn't want to finish off his races last year,” Arnold said. “He had two or three that he looked like he was going to win, and he hung. We decided to back him up and sprint him, and he seemed much more comfortable.”

Gear Jockey earned a trip to the Breeders' Cup while winning the six-furlong Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3) by 2 ½ lengths.

Luis Saez is scheduled to ride Gear Jockey for the first time in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.

Just For Fun Stables Inc.'s Warrior's Pride is slated to seek his third sprint stakes in only his fourth career start on turf. The 4-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior had won two of six starts on dirt before registering a front-running victory in the five-furlong Texas Glitter in his turf debut during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet. The Antonio Cioffi trainee went on to win the Turf Sprint for Florida-breds two starts later during the Spring/Summer Meet before heading to the sidelines following an off-the-board finish in an overnight handicap on turf Aug. 7.

Junior Alvarado, who rode Warrior's Pride to his Texas Glitter score the only time he has ridden him, returns to the saddle Saturday.

Trainer Mohamed Jehaludi and Bibi Jehaludi's Omaha Beach is scheduled to seek a return to form Saturday following a trio of off-the-board finishes since finishing second behind Golden Pal in the July 15 Quick Call (G3) at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old son of Temple City, who broke his maiden in the five-furlong Hollywood Beach at Gulfstream in his second lifetime start, will be ridden by Miguel Vasquez.

Peace Sign Stables' Belgrano, a turf-sprint stakes winner who finished third in the mile Tropical Turf (G3) last time out; Golden Kernel Racing Stable's Yes I Am Free, who most recently finished fourth in the five-furlong Janus; Crown's Way Racing LLC's Richy, a late-rallying winner of a starter allowance on the Tapeta last time out; and Pedro Estevez's Breakthrough, eighth in the Janus; are also entered in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.

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“Each year, the Florida HBPA recognizes the horses that shine not just during the Championship Meet, but year-round in South Florida,” FHBPA President Stephen Screnci said. “All of our Champions competed at Gulfstream during the Royal Palm and Flamingo Festival meets that run from April through November.

“We also changed it up a little this year to honor one of our owners or trainers not just for their accomplishments on the racetrack, but also for their contributions to our community,” Screnci added. “Steve Dwoskin is our first FHBPA 'Person of Distinction,' and we couldn't have found a worthier candidate for the award.”

An owner and trainer in South Florida since 1969, Dwoskin has long been a partner with Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center, a part of the University of Miami Health System (UHealth). A generous donation to Sylvester helped to fund the Dwoskin Proton Therapy Center, which began treating patients with advanced and precise radiation therapy last September.

He is also the owner/trainer of this year's Champion Older Filly/Mare Choose Joy.

Dwoskin, who lost his father and brother to cancer, was emotional when he said, “I can handle most anything, but I couldn't handle it when my brother and my father got cancer. When I first got involved [with Sylvester], it was strictly for research, trying to find a cure for cancer. But I got pretty strong there, and I started helping people, friends, and family. If anyone from the horse industry ever needs help, I'm here for you. Helping people – that's what makes me feel really good.”

The complete list of the 2021 FHBPA Champions is:

Person of Distinction: Steve Dwoskin

Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Octane (Arindel, Owner; Carlos David, Trainer)

Two-Year-Old Filly: Outfoxed (LNJ Foxwoods, Owner; Bill Mott, Trainer)

Three-Year-Old Colt: Papetu (Magic Stables LLC, Owner; Antonio Sano, Trainer)

Three-Year-Old Filly: Con Lima (Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro, and Troy Johnson, Owner; Todd Pletcher, Trainer)

Older Horse/Gelding: Miles Ahead (David Melin, Leon Ellman, and Laurie Plesa, Owner; Eddie Plesa, Trainer)

Older Filly/Mare: Choose Joy (Steve Dwoskin, Owner/Trainer)

Turf Horse/Gelding: Warrior's Pride (Just for Fun Stables, Owner; Antonio Cioffi, Trainer)

Turf Filly/Mare: Shifty She (Chris Pallas and Harvey Rothenberg, Owner; Saffie Joseph Jr., Trainer)

The Dinner also featured the nominations for the 2022 FHPBA Election, which will be announced next week.

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“I very happy to win this race, because when I came into this country Bob Umphrey helped me so much. At the time, he was the racing secretary at Calder,” said the Italian-born Cioffi, who emigrated from Venezuela in 2001. “I'm proud to win this race.”

The Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up, wrapped up the Fourth of July Weekend stakes action that got underway on Saturday's Summit of Speed card, highlighted by Ce Ce's triumph in the $350,000 Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational and Miles Ahead's mild upset victory in the $200,000 Grade 3 Smile Sprint Invitational.

Warrior's Pride, a 3-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior who was sent to post at 9-1, rocketed to the early lead as Caribou Club, the 8-5 favorite, and Ete Indien, the 7-2 second choice, got away slowly. The Cioffi trainee set fractions of :22.03 for the first quarter and :44.92 seconds for the first half-mile while maintaining a clear lead into the stretch under Emisael Jaramillo. Tiger Blood, the veteran turf sprinter with 19 career victories, made a late surge from off the pace but fell a neck short of catching the pacesetter. Yes I Am Free finished third, 1 ¼ lengths back.

Warrior's Pride earned a $25,000 'Win Only' bonus available to Florida-bred starters as well as the winner's share of the purse after running five furlongs in :57.30 over a 'good' turf course. The Umphrey score was Warrior's Pride's second turf victory in two starts on the grass. He captured the five-furlong Texas Glitter during the Championship Meet prior to finishing fifth in the 6 ½-furlong Roar on the main track.

“He's so speedy. This is the race for him,” Cioffi said.

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Alvarado's winning week at Gulfstream Park began Thursday with a win for trainer Jose D'Angelo. On Friday's card, Alvarado collected two wins for trainers Francisco D'Angelo and Michael De Paulo.

On Saturday, Alvarado took races 3, 6 and 9 for trainers Jose D'Angelo, Mark Casse and Bill Mott. In race 10, trainer John Kimmel gave a leg up to Alvarado on Pacific Gale in the G3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes, a 6-1/2 furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. With a ground-saving ride by Alvarado, Pacific Gale won by 3-1/2 lengths.

“I rode her a couple of times at Saratoga and Belmont. We always thought she was great but for some reason we never got the best of her,” Alvarado said. “She's stepping up right now. She's at a different level right now.”

One race later, Alvarado had the mount on Warrior's Pride in the Texas Glitter Stakes for trainer Antonio Cioffi, a fellow Venezuelan. Warrior's Pride broke running and never looked back completing the five-furlong dash in :55.37 over a firm turf course.

Speaking of trainer Cioffi, one of his biggest backers since returning to Gulfstream for the first time in 12 years, Alvarado said: “He's been a great help to me since I got here from Venezuela. This win actually meant a lot to me.”

Alvarado concluded his winning week with a victory on Sunday for trainer Mark Casse.

Of his decision to ride at Gulfstream for the winter where he rode his first winner in 2007, Alvarado commented: “The support I've been receiving from the owners and trainers has been beyond what I was expecting. It's been a really amazing experience and I can't wait to come back again next winter.”

Alvarado's weekly stats were 34-9-7-3 for a winning percentage of 26.4% and total purses of $304,630.

Alvarado out-polled Florent Geroux with two stakes wins at the Fair Grounds including the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Flavien Prat who won the G3 Sensational Star at Santa Anita and also collected 9 wins, Joel Rosario who won the G2 Louisiana Derby and Tim Thornton who also won nine races.

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The 22^nd running of the Hurricane Bertie, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, was supported on Saturday's 12-race card by the $75,000 Texas Glitter, a five-furlong turf dash for older horses, and the $75,000 Melody of Colors, a five-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares.

Alvarado, who came back to ride Warrior's Pride to victory in the Texas Glitter two races later on the card, has ridden 48 winners while riding full time during the Championship Meet for the first time in 12 years. The 36-year-old native of Venezuela had been highly successful while riding at Aqueduct during the winter months in past years.

“The support I've been receiving from the owners and trainers has been beyond what I was expecting,” said Alvarado, who rode his first winner in the U.S. at Gulfstream in 2007. “It's been a really amazing experience and I can't wait to come back again next winter.”

The John Kimmel-trained Pacific Gale ($3.80), who had gone winless in 17 straight starts before impressively capturing the Jan. 23 Inside Information at Gulfstream under John Velazquez, came right back to score a 3 ½-length triumph in the Hurricane Bertie under a ground-saving ride by Alvarado.

“I rode her a couple times at Saratoga and Belmont. We always thought she was great but for some reason we never got the best of her,” Alvarado said. “She's stepping up right now. She's at another level right now.”

The 6-year-old daughter of Flat Out advanced along the rail to race behind pacesetter Cory Gal and to the inside of stalkers Sonar and Sound Machine. Sound Machine made a three-wide sweep on the turn to get the jump on the favorite and take the lead at the top of the stretch. Alvarado was able to ease Pacific Gale off the trail entering the stretch and the Kentucky-bred mare kicked in to rush past Sound Machine and draw off to win comfortably.

“I just had to make sure I stayed off the heels of everybody and make sure to give her a clear run from there,” Alvarado said. “She was there for me all the way around.”

Pacific Gale ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.93. Sound Machine held second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Saguaro Row.

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