Canada’s reigning Outstanding Trainer KEVIN ATTARD won his 900th career race on Thursday at Gulfstream Park when the well-regarded MURABEH won a grass race off the claim for owner RANDY EXELBY. Murabeh, scooped up for $17,500 claiming from a race on February 5, was dropping in class for his first race for Exelby. The colt had been racing against non-winners of three or non-winners since August 5, 2025 last time, but was in against straight non-winners of three on Thursday. Ridden by Eclipse Award-winning apprentice Pietro Moran, now a journeyman rider, Murabeh led throughout the one mile on turf and won at 6-to-1. The colt was claimed from the race.
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That was the third winner of 2026 for Attard, who took horses to Florida for the winter for the first time in several years.
In New York, trainer DEVON GITTENS sent out his first winner of 2026 when NATURAL HUNK, a Florida-bred, won the first race at Aqueduct, a maiden claiming event in the mud. Natural Hunk, owned by Bruno Schickedanz, had already been racing on the traditional dirt for the owner when Gittens brought horses from Woodbine to the New York track. Natural Hunk was the barn’s 31st starter of the season. Gittens had 51 winners in 2025.
Also winning for the first time in 2026 was Camhaven Farm and trainer Preston Ferris, who sent out SOMEKINDA MISCHIEF to win his maiden in the slop at Fair Grounds. Ferris, who has not trained since 2021, took over the Camhaven horses earlier this year. He sends out the farm’s promising filly LAKOTA LADY on Friday, Mar. 13 at Fair Grounds.
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