ZULU – how good is he? Bernardini colt tries Fountain of Youth off 2 sprint wins for the Tabor team – GUlfstream photo by Lauren King
Happy Saturday, it’s Fountain of Youth day!
MOHAYMEN, looking for more Kentucky Derby mo-mentum; CATCH A GLIMPSE gets things started; Canadians in some stakes races..watch and wager on some nice races today
Here are the Thoroughblog selections:
NOHOLDINGBACK BEAR could get things going in a nice way for Canadian connections on a tough Gulfstream card today in Florida.
At noon, this Florida bred by Put it Back, owned by Bear Stables and trained my Mike DePaulo is the 5 to 2 favourite in the $75,000 Texas Glitter Stakes, a race named after one of the fastest horses in the last two decades.
This 3yo has never tried grass but turf breeding is not really all that important in these 5 furlong dashes, in particular on a grass course that has been playing to speed, very firm and looking a lot more like dirt in recent weeks.
The Bear – DePaulo combo will be hoping for better luck than they had on Friday when their 8 to 5 shot Butterfly Strike finished last in a 50,000 claiming race.
The Grade 2 DAVONA DALE STAKES, race 5, starts the major events on the card. The very exciting filly, the unbeaten CATHRYN SOPHIA, is 6 to 5 to win her 4th straight race and she should win easily.
This Street Boss gal won the Forward Gal at 7 furlongs with extreme power from just off the pace and a 91 Beyer Figure. She moves out to 1 mile (one turn) for the first time.
Race 5 – CATHRYN SOPHIA
GEARED DOWN – Cathryn Sophia wins 2016 Forward Gal – Kenny Martin for Gulfstream Park
Next up, the Grade 3 HERECOMESTHEBRIDE for 3yo fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf winner and Canadian owned CATCH A GLIMPSE makes her exciting comeback off smart workouts for trainer Mark Casse.
She has the outside post in a pretty good field. This gal has never lost in 3 races on the grass.
The horse to beat is the unbeaten LIRA, by Giant’s Causeway, from the Todd Pletcher barn. Very impressive win in the Ginger Brew despite trouble
RACE 6 -LIRA
RACE 8 IS THE CANADIAN TURF HANDICAP – GRADE 3, won in the past by some nice Canadians in fact.
Why is it called the Canadian Turf?
The inaugural race was run on March 18, 1967 and was named to honor the many Canadian racing fans who vacation or reside in the state of Florida during the winter months and who in 1967 were celebrating the Canadian Centennial.
In 1991, one of the greatest Canadian-breds ever, IZVESTIA, WON THE RACE IN HIS 4YO DEBUT.
So that is why Thoroughblog is going to pick TOWER OF TEXAS to win this 1 mile, 2 turn event. The Ontario bred for Scott Dilworth and Tom Van Meter is trained by Roger Attfield (trainer of Izvestia) and making his first start since he was 7th on soft turf in the Woodbine Mile. The son of Street Sense won the first 3 races of 2015 when fresh and he has been putting up good recent workout times.
more Javier Castellano!
Canadian-bred HEART TO HEART and PASSION FOR ACTION are also in the race as contenders.
IZVESTIA won the Canadian Turf – Michael Burns photo
RACE 8 PICK – TOWER OF TEXAS
The PALM BEACH STAKES is a Grade 3 and is race 11 – yet another grass event and this is for 3-year-olds.
Queen’s Plate contender SCHOLAR ATHLETE is 15 to 1 off his solid return race on Feb 6 and this Einstein colt has some speed to run at in this big field. He is trained by Graham Motion.
The race is very tough, however, with a maiden, KISMET’S HEELS, looking like a major player for Todd Pletcher. He is a Tapit colt who cost $900,000 as a 2yo in training.
Race 11 pick – URBAN BOURBON
Race 12 is the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, a favourite race of the writers as I have seen many of these in person. It’s one of the first big races of the 3yo season.
This year’s race is a ho-hum field at best with only MOHAYMEN looking like a certain winner. The lightly raced ZULU stretched out for Todd Pletcher and he cost $900,000, so far has romped in 2 sprints.
AWESOME BANNER is unbeaten 3 sprints and has the pedigree to stretch out.
Fun race to watch.
CHARGED UP – BATTERY PREPPING FOR TAMPA BAY DERBY
Ontario-bred BATTERY (Bernardini) had a workout this morning with Sam Davis winner DESTIN to prepare for the upcoming Tampa Bay Derby. The Anderson Farms-bred colt is a major Queen’s Plate contender and he was a recent allowance winner at Gulfstream at 1 1/8 miles.
Photo of BATTERY (inside) in his workout today was stolen from JAY PRIVMAN’s Twitter feed – thank you Jay!
ONTARIO-OWNED QH – ‘BUBBLES’ IN $200k RACE AT HIALEAH
Wanted to mention that BUBBLES CARTEL GAL is in the final today at 4:05 for the Sunshine State Derby for 3 year old Quarter Horses
Hialeah Park (Quarter Horse) DERBY
Purse $200,000. For Three Year Olds. Weight: 124 Lbs. For horses that nominated and qualified for the Sunhine State Derby. The purse will be divided as follows: 42% to the winner, 18% second, 12% third, 9% fourth, 6% fifth, 4% sixth, 3% seventh, 2% eighth to last. If less than ten (10) horses start, the purse monies not distributed will revert to the winning owner. Trophy to the winner owner. Four Hundred Yards.
P# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Ahs Uncle Si (FL) 3/C L R S Vallejo 124 J S Kearl 3/1
2 Salty Gator (FL) 3/F L C R Esqueda 124 C Hunt 6/1
3 Fast Flyin Fireball (OK) 3/G L B J Baca 124 D L Strickland 4/1
4 Burnin for You (OK) 3/F L F R Ramirez,Jr. 124 D L Strickland 10/1
5 Streakin Knight (IL) 3/C L R Ramirez 124 H Bueno 20/1
6 La Doncella Comminup (FL) 3/F L O Reyes 124 R Martinez 20/1
7 Bubbles Cartel Gal (IL) 3/F L A R Samaniego 124 M Frazier 12/1
8 Toast to Bono (GA) 3/G L D Beaty 124 R P Weidner 20/1
9 Shes a Tourist (FL) 3/F L Y Amaro 124 E Vazquez 2/1
10 Blacks Cartel (MN) 3/F O P Leal 124 C Black 20/1
