Sano Celebrates Win No. 500 in U.S. Sunday at Gulfstream Park

By David Joseph —-

Gunnevera’s Trainer Looking Forward to Kentucky Derby Experience

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Antonio Sano visited a U.S. winner’s circle for the 500th time Sunday after saddling Gio Patricia for a victory in the fourth race at Gulfstream Park.

Sano saddled more than 3,300 winners in Venezuela before venturing to South Florida in 2009. The 54-year-old conditioner has gone on to win several training titles at Gulfstream Park, where he prevailed during the 2016 Spring and Summer Meets, and Gulfstream Park West, where he has been the leading trainer for the past three years.

“It’s important for me and my family,” Sano said of reaching the 500-win milestone. “I have to thank the United States for helping me after my problems in Venezuela. I’m proud to be here.”

After leaving behind the turmoil in Venezuela, where he had been kidnapped twice, Sano had to start over in the U.S. and saddled his first winner, Scorbit, at Gulfstream April 3, 2010.

Sano’s inspiring story has received widespread national attention the past two years while campaigning multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera, one of the leading candidates for this year’s Triple Crown. The 3-year-old son of Dialed In captured the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) and finished third in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) during the Championship Meet, following up a successful juvenile season that included victories in the Saratoga Special (G2) and the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3).

Gunnevera, who is scheduled to breeze Friday at Gulfstream Park West, is slated to be shipped to Churchill Downs Saturday.

“I’m proud and excited. It’s the first time in my life to run at Churchill Downs,” Sano said. “It will be a good experience.”

First 2-Year-Old Race of Spring Meet Set for Wednesday

The first race for 2-year-olds of Gulfstream Park’s Spring Meet is scheduled for Wednesday’s second race, featuring a field of seven fillies, including four from stables with impressive resumes for juvenile success.

Wesley Ward-trained Lounge Act, Ralph Nicks-trained Pantyhose and Stanley Gold-trained Minaj and Baylor are sure to get extra attention from betters after handicapping the 4 ½-furlong dash for juvenile fillies.

Ward, who has developed an imposing reputation for early juvenile success in both the U.S. and Europe, is already off to a fast start for the 2017 2-year-old season, saddling the winners of the first three juvenile races at Keeneland this spring. Lounge Act, who turned in a bullet half-mile work of 35 4/5 seconds over the turf course at Palm Meadows Training Center, is by Creative Cause out of the multiple stakes-placed Gilded Time mare Hallelujah Trail.

Pantyhose is owned by breeder Jacks or Better Farm, which has campaigned the winners of a record 18 stakes in the Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) series for 2-year-olds sired by Florida-based stallions. The daughter of Awesome of Course, who is out of multiple-stakes winner Garter Belt, is a full sister to Two Twenty Five A, the winner of the 2014 FSS Affirmed.

Gold, a former trainer for Jacks or Better Farm who holds the FSS record by saddling 18 winners, will seek continued juvenile success with Arindel Farm homebreds, Minaj and Baylor, both sired by Brethren, a full brother to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Minaj is out of multiple-stakes winner Cat Can Do. Baylor was foaled by stakes-winner Trainee.

C. J. McMahon Makes Career Move to Gulfstream Park

After setting a record for most victories by a jockey last spring and summer at Lone Star Park, C. J. McMahon has ventured to Gulfstream Park to seek success during the 2017 Spring and Summer Meets.
“I think it might be a good opportunity to get to where I want to be in my career,” said the 22-year-old native of Lafayette La., who rode at the recently concluded Fair Grounds meet.

McMahon was the leading rider the past two years at the Dallas-area track, winning 98 races last season at a 34-percent clip and 95 races at a 33-percent clip in 2015. He had planned to return to Lone Star Park this spring until trainer Keith Bourgeois raised the idea of riding at Gulfstream Park instead.

“I had the opportunity to play golf with Mr. Keith Bourgeois and Robby Albarado. We started the conversation about here and [Bourgeois] said, ‘Man, you should try it out over there,’” said McMahon, who looks upon Albarado as his mentor. “I kind of bounced it around, and the next day, he asked me again. I said to myself, ‘Hey, he’s serious.’ I reached out to [agent] Walter Blum and he got back to me three weeks later and said, ‘Let’s go.’”

McMahon has won more than 200 races in each of the past two years and has amassed 796 wins in six-plus years of riding. McMahon rode his first winner on his first day of riding April 6, 2011 at Evangeline Downs.

The son of a Quarter Horse jockey notched his first victory at Gulfstream in Friday’s first race, scoring aboard A Fashion Affair ($13.20), who was saddled by Bourgeois, who is also based at Gulfstream Park for the first time.

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.