Ulloa Perez Notches First U.S. Victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park West; Gunnevera Tunes-Up for Breeders’ Cup

By David Joseph —-

Gunnevera Tunes Up for Breeders’ Cup with ‘Bullet’ at Gulfstream Park West

Ulloa Perez Notches First U.S. Victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park West
Upset Win Comes One Day after Younger Brother Achieves Same Feat

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Oscar Ulloa Perez notched his first U.S. victory in Saturday’s sixth race at Gulfstream Park West, one day after his younger brother Andrea Ulloa achieved the feat in Friday’s second race.

Ulloa Perez made his first U.S. winner’s circle visit in style. The 28-year-old jockey, who won more than 1300 races during his nine-year career in Chile, scored aboard 60-1 long shot Pep the Champ for owner/trainer Pedro Sorbazo.

“I’m very happy to get my first win here,” Ulloa Perez said. “I’ve always wanted to ride in the United States.”

The upset victory came one day after his 23-year-old brother Andres Ulloa scored his victory in the U.S., taking Friday’s second race aboard the Dennis Ward-trained Jackism ($18.40).

Gunnevera Tunes Up for Breeders’ Cup with ‘Bullet’ at Gulfstream Park West
Classic Contender Breezes 5 Furlongs in 1:00.60.Under Edgard Zayas

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender Gunnevera produced a second-straight bullet workout at Gulfstream Park West Saturday morning while breezing five furlongs in 1:00.60 under jockey Edgard Zayas.

Trainer Antonio Sano is in Italy to visit his father, who underwent successful emergency heart surgery, and was not in attendance for the 3-year-old son of Dialed In’s third workout since finishing second in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1).

Gunnevera’s workout was the fastest of 11 recorded at the five-furlong distance, following a ‘bullet’ 1:02 Sept. 30 and a 49-second half-mile breeze Sept. 23.

“It went excellent. We wanted him to work a little quicker than he’d been working. He did everything perfect and he galloped out great,” Zayas said. “He’s doing great. He’s getting better and better. He’s getting ready for the race.”

Gunnevera will continue to train at Gulfstream Park West and is scheduled to fly to California Oct. 27.
Gunnevera was 11th during the early going of the 12-horse Travers before making a sweeping move on the turn into the homestretch to engage front-running West Coast at the top of the stretch. West Coast edged away to a 3 ¼-length triumph, but Gunnevera easily held second, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Irap.

“He gave me a lot of confidence in him. I knew he was training really good for the Travers, but I had my question about him competing with Always Dreaming and all those horses,” Zayas said. “He definitely showed people he can compete. I have a lot of confidence in him. I know it’s going to be tough racing against older horses, but he’s always going to finish strong.”

Gunnevera broke his maiden at Gulfstream last summer in his third career start after finishing behind eventual FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes champion Three Rules in his first two starts. The Kentucky-bred colt came right back to win the Saratoga Special and would close out his 2-year-old campaign with a 5 ¾-length triumph in the Delta Downs Jackpot (G3).

The Sano trainee launched his 2017 campaign with a second-place finish behind Irish War Cry in the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream before closing from last to win the Fountain of Youth (G2) going away by 5 ¾ lengths. In the Florida Derby (G1), Gunnevera dropped back to last after breaking from the far-outside post position before making a strong run to finish third behind Always Dreaming. He subsequently finished seventh behind that rival in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Gunnevera went on to finish fifth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) before being given a 2 ½-month break from action. He prepped for the Travers with a commanding five-length triumph in the $100,000 Tangelo Stakes at Gulfstream Aug. 6, when Zayas rode him for the first time.”

Gulfstream Park West 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, and Rosecroft Raceway. 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.