Gulfstream: Curlin’s Approval Dominates in Sunday’s Sugarloaf Key

By David Joseph —-

Curlin’s Approval Dominates in Sunday’s Sugarloaf Key
Tyler Gaffalione Pads Meet Lead with Five Winners

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Multiple graded-stakes winner Curlin’s Approval rebounded from a fourth-place finish in the June 30 Princess Rooney (G2) Sunday with a dominating two-length victory in the $75,000 Sugarloaf Key at Gulfstream Park..

The 5-year-old daughter of Curlin ($3) provided jockey Tyler Gaffalione with his fifth winner on Sunday’s 12-race program.

Owned by trainer Happy Alter and Bridlewood Farm, Curlin’s Approval cut back in distance to six furlongs for the first time since winning her career debut at the distance at Gulfstream June 5, 2016.

After a breaking well from the gate, Curlin’s Approval dropped back to last in the field of six fillies and mares along the backstretch before advancing on the outside of horses on the far turn. The Alter homebred made a powerful move on the turn into the homestretch to engage pacesetter Estilo Femenino, who set half-mile fractions of 22.40 (seconds) and 45.19. Despite losing valuable ground while swinging six-wide into the stretch, Curlin’s Approval drew off to win comfortably.

Curlin’s Approval ran six furlongs in 1:09.08 to register her seventh stakes win at Gulfstream Park, where she captured the Princess Rooney and Hurricane Bertie (G3) last year. Estilo Femenino held second under jockey Oscar Ulloa, 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Yes I’ll Go and jockey Emisael Jaramillo.

Alter said Curlin’s Approval may well be headed out of town for her next start.

“Curlin’s Approval keeps me happy and being back in the good combination of Bridlewood Farm and John Malone — general manager George Isaacs is here – goes back to the days of Halo’s Image, Sugar’s Image. So we’re here again and they’ll be more,” Alter said. “George and I are going to put our heads together and figure out whether we should travel. The one thing that we both have talked about is with the With Approval sire of the mare, we could try her on the grass. We’ll have to see. She’s very honest.”

Curlin’s Approval is winless in four stakes starts away from Gulfstream.

“A lot of people say all her wins are here. But the ones on the road had real reasons,” he said.

Tyler Gaffalione Pads Meet Lead with Five Straight Winners

Leading rider Tyler Gaffalione added five winners to his Summer Meet-leading total.

The 23-year-old rising star rode five straight winners, scoring aboard Venezuelan Forever ($5.80) in the sixth race, Hi Hi Holly ($6.40) in the seventh, Shafiro ($11.80) in the eighth, One Directions Song ($8.40) in the 10th, and Curlin’s Approval in the 11th.

Gaffalione, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice in 2015, won the Spring Meet title with 63 winners after finishing third behind Luis Saez and Irad Ortiz Jr. during the Championship Meet with 87 winners.

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.