Gulfstream: Gunnevera Heads Strong Gulfstream Contingent for Breeders’ Cup

By David Joseph —-

Gunnevera Heads Strong Gulfstream Contingent for Breeders’ Cup
Multiple Graded-Stakes Winner Pre-Entered in $6 Million Classic
Five Pegasus Starters Pre-Entered in Classic
Joined By Stormy Embrace, Well Defined, Cookie Dough, Pay Any Price

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera headed a strong Gulfstream Park contingent pre-entered in the 35th Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3.

The Antonio Sano-trained Gunnevera, who has earned more than $3 million during an 18-race career than includes great success at Gulfstream, was among the pre-entries announced Wednesday for the $6 million Classic (G1) Nov. 3. The 4-year-old son of Dialed In, who finished second in the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga last time out, finished third in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and won an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream this year. The stretch-running colt captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream last year.

Gunnevera, who is listed second on the list of alternates, is expected to draw into the Classic field since two horses above him – City of Light and Bravazo – both have first-preference for the $1 million Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 3.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount aboard Gunnevera. The Classic field of pre-entries includes four other participants in the Pegasus World Cup – runner-up West Coast, Collected, Seeking the Soul and Toast of New York. Catholic Boy, who finished fourth in the Florida Derby (G1) before going on to win the Travers (G1) at Saratoga, was also pre-entered in the Classic. Mind Your Biscuits, who was the runner-up in an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream before defending his title in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), was also pre-entered in the Classic, as well as the $2 million Sprint (G1) Nov. 3.

Stormy Embrace, Well Defined, Cookie Dough and Pay Any Price, all South Florida-based stakes winners during Gulfstream’s Spring/Summer Meet, were also pre-entered in various Breeders’ Cup stakes.

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell pre-entered Stormy Embrace in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 and Well Defined in the $2 million Juvenile (G1) Nov. 2.

Matalona Thoroughbreds’ Stormy Embrace captured the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2), a seven-furlong ‘Win & You’re In’ sprint on the June 30 Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream.

Stonehedge LLC’s Well Defined registered a dominating 7 ½-length victory in the $400,000 In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile finale of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Sept. 29. Trainer Juan Avila’s Trophy Chaser, who broke his maiden at Gulfstream by 15 ¾ lengths Aug. 25 before finishing fifth in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont, was also pre-entered in the Juvenile.

Stanley Gold-trained Cookie Dough was pre-entered in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1). The Arindel homebred, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.10 Tuesday at Gulfstream, overcame traffic to capture the $400,000 FTBOA FSS My Dear Girl at 1 1/16 miles by 7 ½ lengths. Gold saddled Awesome Feather for a triumph in the 2010 Juvenile Fillies.

Pay Any Price, who breezed a half-mile at Gulfstream Wednesday morning in 49.97 seconds for trainer Georgina Baxter, was pre-entered in the $1 million Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 3. The 8-year-old gelded son of Wildcat Heir, who is owned by Averill Racing and Matties Racing Stable, won four turf sprints during the Spring/Summer Meet, including the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint on the Summit of Speed program.

Stakes winners during Gulfstream’s 2017-2018 Championship Meet that were also pre-entered for Breeders’ Cup races were Promises Fulfilled and X Y Jet.

Robert J. Baron’s Promises Fulfilled, who launched his 2018 campaign with a victory in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Feb. 3, was pre-entered for the Sprint and the Dirt Mile. The Dale Romans-trained 3-year-old has won three straight graded stakes, including the Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga.

Jorge Navarro-trained X Y Jet, who captured the Smile Sprint (G3) on the Summit of Speed program and who won the Mr. Prospector (G3) and Sunshine Million Sprint during the Championship Meet, was pre-entered in the Sprint.

Others pre-entered in Breeders’ Cup races who competed during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet: Channel Maker, Hi Happy and Sadler’s Joy ($4 million Turf, Nov. 3); Giant Expectations and Seeking the Soul (Dirt Mile); Extravagant Kid, Blind Ambition, Bucchero, Rainbow Heir, Richard’s Boy and Vision Perfect (Turf Sprint); Fuhriously Kissed and Verve’s Tale ($2 million Distaff, Nov. 3); and Marley’s Freedom (Filly & Mare Sprint).

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.