Gulfstream: Stormy Embrace Returns to Action in Saturday’s $100,000 Sheer Drama

By David Joseph —-

Stormy Embrace Returns to Action in Saturday’s $100,000 Sheer Drama
Two-Time Princess Rooney (G2) Winner Preps for Breeders’ Cup
Friday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Swells to $1,082,320
Multiple-Stakes Winner Galleon Mast Favored in Friday’s James H. Kyle

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Matalona Thoroughbreds LLC’s Stormy Embrace, who captured the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) on the June 29 Summit of Speed card, is scheduled for a return to action in Saturday’s $100,000 Sheer Drama at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Kathleen O’Connell, Stormy Embrace will clash with eight rivals in the Sheer Drama, a seven-furlong sprint for Florida-bred fillies and mares.

Stormy Embrace secured a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with her two-length triumph in the Princess Rooney, a seven-furlong sprint that the 5-year-old daughter of Circular Quay won by six lengths in 2018.

Stormy Embrace finished a troubled 11th in the Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs last fall before finishing second by a neck behind Dream Pauline in the Sugar Swirl (G3) and third behind Dream Pauline in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) during Gulfstream’s 2018-2019 Championship Meet. She came off a four-month layoff to capture the $100,000 Musical Romance, a seven-furlong sprint for Florida-breds, by more than 10 lengths while tuning up for her title defense in the Princess Rooney.

Wilmer Garcia has the return mount.

Todd Pletcher-trained Shanghai Starlet returns to Gulfstream and state-bred competition after finishing off the board in a 5 ½-turf stakes at Monmouth. King of Prussia Stables’ 4-year-old daughter of Shanghai Bobby has won three of five starts over Gulfstream’s main track, including a win in the Panama City last summer. She also won the Sunshine Millions Distaff Preview at Gulfstream Park West last November. Edgard Zayas, who was aboard for both stakes victories, has the mount Saturday.

Northwind Thoroughbreds LLC’s Ms Meshak enters the Sheer Drama off a going-away 2 3/4-length victory in the July 27 Added Elegance. The Joe Orseno-trained 4-year-old daughter of Shackleford has won five races over the Gulfstream main track and also won a five-furlong turf race over the local turf in April. Jairo Rendon has the mount.

Stakes winners Wildwood’s Beauty and Starcloud have also been entered in the Sheer Drama, which also attracted stakes-placed last-out winners Heiresall and Amaluna, as well as Weekend Mischief and Bones.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Swells to $1,082,320

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot grew to $1,082,320.68 for Friday’s 2:15 p.m. twilight card at Gulfstream Park when the popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the 34th consecutive racing day Thursday.

Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $13,252.46.

The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The Rainbow 6 was last solved July 6, when one lucky bettor hit for a $173,583.90 jackpot payoff.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $4,248.98 heading into Friday’s card.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, including the $60,000 James H. Kyle Stakes in Race 5. Multiple-stakes winner Galleon Mast has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up. The 6-year-old son of Mizzen Mast, who has finished in the money in 18 of his 20 starts over the Gulfstream turf, finished a close second in his second start off a seven-month layoff last time out.

The David Fawkes-trained gelding will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.

Cowboy’s Hero, who captured the Mecke Stakes last time out, is rated second at 5-2 in the morning line. Ambassador Jim, Driven by Thunder, Durocher and Forever Mo round out the field.

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. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com or call 954.457.6451.