Gulfstream Today 12.9.20: War Stopper a Showstopper in Wednesday’s Gulfstream Feature

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

12.9.20

War Stopper a Showstopper in Wednesday’s Gulfstream Feature

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $475,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Salerno Stables’ War Stopper was a showstopper in Thursday’s Race 8 feature race at Gulfstream Park while making his first start for 16-time Championship Meet training champion Todd Pletcher.

Also making his first start since finishing off the board in the March 7 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, the 3-year-old son of Declaration of War showed the way throughout the mile optional claiming allowance event under outside pressure from 6-5 favorite Answer In. War Stopper ($7.20) set fractions of 23.37 and 45.91 seconds for the first half-mile before drawing away to a three-length victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. in 1:35.66.

“They told me if I can make the lead, do it. He made the lead on his own. I let him be happy and the horse responded really well,” Ortiz said. “I was happy where I was. He came back to me. We worked together and when I asked him, he responded.”

Pletcher-trained Roman Empire closed to finish second, 1 ½-lengths ahead of Brad Cox-trained Answer In.

War Stopper, who ran on turf in his first two starts without success in the fall of last year, showed an affinity for dirt in his second start over Aqueduct’s main track, scoring a four-length maiden victory that earned him a start in the Gotham.

“Todd does a great job with horses coming off a long layoff. He’s that kind of trainer. He can bring back a horse 100 percent no matter what kind of layoff,” Ortiz said.

War Stopper was the second of four straight victories for Ortiz, the returning two-time Championship Meet titlist. Ortiz also visited the winner’s circle after Race 7 with Rocket Joe Copper ($5) in Race 7, Soglio ($7.20) in Race 9, and La Incondicional ($9.40) in Race 10.

“Every year I try hard to win as many races as I can,” Ortiz said. “I am thankful for the support trainers give me.”

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $475,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $475,000 Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the sixth day of the Championship Meet Wednesday, when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $10,498.06.

The jackpot pool 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.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $4,651.34.

Who’s Hot: Before Ortiz scored three wins in a row, Luis Saez and Leonel Reyes each scored back-to-back victories. Saez won aboard Putnam ($12.20) in Race 3 and Orbs Baby Girl ($13.60) in Race 4. Reyes scored with Nicholas Rose ($27.40) in Race 5 and London Werewolf ($17.40) in Race 6.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.