Gulfstream: e Five’s Hana Lima Dazzles in Gulfstream Park Debut

By David Joseph —-

e Five’s Hana Lima Dazzles in Gulfstream Park Debut

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Hana Lima ($26.80) made an auspicious debut Sunday at Gulfstream Park, rallying from off the pace to graduate by four lengths in drawing-away fashion.

The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee dominated a field of nine well-bred, well-connected 3-year-old fillies in the Race 5 maiden special weight race on turf, completing a mile over a firm course in 1:35.59 under Edwin Gonzalez.

“We never put her on the grass. She’s bred for grass, but she trained so good on dirt we were hopeful that when she got on the grass she’d improve,” Joseph said. “We were cautiously optimistic, and she delivered more than we could expect. It was a very impressive performance. She sat, she split horses and she quickened.”

Bred in Great Britain, the daughter of Iffraaj was purchased for $192,453 at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for Bob Edwards’ e Five Racing Thoroughbreds.

“I think she’ll most likely go north after this. I think Bob would like to see her run at Saratoga,” Joseph said. “I’ll talk to him and make a plan.”

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $350,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $350,000 for Thursday’s program at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday for the fifth racing day since an April 17 mandatory payout. Tickets with all six winners were each worth $64,600.86 Sunday.

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.

Big Drama, Honey Ryder Kick Off Spring/Summer Stakes

The 2021 Spring/Summer stakes schedule kicks off at Gulfstream Park Saturday with the $75,000 Big Drama and the $75,000 Honey Ryder.

The Big Drama, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up that carries a $25,000 win-only bonus for Florida-breds, attracted 17 nominations, including trainer Kathleen O’Connell’s Well Defined, a veteran graded-stakes winner who was nipped at the wire after winning three of his previous four starts.

Gustavo Delgado-trained Jirafales, who won his debut before finishing off the board in the Holy Bull (G3) Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Florida Derby (G1), is also nominated for the stakes named in honor of Florida-bred Big Drama, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner and Eclipse champion.

Jeff Engel-trained Will Boi, who captured the Hutcheson two starts back; Gerald Bennett-trained Foreman, who won the seven-furlong Sophomore Stakes for Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs last time out; Tamara Levy-trained Quenane, a hard-knocking veteran who has won 10 of 40 starts, as well as finishing at least second 19 times, at Gulfstream; and Mark Casse-trained Untitled, a graded stakes-placed Florida-bred who has won all three of his career wins at Gulfstream; are among the most prominent nominees.

The Honey Ryder, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies drew 22 nominations, including Todd Pletcher-trained Con Lima, who captured the Ginger Brew and Herecomesthebride (G3) during the Championship Meet.

Kent Sweezey-trained Por Que No, who has won her last four starts, has been nominated for a stakes debut in the Honey Ryder.

Trainer Christophe Clement is represented on the nominations list by Mischievous Dream, a stakes winner at 2 who has yet to races this year, and Hit the Woah, who finished a close-up third behind I Get It in the Sanibel Island on the Florida Derby undercard.

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.