Gulfstream: Jaime Torres Rides 1st Winner Saturday at Gulfstream –

By Dvid Joseph —-

Jaime Torres Rides 1st Winner Saturday at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Apprentice jockey Jaime Torres broke through with his first career victory on Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park, guiding Takestwotowiggle ($28.20) to a front-running victory in the Race 2 claiming race.

“I’m feeling blessed. Thanks to God and my family for their support,” Torres said. “I’m ready to do my job, work every day, working hard.”

The 23-year-old started exercising horses in his native Puerto Rico before moving to the U.S., where he galloped horses for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“I started in school to learn to be an exercise rider. I was there like six months and then I came here to work for Saffie as an exercise rider,” Torres said. “The team for Saffie Joseph has taught me a lot, everything I know.”

Agent Kevin Meyocks has Torres’ book.

Takestwotowiggle was Torres’ ninth mount since riding in his first race Aug. 12.

Heriberto Figueroa Rides 52-1 and 66-1 Winners Saturday

Jockey Heriberto Figueroa enjoyed his most productive day since returning to Gulfstream Park from the West Coast in May, lighting up the toteboard with 52-1 and 66-1 winners on Saturday’s card.

“I’ve had a beautiful career in California. I got to ride very good horses for the big trainers,” the 23-year-old younger brother of Gulfstream jockey Luis Figueroa. “It’s what I love to do – to ride horses and win races. I came here to enjoy my family a little bit. I said, ‘I’ll stay for the summer.’ Now, I’m thinking of staying here for a little bit longer.”

Figueroa sent J’s Star Jet ($107.60) to the front on the backstretch in Race 1, a 1 1/16-mile maiden race for $12,500 claimers on Tapeta, before opening up by two lengths in mid-stretch and hanging on for the victory by a half-length.

“I didn’t really know the horse. I just got on the horse and tried to do what the trainer wanted,” Figueroa said.

The Donald Hunt-trained 3-year-old filly graduated in her fourth career start while racing on Lasix and with blinkers for the first time.

Figueroa was more familiar with Takecareofbusness ($134.80), aboard whom he rallied from far back to win by a half-length in Race 4, a five-furlong maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds on Tapeta.

“I knew the horse pretty well. I’ve gotten on him a few times at Palm Meadows,” Figueroa said. “The horse has a lot of talent.”

The Joel Santiago-trained son of Bucchero was making his debut.

Figueroa began riding in Puerto Rico in 2018 before venturing to Gulfstream Park and moving on to Southern California, where he completed his apprentice season with 103 victories.

Blind Spot Handles All Challengers in Our Dear Peggy

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – C2 Racing Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC’s Blind Spot was expected by the bettors to handle both Tapeta and two turns for the first time in Saturday’s $65,000 Our Dear Peggy, and they were right.

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 8-5 favorite in a field of 10 juvenile fillies, who was coming off an impressive 2 ½-length front-running maiden-breaking victory on dirt, was the beneficiary of a well-judged ride by Edgard Zayas to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

“Two turns or Tapeta, she’d never done either. She worked on Ocala on synthetic but that doesn’t meet she’s going to like it. They were unknown circumstances and she handled them well,” Joseph said. “Thank God, we were able to win a stake for Stefania and C2 Racing. They’ve been good to us.”

Blind Spot raced a few lengths behind a contested pace by around the first turn and on the backstretch, where Vai Via showed the way under Sonny Leon while closely pursued by Stephanie’s Charm and Blind Spot. Stefanie’s Charm, who was coming off an impressive maiden score around two turns on the all-weather surface, was six-wide on the first turn and was rank along the backstretch but was still able to take the lead into the stretch. However, Blind Spot loomed boldly to her outside after advancing on the turn into the homestretch and would prove too much for Stefanie’s Charm and jockey Inoel Beato.

“I think that Stefanie’s Charm is a decent horse. I think today’s her best race for Blind Spot,” Joseph said.

Blind Spot, a $125,000 daughter of Cross Traffic, ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:43.21 after stalking fractions of 24.73 and 49.69 seconds for the first half-mile. Stefanie’s Charm finished a half-length ahead of Vai Via.

While Blind Spot handled Tapeta Saturday, her future may be on turf.

“Definitely turf will be coming into consideration. She has a sibling that’s pretty good on the turf,” Joseph said. “I think from here, we’ll go to the turf, most likely.”

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $450,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $450,000 on Sunday’s program at Gulfstream Park.

First-race post time is set for 12:25 p.m.

The popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for the 15 racing days following an Aug. 13 mandatory payout.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is 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.

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