Gulfstream Today 12.22.24: Racing Resumes Thursday with Two Stakes

By David Joseph —-

White Abarrio; Ryan Thompson Photo
Gulfstream Today

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet resumes Thursday, Dec. 26 with a 10-race program featuring two stakes and three turf races.

The program begins at approximately 12:20 ET with Race 1, a maiden special weight event at five furlongs on the turf for 11 2-year-old fillies. The maiden special weight event includes two fillies from the barn of Mark Casse in Wellness and Baby Lala, JR Ranch’s Thankfully, Snitch Dorada, a daughter of Maximus Mischief to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., and first-time starter Starship Impulsive from the barn of Steve Dwoskin.

The $140,000 Rampart, for fillies and mares at a mile, will be run as Race 6 and feature a couple of Grade 1 winners. Soul of an Angel makes her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) while Alabama (G1) winner Power Squeeze makes her first start since September when finishing seventh behind Thorpedo Anna in the Cotillion (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx.

Fillies and mares go 1 3/8 miles in the Via Borghese in Race 8. Forever After All and Marksman Queen go out after finishing second and third, respectively, in Del Mar’s Red Carpet (G3). Avenue Niel goes out first time for trainer Michael Trombetta after finishing fourth in the Waya (G3) and Long Island (G3). La Mehana, winner of the Waya and seventh in the Long Island, goes out first time for trainer Christophe Clement. Graham Motion has entered Three Priests and Marskman Queen, out of the multiple graded-stakes winner Sharp Susan.

Via Borghese, a daughter of Seattle Dancer trained by Angel Penna Jr., won 11 of 22 starts and was a multiple graded-stakes winner on the turf.

White Abarrio to Meet 11 Others in Saturday’s Mr. Prospector (G3)

White Abarrio, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and 2022 Florida Derby (G1), will face a full field Saturday in the $165,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at seven furlongs.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio worked a ‘bullet’ three furlongs Sunday :35.42.

The field includes three-time Grade 3 winner Super Chow and Vosburgh (G3) winner Mufasa.

Saturday’s 11-race program also includes the $115,000 Abundantia for fillies and mares at five furlongs on the turf, and the $100,000 St. Augustine at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta.

Tropical Turf Pick 3 Returns Friday

The first of the weekend’s Tropical Turf Pick 3 wagers begins Friday with Race 1, a $25,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds going 7 ½ furlongs. Leading trainer Joseph saddles two in Salto Angel, seventh in his debut on Tapeta, and first-time starter Chill the J. Change At Jamaica gets blinkers and drops in company off a ninth-place finish in his debut for trainer Mark Casse.

The second leg of the Tropical Turf Pick 3 is Race 6, a $35,000 claiming event for fillies and mares. Miss Taptress broke her maiden on the turf and was third over the green last time out at this level. Sassy Allie has a win and two seconds in four turf starts for trainer Robert Falcone Jr. The Pick 3 concludes with Race 9, a starter allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Sarah’s Dream, trained by Jose D’Angelo, is on a four-race winning streak, with one of those being over the turf. Silver Moonlight, trained by Joseph, is seeking her third consecutive victory over the green

NOTES: C2 Racing Stables LLC’s Classify, a 4-year-old colt by Adios Charlie trained by Joseph and ridden by Luis Saez, drove past the leader Pay Zone down the stretch to win Sunday’s ninth race, a six-furlong allowance optional claimer, covering the distance in 1:10.72. Pay Zone held on for second while Born Noble was third. Classify’s three previous races were two seconds and a third in New York…When racing resumes Thursday the estimated Rainbow 6 pool will be $150,000…

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE 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 & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park – home of The California Crown and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’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 EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 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 racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.