Gulfstream Today 2.26.25: Lynch 3YOs ‘Testing the Waters’ in Thursday Feature

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

Mandatory Rainbow 6 Payout Set for Sunday

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – For some entered in Thursday’s Race 8 feature at Gulfstream Park, the 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds could very well serve as a springboard onto the Road to the Triple Crown.

Trainer Brian Lynch will be represented by Susan and Jim Hill’s Solid Left and Donald Dizney LLC’s Jimmy’s Dailys in a well-stocked eight-horse field.

Lynch had entered Solid Left in Saturday’s $415,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2), a 1 1/16-mile prep for the March 29 $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) but will opt to run the son of West Coast in Thursday’s feature.

“I think he fits better in the allowance race than he does in the other race,” Lynch said. “I think I’ll test the waters in allowance company before we start in any stakes.”

Solid Left, who debuted with an off-the-board finish in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race Dec. 28 at Gulfstream, successfully stretched out around two turns in his second start with a 2 ½-length score at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 26.

“He certainly ran on the other day breaking his maiden like he’s going to enjoy a lot of ground,” Lynch said. “This is his chance to prove it to us.”

Jimmy’s Dailys will stretch out around two turns for the first time Thursday after graduating impressively at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Jan. 25 in his third career start.

“Again, we’re kind of testing the waters to see if he can go that far, but I’ve got a feeling he can,” Lynch said. “We won’t know until we start, but he’s training well.”

The homebred son of Vekoma debuted with a third-place finish in a 4 ½-furlong maiden race at Churchill Downs last June before returning Dec. 28 at Gulfstream with a fourth-place finish at seven furlongs.

Jimmy’s Dailys, who is favored on the morning-line at 2-1, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Solid Left, 6-1 on the line, will be ridden by Luis Saez.

Like Solid Left, Leon King Stable Corp.’s McKellen was also entered in the Fountain of Youth but will run instead Thursday.

The Jose D’Angelo-trained son McKinzie demonstrated considerable promise in his first two starts last year. He broke his maiden at first asking going a mile at Gulfstream Park, before finishing second in a mile optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs behind Brad Cox-trained Disco Time, who won the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds in his 2025 debut to remain undefeated in three starts. D’Angelo is looking for improvement over McKellen’s disappointing return in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man, a mile stakes in which he was forwardly placed before weakening to sixth.

“We tried him in the Mucho Macho Man, and he didn’t run like we expected. We gave him a little break,” D’Angelo said. “He improved again and looks like the horse that went to Churchill Downs. We’re not sure about the distance, but he’s training good.”

D’Angelo will also be represented Sonata Stable’s Smoken Boy, a two-time winner at Camarero in Puerto Rico last year before finishing well back in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.

“He’s a horse that shows a lot of talent in the morning. We know there’s a difference between Camarero and here, but we feel he was unlucky in Tampa,” D’Angelo said. “I think he deserves another chance.”

Samuel Marin has been named on McKellen, while Miguel Vasquez has the mount on Smoken Boy.

Repole Stable’s Grande, rated second at 5-2, enters Thursday’s feature off a sharp debut score for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher Jan. 11 at Gulfstream. The son of Curlin was always forwardly placed in a mile maiden special weight race before drawing clear to win by 2 ½ lengths.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the return mount.

Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Times, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, will make his first start around two turns Thursday. The son of Not This Time, rated third at 4-1 on the morning line, broke his maiden at first asking Jan. 4 at Gulfstream before coming back to finish second behind River Thames, the Pletcher-trained undefeated colt who is favored on the morning line for the Fountain of Youth at 2-1.

Dylan Davis, who was aboard for Souper Times’ two starts at a mile, has the return mount Thursday.

Brendan Walsh-trained Sonic Skidaddle, seventh in the Mucho Macho Man, and Ruben Sierra-trained Indecisiveness, fourth behind River Thames, round out the field.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $400,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved Wednesday for the seventh racing day following a mandatory payout Feb. 15 that yielded multiple jackpot payoffs of $164,292.76.

The popular multi-race wager’s jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $400,000 Thursday, when the six-race sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance in Race 8 that drew a strong field of 3-year-olds with a lot of potential.

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool has been scheduled for Sunday.

Who’s Hot: Jockey Luis Saez doubled Thursday at Gulfstream, where he scored aboard Bring Me a Check ($8.20) in Race 2 before helping trainer Ron Spatz celebrate his birthday in the winner’s circle aboard Fontina ($7.60) following Race 6.

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