Gulfstream: Multiverse Shoots for the Stars in Hutcheson at Gulfstream

By David Joseph —-

Lauren King Photo
Multiverse Shoots for the Stars in Hutcheson at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – On the strength of his eye-catching graduation last time out, Pin Oak Stud LLC’s Multiverse will shoot for the stars while making the leap into stakes company for the Saturday’s $115,000 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park.

The gelded son of Practical Joke is rated second at 2-1 on morning line for the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds that will co-headline Saturday’s 12-race program with the $115,000 Captiva Island, a five-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares.

Multiverse, a $575,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, put it all together in his fourth career start Feb. 8 to win going away by 4 ½ lengths at six furlongs. The Riley Mott trainee broke from the rail post position that is often a disadvantage in sprints and was deftly guided to the outside by jockey Drayden Van Dyke on the backstretch. Multiverse made a wide sweep into the stretch before drawing away in the six-furlong maiden special weight.

“Drayden rode a very smart race. He let the horse break naturally and let him get into a good rhythm,” Mott said. “He got him outside. Although he was a little wide, he had the momentum to wear them down. He looked good to me. The number came back competitive. He always struck me as a horse that’ll get better with racing. It looks like that’s the case.”

Multiverse had finished off the board at Churchill Downs in his first two career starts with blinkers before overcoming early traffic to finish third in a Dec. 28 maiden test at Gulfstream behind Victorious Tappan Steet, who would go on to finish second in the Holy Bull (G3).

“At that time at Gulfstream, anytime you run in a [2- or] 3-year-old maiden race, you’re probably running against one or two horses that might show back up in a [Kentucky] Derby prep. Tappan Street won nicely and came back well in the Holy Bull,” Mott said. “We had taken the blinkers off for that particular race. I thought he ran well. He’s improved each start numbers-wise.”

Van Dyke has the return call Saturday.

Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable’s Guns Loaded steps off the Triple Crown trail Saturday at Gulfstream, where the son of Gun Runner will cut back from two turns to one for the Hutcheson.

Purchased at the 2023 Keeneland September sale for $800,000, Guns Loaded finished a disappointing seventh in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull at Gulfstream after attending the pace along the backstretch.

Saturday’s 8-5 morning-line favorite had shown talent right from the start while finishing second in a seven-furlong maiden special weight event at Saratoga in his debut last August. The Jose D’Angelo trainee made a triumphant return to action with a 2 ¾-length victory in a six-furlong maiden test at Churchill Downs Nov. 24 before scoring a front-running win at Gulfstream in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man, a one-turn mile stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds.

D’Angelo is also represented in the six-horse field by Leon King Stable Corp.’s Corta Fuego, an unraced maiden.

Luis Saez, who was aboard Guns Loaded for his first three starts, reunites with the promising colt Saturday. Edgar Perez has the call on Corta Fuego.

` St. George Stable LLC’s Rolando is scheduled to make his stakes debut in the Hutcheson while coming off a strong optional claiming allowance win at Gulfstream. The Fausto Gutierrez-trained son of Vekoma, who had won on debut at six furlongs before three consecutive in-the-money finishes going a mile or seven furlongs, broke through with a 4 ½-length victory at six furlongs last time out.

Tyler Gaffalione has the return mount aboard Rolando, who is rated third at 5-2 on the morning line.

John Grossi’s Racing Corp.’s Joey Muscles, who graduated and was stakes-placed at Gulfstream last summer before trying two turns and turf in three starts without success after shipping north, enters the Hutcheson off a pair of promising in-the-money finishes during the Championship Meet.

Jose Morales has the return call on the Jena Antonucci-trained son of Khozan, who is rated fourth at 6-1 on the morning line.

Runnymoore Racing LLC’s Tapirs Valor, an optional claiming allowance winner at Tampa Bay Downs last time out, rounds out the field.

Dylan Davis has the call on the Timothy Hamm-trained son of Tapwrit.

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, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); 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 1/ST TV. 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.