Gulfstream: Grade 3’s Orchid & Pan American Stakes Previews

By David Joseph —-

Angelo Lieto Photo
Beach Bomb Looks to Bloom Again in $165,000 Orchid (G3)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Cayton Park Stud Ltd.’s South African-bred Beach Bomb, who broke through with her first North American success in Gulfstream Park’s The Very One (G3) four weeks ago, goes after a second straight win in Saturday’s $165,000 Orchid (G3).

The 61st running of the Orchid for older fillies and mares scheduled for 1 ½ miles on the turf is the second of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps.

First race post time is 11:30 a.m. (ET). Post time for the Orchid, Race 4, is 12:57 p.m. (ET).

Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Beach Bomb came into the March 1 The Very One not having raced since finishing eighth at odds of 55-1, beaten 3 ½ lengths by subsequent female grass champion Moira – Canada’s 2022 Horse of the Year – in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

The Breeders’ Cup was the third race for Beach Bomb since arriving in the U.S., having run second in the 1 1/16-mile Violet at Monmouth Park and third in the 1 ¼-mile Rodeo Drive (G2) at Del Mar. She won four of eight starts in her native country including the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (G1) and Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1), the latter over elders.

“She’s a Grade 1 winner in South Africa, so we had good hopes for her,” trainer Graham Motion said. “It’s tough for these South African horses. It’s a lot for them to come over here. It takes them a while, but I think it showed. She’s had a year over here now and I think that’s probably helped her.”

Unlike in her three races last year, Beach Bomb found herself as the pacesetter in the 1 3/8-mile The Very One, leading through comfortable fractions and delivering a one-length triumph under Luis Saez, who returns to ride from Post 6 of seven. The are rated as the 9-5 second choice on the morning line.

“I didn’t necessarily expect her to be on the lead, but I think that style is suited down here,” Motion said. “She’s a nice filly. It’s not really a surprise to see her run that well. She’s been running in tough spots and we kind of regrouped and gave her a little time, and she ran great.

“She’s pretty kind. I think you could do anything you want with her, to be honest. I’d imagine if there’s not too much pace she’ll be close again. Going a mile and a half is a bit of a question mark, but I think down here it won’t be an issue. She’s doing well. This spot just seemed very logical after her last race.”

Sharing topweight of 123 pounds with Beach Bomb is LSU Stables’ La Mehana, the narrow 8-5 program favorite that ran third in the The Very One. Winner of the Waya (G3) last fall at Aqueduct, she will be making her fourth start of the Championship Meet after previously winning the 1 3/8-mile Via Borghese in December and finishing third by a neck in the 1 ½-mile La Prevoyante (G3) Jan. 25. Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride from Post 2.

Stuart Janney III’s Silvology will be making her stakes debut in the Orchid for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaugey. The homebred daughter of Blame earned a shot at graded company after winning her two prior starts this winter on the Gulfstream turf.

“She brought us here. If she had been third or something last time she wouldn’t have run in here, but I thought she deserves a chance going a mile and a half on this course,” McGaughey said. “She’s run real good over this course. I’ve been real pleased with the way she’s done.”

Unraced at 2 and winless in five starts at 3, three at Aqueduct, Silvology graduated by a half-length in a 1 3/8-mile maiden special weight Jan. 9. Favored in her first attempt against winners, she registered a one-length triumph Feb. 13 at the Orchid distance.

“I think at Aqueduct some of those races were a little bit too short for her and kind of quick turns. We feel like now that we got her stretched out she’ll be OK,” McGaughey said. “I think she’s probably a pretty classy filly and hopefully we’ll find out on Saturday what she is.”

Rated at 6-1 on the morning line, Silvology drew the rail and will be ridden by Dylan Davis, up for each of her two wins this winter.

Rounding out the field are Queen Regent (7-2, Post 3), fifth in the La Prevoyante and fourth in the The Very One, beaten less than two lengths each time; Sacaya (10-1, Post 4), Group 3-placed in Italy entered to make her North American debut; maiden My Brazilian Girl (30-1, Post 5); and Infinite Diamond (20-1, Post 7), winner of Gulfstream’s 2023 Cash Run on dirt that captured a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer over the turf course Dec. 20.

GP Photo
Capture the Flag Chasing Second Stakes Win in Pan American (G3)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Despite the presence of three-time Grade 1 winner Far Bridge, entered to make his seasonal debut, recency figures to be on the side of fellow 5-year-old Capture the Flag for Saturday’s $215,000 Pan American (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The 64th running of the Pan American for older horses scheduled for 1 ½ miles on the turf is the third of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps.

First race post time is 11:30 a.m. (ET). Post time for the Pan American, Race 6, is 1:56 p.m. (ET).

Bred and co-owned by Joseph Allen, Capture the Flag will be making his fourth start of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet in the Pan American, coming on the heels of a front-running head victory in the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida (G3) over the Gulfstream turf March 1.

The Mac Diarmida marked the stakes debut for Capture the Flag, who made his first four starts for trainer Shug McGaughey before joining fellow Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher last year. It was also a change in tactics for the son of Quality Road, who was able to set reasonable fractions under jockey John Velazquez and dig in to hold off stablemate Grand Sonata.

“He’s always been a big, galloping horse and we felt like he had enough natural speed where Johnny and I kind of looked at the race and felt like it might shape up that way,” Pletcher said. “If we could make the lead the right way then we’ll try and do that, and fortunately it worked out.”

With Velazquez riding in Arkansas on Saturday, meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call on Capture the Flag from Post 7 in a field of nine at co-topweight of 124 pounds with Far Bridge. Capture the Flag is second choice on the morning line at 3-1.

“We were hoping for an effort like that last time and felt like we could put his natural speed to use. He got into a good, strong gallop and was able to keep carrying it on,” Pletcher said. We’ve been very pleased with him, and he’s trained well since then, so we’re hoping for another good effort.”

LSU Stables’ Far Bridge (7-5, Post 4) also launched his season last March, winning a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance to make him a perfect 3-0 on the Gulfstream turf. Winner of the 2023 Belmont Derby (G1), he went on to take the Sword Dancer (G1) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) in New York before finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 2, his most recent start.

Christophe Clement-trained stablemate and fellow millionaire, Peachtree Stables’ Tawny Port (6-1, Post 5), will break alongside Far Bridge, also set for his seasonal bow after having gone unraced since running sixth in the 1 ½-mile Sycamore (G3) last October. The 6-year-old was winless in seven 2024 starts, all in graded-stakes, but placed five times including neck losses when second in the Mac Diarmida and third in the Pan American.

Ken Ramsey’s 7-year-old gelding Cash Equity (7-2, Post 3) has been a similar hard-luck horse, failing to win a race in 12 tries since being claimed for $80,000 at the end of 2023. Over that time he has five seconds and three thirds, beaten a length or less in three graded-stakes as well as the 2024 Barbados Gold Cup.

“He’s run very well. He’s a horse that’s never won for us since they claimed him and transferred him to me. He’s run well and he’s earned a lot of money, but he’s never won,” Championship Meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’s had a lot of trips where he almost causes his own trouble. The last time he got beat close, and the time before it was even closer. He’s knocking on the door and eventually he’s going to have his day where he wins one of these races.”

Cash Equity will also be making his fourth start of the winter stand, after finishing sixth by 2 ¾ lengths in the Fort Lauderdale (G2), second by a nose in the 1 ½-mile William L. McKnight (G3) and third in the Mac Diarmida, beaten three-quarters of a length by Capture the Flag. Tyler Gaffalione is named to ride from Post 3.

“We weren’t sure how he’d do when we stretched him out and he’s handled it well, so it opens up new options,” Joseph said. “It’s allowed him to sit more handy and he doesn’t get into as much trouble.”

Joseph also entered Daniel Alonso’s Lorenz (15-1, Post 9), a Group 3 winner in his native Brazil that ran third or better in seven of eight starts last year, two of them wins, including a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes at Remington Park. Eighth in the Fort Lauderdale, he was most recently fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay (G3) Feb. 1.

Corruption (20-1, Post 1), a winner of three straight on the Gulfstream turf including a 1 ½-mile optional claimer March 2; Padiddle (30-1, Post 6), who graduated by 2 ¾ lengths in a 1 3/8-mile maiden special weight March 9 at Gulfstream, just his second turf start; Il Siciliano (20-1, Post 8), beaten a neck by Corrpution last out; and Better Bet (20-1, Post 2) complete the field.

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