Gulfstream: Classic of Course on Firmer Footing in Not Surprising

By David Joseph —-


Classic of Course on Firmer Footing in Not Surprising

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Dropping down from Grade 1 company, Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course figures to be on firmer footing in Saturday’s $75,000 Not Surprising at Gulfstream Park.

At least, that’s what Biancone is hoping.

Classic of Course, who finished far back in the May 3 American Turf (G1) over a less-than-firm turf course at Churchill Downs, has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds that will co-headline Saturday’s 10-race program with the $75,000 Martha Washington, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for sophomore fillies.

“He’s training good. I’m very happy with him,” Biancone said. “In his last race, he ran on soft ground, and he hates that. You can see it in his action.”

Classic of Course earned a shot in the American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard March 29 over firm footing at Gulfstream Park with a rallying victory in the Cutler Bay in his first start on turf.

Prior to breaking through with his first stakes success in the Cutler Bay, Classic of Course was multiple stakes-placed on dirt.

“It was two things: he likes turf, and he has matured,” Biancone said. “Last year, he was a baby. This year he’s no longer a child. He’s more mature.”

Jonathan Ocasio has the call on Classic of Course.

Arindel’s Tank, who is rated second at 5-2 on the morning line, will seek his third straight stakes victory in the Not Surprising. The Carlos David-trained son of Adios Charlie followed up a win over Florida-breds in the Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs with a triumph in the mile English Channel May 3 at Gulfstream.

Emisael Jaramillo, who guided Arindel’s Mythical to a front-running victory in Thursday’s Tremont at Saratoga, returns to South Florida to ride Tank in the Not Surprising.

e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Nemo, who was beaten by 1 ¼ lengths while finishing fourth in the English Channel, is rated third at 9-2 on the Not Surprising morning line. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Into Mischief had previously rallied from far back to win on debut at a mile on turf March 30. Joseph will also be represented in the Not Surprising by Ken Ramsey’s Back in the Saddle, a son of Oscar Performance who graduated in a $50,000 maiden claimer by 5 ½ lengths last time out.

Wilfred Vasquez is slated to ride Nemo for the first time Saturday, while Edgard Zayas has the return call on Back in the Saddle.

Gary Barber’s Bluff is scheduled to seek his third straight victory while making his stakes debut in the Not Surprising. The son of Flatter, who is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, captured an April 27 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs, four months after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream.

Miguel Vasquez has the call.

Chad Stewart and Anthony Lenci’s Lastabitlonger, Cloud Nine Lumoni’s Bakers Street, and Rolling Meadows Farm’s Blue Casanova round out the field. Laura Murphy’s Win With Faith was entered but will not start.

Miguel Vasquez Notches Win No. 1500 in North America

Jockey Miguel Vasquez notched Win No. 1500 in North America Thursday while scoring aboard Mi Amore ($17.40) in Race 2 on a nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

The 30-year-old journeyman, who is a graduate of Panama’s Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School, has established a strong year-round presence at Gulfstream since his arrival in South Florida in 2014.

Vasquez ranked 10th in North America in 2020 with 195 winners, including six in one day at Gulfstream. In 2022, he rode a personal-best 2003 winners.

Vasquez made a second visit to Gulfstream’s winner’s circle with Torch Is Passed ($4.60) following Thursday’s Race 8, a 5 ½-furlong starter allowance on Tapeta.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $100,000

Friday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $100,000 at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager has gone unsolved for two racing days following last Saturday’s jackpot hit for $143,445.12.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, kicked off by a five-furlong maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds on turf and featuring a mile-and-70-yard allowance for 3-year-olds on Tapeta in Race 8.

Jose D’Angelo-trained Ciborio, a first-time starter by Raging Bull, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of seven assembled for Race 4. David Braddy-trained Chasing My Dream, who finished an even fifth while debuting in the Royal Palm Juvenile, is rated second at 5-2.

D’Angelo-trained Iron Hand, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, will seek his third straight victory in the Race 8 feature.

In the Rainbow 6, the carryover pool is only 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 usually 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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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.