Salty Proves Too Tough in $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)

By David Joseph —-

Salty; Lauren King Photo

3-Year-Old Filly Dominates Field of Eight in Graded Stakes Debut

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Making her graded stakes debut in her first try around two turns, Gary Barber, Baccari Racing Stable and Chester Prince’s Salty swept to the lead on the far turn and powered down the stretch to a dominant 4 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 47th running of the 1 1/16-mile GP Oaks for 3-year-old fillies was the fourth of six graded stakes and nine overall stakes worth $2.45 million on a 14-race program anchored by the 66th renewal of the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1).

Salty ($4), bet down to even-money favoritism in a competitive field of eight that included Grade 2 winner Tequilita, Grade 2-placed Jordan’s Henny and previously undefeated Nonna Bella, completed the distance in 1:42.91 over a fast main track.

Tequilita came with a late run for second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Jordan’s Henny. It was another neck back to Nonna Bella followed by Modacious, Conquest Sorcerer, Spring Mist and Shezaprado.

Nonna Bella was keen early under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and set a demanding pace of 23.26 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 46.72 for the half and 1:10.77 for six furlongs with Modacious her closest pursuer and Jordan’s Henny tracking on the outside while Salty settled in next-to-last with Joel Rosario.

“I thought that there would be some speed, and it was exactly how it happened,” Rosario said. “I got her going a little early because of the first wire. She responded very, very nice. The more you ride her the more she keeps giving it to you. I felt confident I the last turn when she was trying to get up and getting close to the leader.”

Racing in the clear on the far outside, Salty gradually began picking up horses down the backstretch to move into contention around the far turn before effortlessly slinging past Nonna Bella and Jordan’s Henny as they straightened for home.

“We were back a little farther than I thought we would be. You’re always worried when you think a filly would run two turns when you look ar her physique and everything, but Joel (Rosario) got her moving three-quarters of a mile out and that’s a long, sustained run — I was a little nervous about it. Even afterward, Joel said, ‘Maybe I moved a little early.’ But she’s extremely talented as everyone saw today. We’re excited just to have her.”

Rosario was also aboard for Salty’s previous start, a 2 ½-length maiden special weight victory March 5 at Gulfstream in her first start since joining Casse when Barber bought a share of the bay Quality Road filly. She lost by a neck in her debut to Nonna Bella on Feb. 4 before Casse-trained Grade 1 winner Classic Empire came up short as the favorite in the Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2).

“We were impressed with her first start,” Casse said. “She ran the same day that Classic Empire ran and that evening I called Gary and said, ‘I saw a filly that I really like run today,’ and I told him who and he said, ‘I liked her, too.’ We started pursuing her and Gary bought part of her with the current owners and breeder.

“I was a little concerned and even Joel said he maybe moved a little quick,” he added. “He didn’t realize how hot the pace was but they were getting away from him. He put her in a drive from probably three-quarters of a mile out and that’s hard to do, especially with a filly making her first start around two turns. But, that’s how good she is.”

Casse indicated that Salty would be pointed to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs.

$250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) Quotes

Trainer Mark Casse (Salty): “We were back a little farther than I thought we would be. You’re always worried when you think a filly would run two turns when you look at her physique and everything, but Joel (Rosario) got her moving three-quarters of a mile out and that’s a long, sustained run — I was a little nervous about it. Even afterward, Joel said, ‘Maybe I moved a little early.’ But she’s extremely talented as everyone saw today. We’re excited just to have her.”

(Is Kentucky next?) “That’s the plan.”

“We were impressed with her first start. She ran the same day that Classic Empire ran and that evening I called Gary and I said, ‘I saw a filly that I really like run today,’ and I told him who and he said, ‘I liked her, too.’ We started pursuing her and Gary bought part of her with the current owners and breeder.”

“I was a little concerned and even Joel said he maybe moved a little quick. He didn’t realize how hot the pace was, but they were getting away from him. He put her in a drive from probably three-quarters of a mile out and that’s hard to do, especially with a filly making her first start around two turns. But that’s how good she is. The first time we breezed her down here, Norman called me and said, ‘This is a really good horse.’ I said, ‘I hope so.’”

Jockey Joel Rosario (Salty): “I thought that there would be some speed, and it was exactly how it happened. I got her going a little early because of the first wire. She responded very, very nice. The more you ride her the more she keeps giving it to you. I felt confident in the last turn when she was trying to get up and getting close to the leader.”

Margins: 4 ¼, 1 ½, neck

Cover Photo: Salty; Lauren King Photo

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets.