Gulfstream: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Ultimate Goal for Pay Any Price

By David Joseph —-

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Ultimate Goal for Pay Any Price
World-Record Holder Set for Sunday’s Tamiami Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Pay Any Price takes an important step toward the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Sunday when the world-record holder for five furlongs on turf carries high weight in the $75,000 Tamiami Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The 8-year-old gelding, who ran five furlongs in 53.61 seconds while winning the Silks Run at Gulfstream last year, has been assigned to carry 130 pounds, between 12 and 15 pounds more than his six rivals (not counting two main-track-only entrants), in the five-furlong turf sprint.

Pay Any Price, who has won eight of his last 11 starts and 14 of 23 lifetime races, will seek his fourth straight triumph in Sunday’s featured fourth race. If all goes well, the son of Wildcat Heir would be on track for a possible start in the 5 ½-furlong Turf Sprint on the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup card at Churchill Downs.

“We’ll try to run in one more race and then the Breeders’ Cup,” said Rich Averill, whose Averill Racing LLC owns Pay Any Price with Matties Racing. “Everything is pointing that way. As long as he does well and comes out of the race well, we’ll try to see if we can get with Gulfstream management to see if we can get another race in him before the Breeders’ Cup and go from there.”

Regular jockey Edgard Zayas has the return mount.

Owner/trainer Eddie Broome’s Brandy’s Girl is set for a return from a 7 ½-month layoff in the Tamiami. The multiple stakes-winning 6-year-old mare beat the boys in back-to-back five-furlong turf races last year at Gulfstream, including a brilliant triumph in the Jupiter Beach Stakes. She finished second in last year’s Tamiami, a half-length behind next-out winner Extravagant Kid, who most recently captured the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga.

Luca Panici, who was aboard for the Jupiter Beach score, has the mount aboard the daughter of Posse.

Trainer Ralph Nicks has entered Rustlewood Farm’s Tropicat, a multiple winner over the Gulfstream turf, and Raroma Stable’s Phantom Ro, the 2017 Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager Division winner who has yet to run on turf.

Emisael Jaramillo has the mount aboard Tropicat, while Tyler Gaffalione has been named to ride Phantom Ro for the first time.

Focus On Me and Moonwalker round out the field. My Friend Flaven and Field Trip are main-track-only entrants.

Gulfstream Receives More Than 5,000 Stall Applications for Championship Meet

Gulfstream Park announced Friday it had received more than 5,000 stall applications for the approximately 3,100 stalls available at Gulfstream, Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park West for its Championship Meet.

The Championship Meet, which begins Nov. 30, will feature the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), Florida Derby (G1), Clasico Internacional del Caribe, Eclipse Awards, Claiming Crown, Fountain of Youth (G2) and world-championship turf and dirt racing through March.

There were 274 trainers who applied for stalls. Those applying included Todd Pletcher, who has won the Championship Meet trainer’s title an unprecedented 15 times, Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey, Kiaran McLaughlin, Dale Romans, Chad Brown, James Jerkens, Graham Motion, Mike Maker, Michael Matz, Ken McPeek, Wesley Ward, Jason Servis, Mark and Norm Casse, Rick Violette, Kelly Breen, Bob Hess, Jeremiah Englehart, Mark Hennig, Eddie Kenneally, Brendan Walsh, Mary Eppler, Michael Trombetta, Jorge Navarro and Jane Cibelli.

Trainers who will participate in the Championship Meet stabled in South Florida year-round include Eddie Plesa Jr., David Fawkes, Stanley Gold, Kathy Ritvo, Antonio Sano, Ralph Nicks, Jena Antonucci, Henry Collazo, Michelle Nihei, Joe Orseno, Gustavo Delgado, Armando De La Cerda, Elizabeth Dobles, Kathleen O’Connell, Peter Walder and Victor Barboza Jr.

“We are delighted with the response from so many of the top trainers in North America and Latin America who would like to winter in South Florida for our legendary Championship meet,” said Gulfstream General Manager Bill Badgett. “Along with world-class racing, The Stronach Group is also redefining the experience of attending the races with relevant and exciting entertainment. We believe this Championship Meet will be the most exciting in Gulfstream’s 80-year history.”

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. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.