Gulfstream: G3 Winner Go Noni Go Seeks Rebound in $75, 000 Cellars Shiraz

By David Joseph —-

G3 Winner Go Noni Go Seeks Rebound in $75, 000 Cellars Shiraz
Renaisance Frolic Goes for Second Straight in $75,000 Showing Up

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Three Diamonds Farm’s Go Noni Go cuts back in distance and gets some class relief as she looks to return to her Grade 3-winning form in Saturday’s $75,000 Cellars Shiraz at Gulfstream Park West.

The Cellars Shiraz for 3-year-old fillies and the $75,000 Showing Up for 3-year-olds, both at one mile on the grass, highlight a 10-race card that kicks off the two-month Fall Turf Festival’s stakes program.

First race post time is 12:15 p.m.

By millionaire Get Stormy, whose seven graded-stakes wins included the 2012 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1), Go Noni Go has not raced since setting the pace for six furlongs then tiring to sixth behind Rushing Fall in the 1 1/8-mile Lake Placid (G2) Aug. 18 at Saratoga.

“It was softer ground that day and the toughest race she’d ever run in,” trainer Mike Maker said. “We gave her a little time off after that and she’s come back in good order.”

Prior to the Lake Placid, Go Noni Go was third in the Hatoof Stakes and second by 1 ½ lengths in the Regret (G3) on grass, and won the Bourbonette Oaks (G3) in March over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface – her last time and lone win going one mile.

Go Noni Go has shown a versatility to race both close to the lead and come from off of it, and will be running at Gulfstream West for the first time – her 10th different track in 14 races. She raced twice at Gulfstream Park last winter, winning an entry-level optional claiming allowance by six lengths and running fifth by less than four lengths to multiple graded-stakes winner Thewayiam in the Sweetest Chant (G3).

“She won at Turfway coming from off the pace so I don’t necessarily think she needs the lead. I think the mile is a perfect distance for her,” Maker said. “It doesn’t seem to matter where she goes, she’s run well. She did well over the winter in Florida. Hopefully they keep her around as a 4-year-old.”

Go Noni Go drew Post 2 of 13 and will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo at topweight of 123 pounds.

Trainer David Fawkes will send out the pair of stakes winners American Frolic and Florida Fuego. Stride Rite Racing Stable’s homebred American Frolic, a daughter of Grade 1 winner Blame, has won her last two starts including the Miss Gracie Stakes at about 7 ½ furlongs Sept. 15 at Gulfstream Park.

American Frolic has raced once before over the Gulfstream West turf, running second as the favorite in a five-furlong maiden special weight last October.

“She’s doing great. She had another excellent work over the weekend. She definitely likes to have some pace in front of her. She likes to sit back and make a run. But even if they go slow, she closes,” Fawkes said. “She’s really come into herself. She’s really doing good. She’s growing up”

Florida Fuego, owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, was third behind American Frolic in the Miss Gracie, beaten 1 ¾ lengths, her first time on grass after three wins and a third from seven starts on dirt. She won the Sophomore Fillies Stakes March 25 at Tampa going seven furlongs and the 6 ½-furlong Liza Jane Stakes by a nose after a huge rally June 6 at Gulfstream.

“She ran a great race last time for her first time on the turf. She had a bit of a rough trip and was a little bit wide, and I expect her to move up off of that race. She’s training great,” Fawkes said. “I’d been thinking about putting her on the grass for a while, so I was thrilled with the way she ran. The mile won’t hurt her at all.”

American Frolic and Florida Fuego will break from Post 9 and 4, respectively, each carrying 121 pounds.

Seeking her first stakes win is Bach Stables’ Sister Sunday, most recently a front-running 2 ½-length winner over older horses in an open allowance going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 6 at Belmont Park for trainer Christophe Clement. It was just the fifth career start and first since mid-August for the Denman filly, who was third in the Honey Ryder Stakes over Gulfstream’s turf in May.

“She ran well the last race. She was very professional in her win,” Clement said. “It’s a little bit quick back. I would have loved to have had an extra week but I think she’s good enough to overcome it. She’s not run all summer long so she’s a fresh horse for the fall. It’s exciting to see her run. She’s very versatile. If there’s no pace she can go to the lead but she can sit off the pace and make a run. She can do whatever you want with her.”

Sister Sunday will carry 117 pounds including jockey Antonio Gallardo from Post 7.

Trainer Todd Pletcher entered both Treasure for Gold, third in the Melody of Colors Stakes Feb. 25 and sixth in the Miss Gracie last out, and Shanghai Starlet, the latter for main track only. Classy Dancer, Cry Uncle, Dark Artist, Hogans Holiday, Mija Bella, Muchacha Uno and Tropicality round out the field.

Renaisance Frolic Goes for Second Straight in $75,000 Showing Up

Facing a full field of 15, including graded-stakes placed Gidu and Sand Dancer, Stride Rite Racing Stable’s multiple stakes-winning homebred Renaisance Frolic goes after his second straight stakes victory in the $75,000 Showing Up.

Trained by Fawkes, the gelded son of Grade 1 winner Paynter will see some familiar faces in Gemonteer and Cometin, who ran 2-3, respectively, behind Renaisance Frolic in the Bear’s Den Stakes run at about 7 ½ furlongs on the Gulfstream turf Sept. 22.

It was the first start for Renaisance Frolic since finishing fourth in an optional claiming allowance May 28 at Gulfstream. Prior to that, he had run in eight consecutive stakes dating back to last fall, two of them graded, winning the one-mile Armed Forces Sept. 30, 2017 in a race taken off the turf.

“He just needed a break. He had been running pretty hard so we wanted to give him some time. He’s been great for us. He’s always done whatever we’ve asked. He’s a real honest horse,” Fawkes said. “He ran great last time. He came off a layoff and won off the layoff. He came out of the race in great order and moved forward since then.”

The Showing Up will be the 14th career start for Renaisance Frolic but his first try at Gulfstream West.

“It all depends on how the race sets up. He’s very versatile that way. I think he’s at his best from 7 ½ furlongs on up,” Fawkes said. “He’s doing great, had a great work over the weekend and he’s sitting on go.”

Renaisance Frolic, co-topweight at 121 pounds, drew Post 11 with jockey Nik Juarez.

Zayat Stables’ Gidu, trained by Todd Pletcher, broke his maiden last December at Gulfstream in his second start then finished second in the Dania Beach (G3) in his stakes debut Feb. 3. He went on to win the Columbia Stakes and Paradise Creek Stakes back-to-back before running sixth in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) in June at Royal Ascot. Back in the states, he most recently was fifth in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Oct. 6.

Sea Gull Capital’s Sand Dancer exits a runner-up finish at odds of 23-1 in the 1 1/8-mile Hill Prince (G2) Oct. 6 at Belmont, opening up a big lead before being caught late to lose by a length while holding the place by a head. The Tim Hills trainee won the 1 1/16-mile Woodhaven Stakes April 21 at Aqueduct.

Trainer Mike Maker has entered the pair of Battle At Sea and Linburgh’s Kitten. Three Diamonds Farm’s Battle At Sea is a multiple stakes winner on the dirt, the last coming in a rained-off A.L. ‘Red’ Erwin Stakes Sept. 9 at Louisiana Downs going a mile and 70 yards. He broke his maiden going a mile at Fair Grounds Feb. 10 then won the 1 1/16-mile Crescent City Derby there next out. In his only previous turf try, Battle At Sea was third in a maiden special weight going about 5 ½ furlongs at Fair Grounds last December, his second career start.

“He’s doing fine. I think as long as the ground’s firm I don’t think it will be an issue with him. He’s got some tactical speed and the mile will be right up his alley,” Maker said. “He’s tried some good ones before and he is a stakes winner in Louisiana, but the surface is still unknown on that level”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred Linburgh’s Kitten owns two wins, a second and a third in nine turf starts, winning a 6 ½-furlong entry-level allowance at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8 and coming back to be sixth, beaten three lengths, in a second-level spot going 5 ½ furlongs Oct. 17 at Keeneland over a yielding course.

“Last time he was going up against older horses and it was a little too short, so we look forward to him getting the mile,” Maker said. “I don’t think he needs to be on the lead. I’m guessing he’ll be close again but not necessarily on the front. He’s pretty adaptable depending on the course but I’d still prefer it to be firm for him.”

Karl Glassman and Cathi Glassman’s Apostle is entered to make his turf and stakes debut in the Showing Up The Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee has won each of his last two starts, both as the favorite, including an entry-level optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream West Oct. 3.

Completing the field are Escarapela, Hey Big Guy, Nauti Buoy, The Best Candy, Silent Citizen, Watschen and Royal Holiday. Royal Holiday is entered for main track only.

Gulfstream Park West 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, and Rosecroft Raceway. 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.