Gulfstream Park West News & Notes

By David Joseph —-

Apostle Makes Turf, Stakes Debut in Saturday’s $75,000 Showing Up
Watch and Wager on Breeders’ Cup at Gulfstream Park

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Karl Glassman and Cathi Glassman’s Apostle will make both his turf and stakes debut as he attempts to extend his win streak to three races in Saturday’s $75,000 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park West.

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

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., the 3-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt is two-for-two at the Showing Up distance, both wins coming as the favorite and over older horses, the latter on Gulfstream West’s main track Oct. 3.

Apostle, purchased for $900,000 as a 2-year-old, has worked twice since the win including a mile breeze on the grass at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“We took him up to Palm Meadows and worked him on the turf to make sure he didn’t have a dislike for it, and he handled it fine,” Plesa said. “I’m not saying he’s going to be better on the turf than the dirt, but it’s the end of the year. It’s a 3-year-old stakes race, so we figured we’d give him an opportunity and see what happens

“He likes the distance; he’ll like it when he gets to stretch out and go further, I believe,” he added. “He’ll handle the distance fine, it’s just how much of a positive or a negative is the turf course going to be for him.”

Apostle drew Post 6 in a field of 15 that includes main-track-only entrant Royal Holiday and will carry 117 pounds including regular rider Edgard Zayas. Only three horses have previous experience over Gulfstream West’s turf course, all with a win – Silent Citizen, Watschen and Nauti Buoy.

Gidu, Renaisance Frolic, Sand Dancer, Gemonteer and Nauti Boy all own grass stakes wins, the latter coming in the Juvenile Turf last November at Gulfstream West, also under Zayas.

“There’s a number of horses that have run on turf and run successful so they’d probably have more of an edge over my horse,” Plesa said. “My horse is getting better with each and every race. He needs to run and this is an opportunity.”

Unraced at 2, Apostle ran in a pair of maiden special weights during Gulfstream’s 2017-18 Championship Meet, finishing fifth going seven furlongs in his Jan. 6 debut and returning to be third at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 10. He didn’t race again until graduating with a 1 ½-length triumph Aug. 23 at Gulfstream.

“He’s a bigger, stronger horse than he ever was. He’s just doing really, really well,” Plesa said. “We’ll find out something this weekend. Sunday morning I’ll know more, one way or the other. We hope it’s a positive.”

Watch and Wager on Breeders’ Cup at Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park is the premiere venue in South Florida to watch and wager on all 14 Breeders’ Cup races Friday and Saturday from Churchill Downs.

Silks simulcast center will open at 10 a.m. both Friday and Saturday for program and seat sales. Ten Palms will offer a Breeders’ Cup Buffet Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $49 plus tax. In addition, fans can watch the Breeders’ Cup at Frankey’s Sports Bar located in Gulfstream Village starting at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.

Gulfstream will have a Spin & Win Breeders’ Cup Drawing Saturday. Fans can register in Silks beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Winners will receive vouchers to be on Breeders’ Cup races ranging from $30 to $1,500. Gulfstream will be a host site of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge

Friday’s Breeders’ Cup races start with the inaugural $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, with a post time of 3:21 p.m., and ends with the $2 million Juvenile (G1) which has a 6:05 p.m. post time.

Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races begin with the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) with a noon post time, and are capped by the $6 million Classic (G1) – featuring South Florida-based Gunnevera – with a 5:44 p.m. post time.

South Florida is also represented in the Breeders’ Cup by Well Defined in the Juvenile and Stormy Embrace in the Filly and Mare Sprint, both trained by Kathleen O’Connell.

Gulfstream Park West will have live nine-race card Friday starting at 12:35 p.m. and a live 10-race program Saturday with a 12:15 p.m. first post.

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.