Gulfstream: Seismic Jolt Seeks to Shake Things Up in Saturday’s Limehouse

By David Joseph —-

Glitter Woman May Turn into ‘Fancy Dress’ Party

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Seismic Jolt’s prep for Saturday’s $75,000 Limehouse Stakes at Gulfstream Park may not have been earth-shattering, but the 3-year-old son of Kantharos did make a sizeable impression while breaking his maiden last time out.

The David Fawkes-trained colt, who is scheduled to face six fellow sophomores in the Saturday’s six-furlong sprint, powered his way to a front-running 5 ½ length triumph in his third lifetime start Dec. 7 at Gulfstream Park.

“We learned a lot about him real fast,” Fawkes said. “He was very green and he’s coming around. He’s really, really growing up to be a nice little horse.”

The Florida-bred colt, who was purchased for $800,000 at the 2018 OBS April sale, made two starts on turf before breaking through with his victory at six furlongs on dirt. He set a pressured pace in a 5 ½-furlong maiden race on turf before tiring to fourth in his career debut at Saratoga Aug. 13. Transferred from Mark Casse to Fawkes, Seismic Jolt finished second in a five-furlong turf sprint at Gulfstream Park West, 2 ¾ lengths behind next-out winner Gladiator King, who went on to win the Inaugural Stakes over Tampa Bay Downs’ main track.

“I had him one time and ran him on the grass and he hooked that horse that came back and won an a-other-than. He ran in New York [6th in Grade 2 Remsen] and then they ran him back at Tampa and he won again, so that horse is OK,” Fawkes said.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for the first time, Seismic Jolt broke from the rail post position in his subsequent six-furlong dirt debut that was never in doubt.

“Seismic Jolt doesn’t really want to run that short, so we ran him three-quarters and he was able to break clear and Tyler got a nice hold of him and he likes that,” Fawkes said. “It was a nice race. This is a non-winners of a sweepstakes so it’s a good race for him.”

Gaffalione has the return call.

Jonathan Green’s Combination will make his second stakes start Saturday. The son of Alternation, who debuted with a sharp front-running 5 ¾ length triumph at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 13, broke from the rail post position and raced evenly throughout the six-furlong Buffalo Man to finish third at Gulfstream Dec. 8.

“Combination ran on opening weekend and the track was a little too deep and cupping out from him,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “The superintendent has done a super job and with the change in track, which is tighter now, I think we’re going to be in better shape.”

Combination produced a half-mile bullet workout at Gulfstream Dec. 21 in preparation for the Limehouse.

“He’s a good horse. He’s training great and coming into the race fine,” said Orseno, who awarded the return mount to Paco Lopez. “It’s his third start. It’s a non-winners of a sweepstakes, so we’re all kind of in the same boat. We all broke our maidens and all pressing forward.”

Mr. Pug LLC and JPG 2 LLC’s Mercusio, who finished second behind Gladiator King in Tampa Bay Downs’ Inaugural, is slated for a return to South Florida, where the son of Elusive Quality produced a front-running 4 ¼-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 10.

Trained by Gerald Bennett, Mercusio had previously debuted at Delaware Park Sept. 27, finishing a close second after setting a pressured pace.

Luis Saez is scheduled to ride Mercusio for the first time Saturday.

Gary and Mary West’s Final Jeopardy enters the Limehouse off a late-surging 5 ¼-length victory in his career debut at Gulfstream Park Dec. 9. Irad Ortiz Jr. will return to the saddle for the Jason Servis-trained son of Street Sense’s stakes debut.

Splicethemainbrace, who has a 1-3-1 record in five career starts, brings the most experience into the Limehouse. The Butch Reid-trained son of Poseidon’s Warrior most recently finished second in the Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx for Swilcan Stable and Cash Is King Stable.

Chinomado and Running for Riz round out the field.

Glitter Woman May Turn into ‘Fancy Dress’ Party

LNJ Foxwoods’ Fancy Dress Party looms as a short-priced favorite in Saturday’s $75,000 Glitter Woman, a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies, at Gulfstream Park.

The daughter of Munnings is undefeated in two career starts in Kentucky. The Ben Colebrook-trained Kentucky-bred filly closed from off the pace to win a 5 ½-furlong off-the-turf maiden special weight race going away by 3 ¼ lengths at Keeneland Oct. 26. She came back a month later to win by 2 ¼ lengths at Churchill Downs after being forwardly paced throughout the six-furlong entry-level optional claiming allowance. Both victories were achieved over sloppy tracks.

Fancy Dress Party, who was purchased for $280,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September sale, will make her stakes debut under Luis Saez.

Damon Ming’s Midtown Rose enters the Glitter Woman off back-to-back victories at Gulfstream Park, including a 7 ¾-length romp going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park Dec. 12. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Gary D. has won three of six starts and her only off-the-board finish came in her turf debut in the Hollywood Beach three starts back.

Romero Ramsey has the return mount.

There’s A Chance Stable’s Horologist and Jacks or Better Farm’s Myrrh enter the Glitter Woman off distant third- and fourth-place finishes in the Dec. 8 House Party Stakes at Gulfstream.
Trained by John Mazza, Horologist broke her maiden against fellow New Jersey-bred fillies by nearly 21 lengths at Monmouth in the first of four career starts. Albin Jimenez has the mount.

Myrrh previously broke her maiden in front-running fashion at Gulfstream Park West before finishing fourth in the House Party Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 8.

“She’s really a consistent filly. Last time, the track was very slow, and I don’t think she cared for it,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “I think she’s going to improve and run a better race.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. is scheduled to ride Myrrh for the first time Saturday.

Brunette Princess, Jeltrin, Love My Honey and Paula Andrea round out the field.

Gulfstream’s Total Handle Tops $2 Billion in 2018

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – A record $2.010 billion was wagered via Gulfstream Park in 2018, representing a $122.7 million increase over the previous record in 2017.

Live wagering was up from $1.632 billion to $1.750 billion despite two fewer days of racing.

Gulfstream’s 2018 highlights included the second-running of the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), won by Gun Runner, named Horse of the Year two days earlier at the Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park. All-sources handle on the Pegasus was a then-record $41 million, a four-percent increase over the 2017 inaugural running. The 67th running of the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), won by Audible, generated a total handle of $49.909 million, a single-day record handle.

“We’re grateful for all the support we received in 2018 from fans and horsemen,” said Gulfstream’s General Manager Bill Badgett. “The quality of racing, the stars both human and equine who participated at Gulfstream were incredible. We continue to rebuild year-round racing in Florida with the help of breeders, owners and horsemen. While we’re pleased with the record growth the past two years in handle, we believe there is room to continue growing. The Stronach Group’s commitment to reinvigorate Thoroughbred racing is evident by its pursuit of improved customer service, relevant entertainment and fine dining.”

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. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com or call 954.457.6451.