Gulfstream Today 12.16.20: Social Paranoia Preps for Pegasus Turf with Gutsy Score

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

12.16.20

Social Paranoia Preps for Pegasus Turf with Gutsy Score

Luis Saez Rides Four Winners on Wednesday’s Card

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The Elkstone Group LLC’s Social Paranoia distinguished himself as a serious candidate for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park with a gutsy triumph in Wednesday’s feature race at the historic Hallandale Beach racetrack.

The 4-year-old son of Street Boss, who was sent to post at the even-money favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds and up, came off a five-month layoff to score a hard-fought half-length victory in the 7 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf.

“It’s always nice to have a win off a layoff like that. He came back and we got a quality win out of him. We were hoping for a good effort,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We’ll see how he comes out of it and maybe keep an eye on the Pegasus Turf.”

Social Paranoia joined Pletcher trained Largent, the winner of last Saturday’s Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream, on the list of Pegasus Turf candidates. He ran 7 ½ furlongs over a firm course in 1:27.48.

Social Paranoia rated off the early pace before making a five-wide sweep on the turn into the homestretch, outkicking Olympic Runner to the wire while galloping out strongly under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Wednesday’s victory was Social Paranoia’s third in four starts over the Gulfstream turf. He broke his maiden by eight lengths in May 2019 and won the Appleton (G3) last March over the grass course.

“It feels great. Todd did a great job getting him ready, but he’s won on the layoff before, so I was very confident in Todd,” said The Elkstone Group’s Stuart Grant. “We’re very excited. As you know we have our eye on late January back here and I think he showed that he deserved a spot there. This is his third win out of four [on Gulfstream turf]”

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $1.1 Million

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $1.1 million Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the 11th day of the Championship Meet Wednesday, when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $1,339.92.

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is scheduled for Saturday’s program, headlined by the $100,000 Mr. Prospector (G3), in which multiple graded-stakes winners Firenze Fire, Mind Control and Diamond Oops will clash.

The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is usually only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. However, on mandatory-payout days, the entire pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the six-race sequence.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10, including a well-stocked maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds and up in Race 7. Arham, a Shadwell Stable homebred 3-year-old son of Union Rags, is scheduled to make his debut in the six-furlong sprint for trainer Todd Pletcher. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is scheduled to saddle Tonalism, a 3-year-old son of Tonalist, for his debut.

WHO’S HOT: Luis Saez rode four winners on Wednesday’s program, scoring aboard Nicole Princess ($9) in Race 1, Little Demon ($4.80) in Race 4, Sunny Isle Beach ($5.60) in Race 8, and Flutiste ($5.80) in Race 10.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.