Gulfstream Today 2.21.21: Drain the Clock Breezes on Busy Morning for Saffie Joseph Jr.

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

2.21.21

Greatest Honour Breezes for G2 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $250,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour breezed an easy half-mile at Payson Park Sunday morning in preparation for a highly anticipated start in Saturday’s $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old son of Tapit, who captured the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream by 5 ¾ lengths, was timed in 51.20 seconds in his final work for the 1 1/16-mile major prep for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill n’ Dale at Xalapa March 27. He worked in company with Or’effice on his outside.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey is hoping that Greatest Honour will follow the example set by Orb, whom he saddled for victories in the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2013.

Courtlandt Farms’ homebred colt launched his career with a pair of strong closing third-place finishes in maiden special weight sprints at Saratoga and Belmont before losing a photo finish in his first trip around two turns at Aqueduct and completing his juvenile season with his 1 1/16-mile maiden breaker at Gulfstream.

McGaughey also sent Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm’s Performer to the track for a half-mile breeze in 49.40 seconds in preparation for a start in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), one of nine stakes on Saturday’s card. Performer is coming off a victory in the Fred W. Hooper in his 2021 debut at Gulfstream.

Rodolphe Brisset-trained Tarantino, who finished second behind Greatest Honour and 3 ¾ lengths clear of third-place finisher Prime Factor in the Holy Bull, breezed a half-mile in 49.45 seconds Sunday morning at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

Antonio Sano-trained Papetu, who finished fourth in the Holy Bull, breezed five furlongs in 1:01:20 Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park West in preparation for a return in the Fountain of Youth.

“It was very good,” said Sano, who saddled Gunnevera for a victory in the 2017 Fountain of Youth. “It was a very easy work.”

Drain the Clock Breezes on Busy Morning for Saffie Joseph Jr.

Drain the Clock, an impressive winner of the Jan. 30 Swale (G3) at Gulfstream, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.52 in company at Gulfstream Park Sunday morning for a start in either the Fountain of Youth or the March 6 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.

“It was a good work – a minute-and-change, last quarter I had in 22-and-4 [seconds]. He worked in company with Sound Machine, who is a very good work horse,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He sat off her for a while and they finished head and head.”

Joseph said a decision on the son of Maclean’s Music’s next start will be made Monday.

Drain the Clock was just one of several high-profile Joseph runners to breeze Sunday morning.

Math Wizard, who provide his trainer with his first Grade 1 success with a victory in the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby (G1), breezed three-furlongs in 37.81 at Gulfstream.

“We’re going to take a step back with him,” said Joseph, who saddled the son of Algorithms for a ninth-place finish in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream. “We’ll place him next time and give him a spot where he hopefully can win – an allowance or a small stake.

Ny Traffic, who has been idle since finishing ninth in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream in 1:00.29. Ny Traffic fell a nose short of upsetting Authentic in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth before coming in eighth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

“It was a good work today, most definitely his best one so far,” Joseph said. “He’s rounding back into form. He’s not far off from running.”

Ubiquitous, a half-brother to multiple-stakes winner Chance It, breezed three furlongs in 34.04 seconds, the fastest of 21 recorded at the distance at Gulfstream Sunday morning. Ubiquitous, who finished fourth in his recent debut after bumping at the start, is entered in Thursday’s Race 5, a six-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds.

“The race has brought him forward. He’s definitely moved forward,” Joseph said. “He’s in a tough spot again, but he’s definitely going to run much improved, I think.”

Jesus’ Team on Schedule for March 27 Dubai World Cup

Jesus’ Team, who finished second behind Knicks Go in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream, continues to train forwardly towards a scheduled start in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan March 27.

Trainer Jose D’Angelo reported Sunday that the 4-year-old son of Tapiture exited Saturday’s 1:01.45 at Palm Meadows in good order.

“It was an easy work, a maintenance work,” D’Angelo said. “Next week, he’ll work six-furlongs.”

Luis Saez, who has been aboard for his last three starts, has been signed on to ride Jesus’ Team in Dubai.

Jesus’ Team, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream last March, has been stakes-placed in his last six starts, including a third-place finish in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1), a second-place finish in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland, and his runner-up effort in the Pegasus that boosted his bankroll over the $1 million mark.

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $250,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $250,000 Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved the day after a lucky bettor broke the jackpot for $712,824.06 Saturday. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $29,289.02 Sunday.

The jackpot pool is 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 goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

WHO’S HOT: Trainer Kent Sweezey celebrated his birthday with back-to back victories with Apreciado ($9) in Race 10 and Selfmade ($7.80) in Race 11.

Marcos Meneses scored back-to-back wins with powerful late rallies aboard Zero Gravity ($21.40) in Race 6 and Textpectations ($13.80) in Race 7.

Tyler Gaffalione won back-to-back with Picking Up Pennies ($4.40) in Race 2 and Makisupa ($4.40) in Race 3.

Irad Ortiz Jr. pushed his Championship Meet win total to 98 with victories aboard Don’t Get Khozy ($4.20) in Race 5 and Selfmade ($7.80) in Race 11.

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.