Gulfstream: Just a Care Wins for New Ownership in $115,000 Abundantia Stakes

By David Joseph —-

Just a Care Wins for New Ownership in $115,000 Abundantia Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Racing for the first time for new owner Victoriam Farm LLC, the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly Just a Care made her recent purchase look like a smart decision when she won Saturday’s $115,000 Abundantia Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

“It worked out fantastic,” said winning trainer Brian Lynch, who saddled the filly for the first time.

Sold in November at the Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale for $200,000, Just a Care and jockey Junior Alvarado circled the field on the only turn in the 5-furlong stakes for fillies and mares before pulling off for a 1 ½-length victory over Karaya, with early frontrunner Shoutoutthelights ending up third, another 1 ½-lengths back.

“I don’t know if it was by design,” Lynch said. “But she ended up in the right spot at the right time and had enough punch when she needed it. It got a little scary halfway around the turn. It looked like she wanted to drift out a little bit. She showed how game she was.”

Just a Care’s victory was her fourth in nine lifetime starts and improved her mark at Gulfstream to two wins and a second in three starts over the course.

With Shoutoutthelights setting the early pace, Just a Care was positioned in mid-pack before mounting her decisive attack on the turn. She finished in 54.15.

Jerry the Nipper Goes All the Way in $100,000 St. Augustine

Gary Smith’s Jerry the Nipper left the gate on top in the $100,000 St. Augustine and never looked back while making his debut across the Gulfstream’s tapeta surface.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Jerry the Nipper held off a late challenge by Boppy O while covering the 1 1/16 mile in 1:39.97.

Coming out of restricted stakes races in New York, Jerry the Nipper is a 7-year-old by Liam’s Map. The gelding has seven wins, four seconds and nine thirds in 28 starts.

Gulfstream’s Race 1 Declared ‘No Contest’

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Saturday’s first race at Gulfstream Park, a mile turf event for fillies and mares, was declared a ‘No Contest’ by the track stewards after Roscoe Village stumbled and dropped jockey Jorge Ruiz.

Roscoe Village got up uninjured while Ruiz was taken to Aventura Hospital for further evaluation. Ruiz was moving but had soreness and some neck pain.

Several jockeys pulled up their mounts during the race while the track’s emergency sirens went off. All wagers were refunded.

“The safety of our jockeys and horses is always the priority at Gulfstream and all 1/ST Racing venues,” said Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida Racing Operations for 1/ST Racing. “We’re very happy that Roscoe Village was uninjured, and Jorge Ruiz was not seriously injured thanks to our stewards, jockeys and outriders.”

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE 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 & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park – home of The California Crown and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’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 EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 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 racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.