Gulfstream Today 3.14.25: Guns Loaded Targets Fresh Start in Saturday’s Hutcheson

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

3.14.25

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Following a fleeting appearance on the Triple Crown trail, Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable’s Guns Loaded cuts back to one turn for Saturday’s $115,000 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park.

The Jose D’Angelo-trained 3-year-old son of Gun Runner misfired in his first start around two turns, finishing off-the-board in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Feb. 1.

“When you have a horse like this you have to try going long,” D’Angelo said, “because everyone wants to have a horse for the Derby. After his last race, we decided to back him up in distance.”

Purchased at the 2023 Keeneland September sale for $800,000, Guns Loaded debuted with a runner-up finish in a seven-furlong maiden special weight event at Saratoga last August. He came back to graduate with a front-running 2 ¾-length score in a six-furlong maiden race at Churchill Downs in November. Guns Loaded returned to set the pace in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park Jan. 4, holding on to score by a neck. He set the pace again in the Holy Bull, only to falter in the stretch.

Guns Loaded has breezed three times since his disappointment in the Holy Bull in preparation for the six-furlong Hutcheson, a stakes for 3-year-olds carded as Race 4 on Gulfstream’s 11-race program.

“He came out of the race tired – that’s why I took my time with him,” D’Angelo said. “He’s had a few workouts. I think he is ready for [Saturday].”

Guns Loaded has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of six. Luis Saez, who was aboard for his first three races, returns for the Hutcheson.

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $100,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $100,000 Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the first racing day following Thursday’s enormous $298,604.24 jackpot payoff.

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11, featuring the $115,000 Captiva Island in Race 7. The five-furlong turf sprint drew a field of seven fillies and mares, including Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Epona’s Hope, who is undefeated in her two 2025 starts. The 4-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie most recently captured the five-furlong Ladie’s Turf Sprint at Gulfstream. Brian Lynch-trained Just a Care, who fell just a head short of catching Epona’s Hope in the Ladies Turf Sprint, returns in the Captiva Island. The 5-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Australia scored a late-rallying victory in the five-furlong Abundantia in her prior start.

A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is scheduled for Sunday.

On mandatory payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence. The 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.

Note: Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC’s Burnham Square, who rallied from off the pace to capture the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3), breezed Friday at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s training center in Palm Beach County, for the first time since finishing a disappointing fourth in the March 1 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2). The Ian Wilkes-trained son of Liam’s Map, who is likely to return to action in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, breezed a half-mile in 49 seconds.

Who’s Hot: Dylan Davis notched back-to-back victories aboard Smiling Ellie ($4.20) in Race 2 and Want All the Smoke ($2.80) in Race 3. Edgard Zayas also rode back-to-back winners, scoring aboard Olga ($4.60) in Race 4 and Bourbon Thief ($7.20) in Race 5. Hall of Famer John Velazquez doubled aboard Incoming ($28.80) in Race 6 and Tennessee Lamb ($16.40) in Race 8.

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, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); 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 1/ST TV. 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.

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