Gulfstream Park

GI Curlin Florida Derby and GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes third Neoequos (Neolithic) breezed a half-mile Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park, getting the distance in a bullet :48.43. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee worked in company with stablemate Mr Narcissistic (Signature Red). A video of the work can be seen here. "It went good," said Joseph. "He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance. It went well. He's in good form." Racing for C2 Racing Stable...

It was a very good week for the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI), the group leading the fight to kill bills in the Florida legislature that would allow for decoupling at Gulfstream Park, which would mean the track could continue to offer casino gaming without the requisite that it must hold live thoroughbred racing. The matter had come to the attention of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who attended the OBS April sale on Thursday and made it clear where he stands on the issue.     "You can count on me as...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Choisya in the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland. Queen Of Keeneland Rabbah Bloodstock homebred Choisya (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine at Meydan this winter, took her show on the road and ran out a half-length winner of the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 12 (video). She is trained by Simon...

The Florida Breeders' Incentive Fund (FBIF) has been restructured to be open to all races regardless of value, and is projected to provide over $2-million in awards to owners, Gulfstream Park announced via press release. The FBIF race incentives, which were offering $5,000 per race for claiming races of $25,000 and up or higher conditions, will be raised to $6,000 per race in maiden special weights, allowance, and overnight handicaps. The only exception will be state-bred races. Changes to the fund will reflect beginning May 1. "The restructuring of the...

Legislative efforts in Florida to decouple the live racing requirement for Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to operate their respective casino and card rooms-efforts that industry stakeholders largely see as a death knell to the future of horse racing in South Florida--took a few twists and turns in the state legislature Tuesday. A standalone bill that had already passed out of one legislative committee was temporarily postponed in the state Senate. But similar language was inserted as an amendment into a separate and much larger gambling bill (HB 1467)...

7th-KEE, $130K, OC80K/N2X, 4yo/up, 6 1/2f, 4:12 p.m. ET. Off the bench for Team Juddmonte, IMPEL (Quality Road) garnered 'TDN Rising Star' honors when she debuted a winner by 3 1/4 lengths at Fair Grounds Jan. 1 of last year. The filly cleared an optional claimer at Oaklawn in early March, which set her up to take a shot in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in April. The homebred finished third and then was the runner-up in the GII Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on the...

3rd-Tampa Bay Downs, $32,000, Msw, 4-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.89, fm, 2 3/4 lengths. LOW KEY IN LOVE (f, 3, Quality Road--Inlovewithlove, by Bernstein) started her career on the main track at Gulfstream Park Mar. 16 and ran a flat fourth behind 'TDN Rising Star' Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief). Swapped to the turf here and with the wagering action focused on her and Elite Heat (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the 3-2 favorite had to overcome some contact at the break but recovered well to establish a tracking trip...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Ortley Avenue at Gulfstream Park in his career bow. Bungle Inthejungle Colt Takes The High Road One start, one win for Bungle Inthejungle (GB) colt Ortley Avenue (Ire). He steamed home a 2 1/4-length winner at Gulfstream for trainer George Weaver and owner Bona Venture Stables on April 6 (video). Bred by Newlands House Stud, the bay made €100,000 at the Goffs Orby...

9th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 4-10, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.60, fm, 2 1/4 lengths. OBEISSANTE (f, 3, Into Mischief--Lucky Folie {SW, $118,292}, by Distorted Humor) was unveiled on the Gulfstream turf in a sprint Feb. 15 and finished fifth. Drawn along the rail for her first two turn test and as a 7-2 shot here, the homebred settled midpack under a firm hold heading to the initial call. Obeissante bided her time up the backstretch, but around the far turn she began to get into gear by executing a sweeping move to...

The last week of preps for the GI Kentucky Oaks is upon us. The GI Ashland Stakes will be run Friday at Keeneland on opening day and Aqueduct will offer the GIII Gazelle Stakes the next day. The Gazelle came up predictably weak, but the Ashland has some intriguing contenders that could crack the top three or four come Friday. Last week, Quietside (Malibu Moon) was a convincing winner of the GII Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn and Five G (Vekoma) never looked back to win the GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park...

I enjoyed David Heckerman's recent series of articles. They caused me to feel some nostalgia about the "good ole days." I remember vividly when I heard TJC had fought expanded TV coverage, and thought "how shortsighted." When it (and NYRA) later threw up roadblocks to off-track betting and allowed New York OTBs to be run by folks not interested in racing, it seemed to me they were underestimating the appeal of more convenient wagering. By the time horsemen attempted to prevent the development of a card club at Hollywood Park,...

A Senate committee advanced Florida's controversial decoupling bill at a Tuesday hearing after amending the legislation so that the effective date for removing the live racing requirement for Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to operate their respective casino and card room would be seven years instead of the five years that appears in the amended companion House bill. After absorbing more than two hours of testimony--almost all of it from Thoroughbred trainers, owners, breeders, sales company officials, veterinarians and other industry workers speaking out against the bill--Senator Jennifer Bradley...