Michael Yates

When Mila's Wish (Cajun Breeze) just held on for a debut victory--and then survived a claim of foul--at Gulfstream Park Friday, track announcer Pete Aiello clued the crowd into what a special moment it was when he said, "You've heard of Cody's Wish. Here's the Florida version. Here's Mila's Wish." Much like the 2023 Horse of the Year who was named after the late Cody Dorman, the 2-year-old colt was making the wish of another youngster come true. Mila Spillone is a 4-year-old battling Aicardi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder...

Granpollo Stable's Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo), aiming for the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby, breezed six furlongs at Gulfstream Tuesday while GI Kentucky Oaks aspirant, Stonehedge LLC's Fiona's Magic (St. Patrick's Day), also continued preparations in south Florida. The Victor Barboza Jr.-trained colt, who finished a distant third behind early Derby favorite Fierceness (City of Light) in the Mar. 30 GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream, was timed in 1:16.48 under jockey Emisael Jaramillo before galloping out a mile. "The six-furlong workout this morning, I really liked it,"...

Stonehedge LLC's homebred Fiona's Magic (f, 3, St Patrick's Day--Mollie's Magic, by Factum) was catapulted into the spotlight on a Saturday reeling from several pre-race scratches of major players in significant graded events. Gulfstream Park's GII Davona Dale S. presented by FanDuel TV, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks race worth $200,000 as well as points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, was not immune as Eclipse champion and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (Justify) developed a fever Saturday morning after shipping to Gulfstream from Payson Park....

Frankie's Empire (Classic Empire) either missed, or ignored, the memo that the longest shot on the board usually doesn't dominate, and strode home a much the best winner in the Swale S. to earn his career-first black type win. A frequent face on the mid-atlantic seaboard, he'd broken his maiden and hit the board in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park before being shipped to Delaware, where he picked up a second career win against optional claimers. Sixth in the Rocky Run S. last October when contesting over a muddy...