Rolando (Vekoma) is on a roll. A sharp, wire-to-wire optional claiming winner sprinting at Gulfstream Mar. 2, he delivered again as the favorite in Saturday's Hutcheson S. Rolando pressed Mucho Macho Man S. winner 'TDN Rising Star' Guns Loaded (Gun Runner) from an outside second and took over on the far turn. He kicked for home in complete control and dug down deep in the stretch to fend off Multiverse (Practical Joke) by a neck.
Rolando becomes the ninth black-type winner for Vekoma. Mixteca, a half-sister to fellow St. George Stables homebred and champion Letruska (Super Saver), had a filly by Charlatan last year and was bred back to Street Sense.
“He's a horse with natural explosive speed,” winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “You always want a horse that goes long, but in this case, we have a horse for one-turn, and I'm happy.”
HUTCHESON S., $102,000, Gulfstream, 3-15, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.57, ft.
1–ROLANDO, 118, c, 3, by Vekoma
1st Dam: Mixteca, by Tapizar
2nd Dam: Magic Appeal, by Successful Appeal
3rd Dam: Call Her Magic, by Caller I. D.
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-St. George Stables, LLC (KY);
T-Fausto Gutierrez; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $61,380. Lifetime
Record: 6-3-1-2, $152,860.
2–Multiverse, 118, g, 3, Practical Joke–String Section, by Candy
Ride (Arg). ($575,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Pin
Oak Stud LLC; B-Highlight Thoroughbreds (Bryan and Peden
Fraley) (KY); T-Riley Mott. $19,800.
3–Joey Muscles, 118, c, 3, Khozan–Smokin Red Hot, by Stormy
Atlantic. O-John Grossi's Racing Corp.; B-John Grossi (FL);
T-Jena M. Antonucci. $11,900.
Margins: NK, 4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.20, 2.80, 14.60.
Also Ran: Tapirs Valor, Guns Loaded, Corta Fuego.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#5 ROLANDO ($4.40) dug in late under @Tyler_Gaff to hold off #6 Multiverse to win the $115,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The son of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by Fausto Gutierrez.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/5lwR1Bc96g
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 15, 2025
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