Florida Fabulous impressive again at Gulfstream Park
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Photo:
Leslie Martin
Six weeks since her dazzling debut victory at Gulfstream Park, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Florida Fabulous was equally impressive facing winners for the first time, going gate to wire to capture Friday’s featured ninth race.
A 3-year-old Florida-bred daughter of High Cotton, Florida Fabulous ($3.40) broke sharply as the 3-5 favorite and cruised to the front along the rail, setting fractions of 22.89 seconds for a quarter-mile and 44.65 for the half, pressed by 17-1 long shot Silver Threads.
Florida Fabulous blazed through six furlongs in 1:08.51 and edged clear down the stretch under Paco Lopez to win by 3 ½ lengths over Teresa Z in 1:35.18 over a fast main track.
“We were excited about running her. I thought she’d run like this, but you’re always nervous. After a win, the next step is always the toughest,” trainer David Fawkes said. “They tried her the whole way and I was really surprised. I expected her to come back blowing like a freight train and she wasn’t. She walked in here composed like it was just another breeze.”
Fawkes said all options are open for Florida Fabulous’ next start, likely in stakes company. The $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course is among the possibilities.
“We’re real excited,” Bob Edwards of e Five Racing Thoroughbreds said. “We were apprehensive about going a mile first time out but Dave calmed my nerves and look what happened. Today, I was a little freaked out by the fractions and then we kept seeing Paco look under his legs and that’s a great sign. When he does that he knows he has more horse, and she showed up. We got pressed the whole way.”
Who’s Hot: Jockey Javier Castellano had a riding triple with Liberty Kitten ($5) in the fourth race, Jacala ($8) in the eighth and Powerline ($9.80) in the 11th. Trainer Aubrey Maragh and jockey Jose Alvarez teamed up for a pair of wins with Enders Cat ($4.40) in the fifth and Bobbysluckyseven ($11.60) in the 10th.
Trio of Multi-Race Wager Guarantees for Florida Derby Day
Complementing a stakes-filled 14-race program anchored by the 66th running of the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park will offer guaranteed pools in a trio of multi-race wagers Saturday.
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 9-14) will be guaranteed at $2 million. The sequence includes the $300,00 Honey Fox (G2) for 4-year-old and up on turf (Race 10), $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies (Race 11), $100,000 Cutler Bay for 3-year-old grass sprinters (Race 12), $200,000 Pan American (G2) for older turf horses (Race 13) and Florida Derby.
Peacock Racing Stables’ Gunnevera is the 9-5 program favorite from outside post 11 in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby. He won the Saratoga Special (G2) and $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3) at 2 and the Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (G2) March 4 in his most recent start.
In addition to the Rainbow 6, the 50-cent Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) will be guaranteed at $750,000 while the 50-cent Late Pick 5 (Races 10-14) will carry a guarantee of $500,000.
A total of nine stakes, six of them graded, worth $2.45 million in purses are set for Saturday, with a first-race post time of noon. Also scheduled are the $200,000 Appleton (G3) for 4-year-olds on turf; $200,000 Orchid for females 4 and up on turf; $100,000 Sir Shackleton for dirt sprinters 4 and up; and $100,000 Sanibel Island for 3-year-old grass fillies.
Source: Gulfstream Park
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