Forever for Always Surprises at Gulfstream Park
Long shot Forever for Always rallied to hit
the wire first at odds of 24-1 on Thursday and produce a winning Super Hi-5
payoff of $45,542.80 in Thursday’s final race at Gulfstream Park.
The Super Hi-5 pool swelled to $455,859 including a
carryover of $68,102.25 from Wednesday’s card. Forever for Always was
followed under the line by Famous Sting (2), Gimme Jimmy (11), Royals Spaces
(6) and 8-5 favorite Austa (8).
A $1 base exotic wager, the Super Hi-5 requires
bettors to correctly select the first five finishers in exact order in the
final race of the day.
The 50-cent Pick 5 covering Races 5 through 10
returned $49,023.25 for the 5-6-2-3-3 combination. Four of five paid $156.85.
Friday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover
jackpot pool will be $45,117.26. The Rainbow 6 paid off on five of six winners
Thursday, returning $495.54 to multiple ticketholders.
Get Down Kitten Gets Nose Down On Wire In Debut
Displaying a professionalism that belied her age,
2-year-old filly Get Down Kitten overcame a slow start and emerged from a
three-horse photo to win her career debut in Thursday's second race at
Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Mike Maker for owners Ken and Sarah
Ramsey, the juvenile daughter of Kitten’s Joy got her nose down on the
wire ahead of 6-5 favorite Bugle in the $40,000 maiden special weight event.
Get Down Kitten ($8.40) ran 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in 1:42.61 under
Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado.
“Anytime you ride for Mr. Maker and carry Mr.
Ramsey’s colors, you have to ride with a lot of confidence, because their
horses are ready to run,” Prado said. “When you ask them, they show
up most of the time.”
Get Down Kitten was a step slow out of the gate from
post two and saved ground on the inside as Magician’s Vanity led through
a quarter-mile in 23.37 seconds, a half in 47.49 and six furlongs in 1:11.59.
Prado found room between horses at the top of the stretch and dueled with Bugle
down the lane as Giant Crystal came flying on the outside.
Bugle was a narrow second, a neck in front of Giant
Crystal. Mrakeb, Gorgeous Dream, Medillitta d’Oro, Delightful,
Magician’s Vanity and Musical Mystery completed the order of finish.
“I was looking for a place to go.
Fortunately, I was able to split horses and she was very game,” Prado
said. “Definitely, Mr. Maker had the horse ready today.”
A full sister to multiple graded stakes-placed
Fear the Kitten, Get Down Kitten had been working steadily for her unveiling,
including a five-furlong breeze in 1:01 on Dec. 7 over Gulfstream’s main
track.
“She did everything OK,” Prado said. “She broke a little slow but she settled in behind horses nice. She wasn’t pulling or rank or anything and anytime I asked her for a little bit, she gave me that. She was like an old pro. I was very happy with her performance.”
Guaranteed Late Pick 4, Pick 5, Rainbow 6 Pools Saturday and Sunday
The Late Pick 4 will offer a guaranteed pool of $100,000 on Saturday and Sunday. The Late Pick 4 spans Race 7 through Race 10.
In addition, the 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover pool will be guaranteed at $50,000 on Saturday and Sunday and the 50-cent Pick 5 will also offer a guaranteed $50,000 pool both days.
Who’s Hot: Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado had two wins on the card, taking the second race with Get Down Kitten ($8.40) and the ninth with Shadow Rock ($62.80). Edgard Zayas also rode two winners, Get Creative ($7.60) in the fifth and Forever for Always ($51) in the 10th.
Rainbow 6 carryover: $45,117.26
Source: Gulfstream Park