Gulfstream news: Apprentice Kimura rides local; Smash Factor impresses
Kazushi Kimura, two weeks after accepting the Eclipse Award as the champion apprentice of 2019 at Gulfstream Park, will ride for the first time in South Florida in Thursday’s 10th-race finale.
Kimura, 20, is named on 4-year-old gelding Seemee for trainer Kevin Attard in the one-mile turf claimer for 4-year-olds and up. They drew Post 12 with just main-track-only entrant Colin a Winner to their outside.
In 2019, Kimura led all bug riders in purse earnings with $3.7 million and had 117 wins from Jan. 1 until his apprenticeship ended Oct. 26. Voted the Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion apprentice of 2018, he is expected to repeat that honor when winners are announced April 16.
Kimura galloped his first horses at Gulfstream Jan. 31 and plans to use his time here to prepare for the start of Woodbine’s season April 18. Kimura led all Woodbine apprentices and ranked third overall with 146 wins last year.
A native of Hokkaido, where his father runs a Thoroughbred training center, Kimura left home to attend the Japan Racing School in Shiroi, about 25 miles east of Tokyo. He won his first North American race June 8, 2018 on 70-1 long shot Tornado Cat at Woodbine.
Kimura is represented in Canada by agent Jordan Miller. He is also named to ride 4-year-old gelding Miriam’s Sky in Friday’s sixth race at Gulfstream, a one-mile claiming event for older horses. Miriam’s Sky is trained by Mike DePaulo who, like Attard, is based in Canada and winters in South Florida.
Stakes-Placed Smash Factor Impressive Winner
Stonehedge LLC’s homebred Smash Factor, who defeated multiple stakes winner Chance It in their respective debuts last summer, rebounded from a sixth-place finish in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man with an impressive triumph in Wednesday’s featured ninth race.
Ridden by Miguel Vasquez for trainer Michael Yates, Smash Factor ($6.60) ran seven furlongs in 1:23.27 over a fast main track in the $51,000 optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds.
Vasquez put Smash Factor on the lead from outside Post 6 and was in front through a quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds pressed by Conquest Day, who forged a short lead after a half in 45.40. Smash Factor surged again along the rail once straightened for home to turn back Conquest Day and hold off a belated run from 3-5 favorite Carpe Omnious.
Smash Factor was a 1 ½-length winner over Chance It last June, then ran second to that rival in the FSS In Reality in September. Also second behind As Seen On Tv in the Juvenile Sprint Nov. 9 at Gulfstream Park West, Smash Factor faltered after setting the pace in the Mucho Macho Man and was beaten 12 lengths.
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $400,000 for Thursday after no one solved the popular multi-race wager Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.
Three horses were live to take down the jackpot heading into Wednesday's 10th-race finale, won by New Year ($15.60). Multiple tickets with all six winners each returned $9,995.58.
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 spans Races 5-10 and includes the featured ninth, a six-furlong optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up that attracted a field of eight led by 8-5 program favorite Soldado.
Trained by 15-time Championship Meet leader Todd Pletcher, the now 4-year-old Verrazano colt debuted with a win last February at Gulfstream but drew the rail in his first start in 10 months.
There will also be a carryover of $11,907.90 in the $1 Super Hi-5 for Thursday’s opener.