Jockey Ivaldo Santana Makes Splash at Gulfstream West

Veteran jockey Ivaldo Santana, who rode his first U.S. winner at Gulfstream Park Sunday, came right back Wednesday to notch his second success on Gulfstream Park West’s opening day program.

The 35-year-old native of Brazil, who had been riding in Singapore since 2013, captured the second race aboard 30-1 long shot Miss Lotus Flower, who got away from the gate slowly and trailed the field along the backstretch before launching a wide stretch drive to win going away.  The Javier Negrete-trained 3-year-old filly crossed the finish line under wraps to take the maiden claiming event by 8 ¾ lengths over a sloppy track.

“I just followed the instructions of the trainer. He told me to take her back. I did that and she finished good. This is my second win here. I’m very happy,” said Santana, who broke through with his first U.S. success aboard Sunday’s fifth-race winner Smart Return ($12.40) at Gulfstream.

The 35-year-old jockey rode more than 800 winners, including 2006 Triple Crown winner Colina Verde, during 11 years in Brazil before venturing to Singapore. Inspired by fellow Brazilian Joao Moreira’s success, Santana traveled to Singapore in 2013 and got noticed immediately while guiding Stepitup for three legs of the 2013 Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, including the Group 1 Singapore Guineas.

Wednesday’s win aboard Miss Lotus Flower ($62.20) came on Santana’s ninth U.S. mount and was his fourth in-the-money finish.

Tyler Gaffalione, who captured Gulfstream Park’s Summer Meet riding title, scored added a pair of victories to his nation-leading win-total on Wednesday’s program aboard Little Chesney ($2.60) in the third race and Put the Boss Back ($5.40) in the sixth race.

Racing continues at Gulfstream Park West Thursday with an eight-race card with a first-race post time of 1:15 p.m. A $40,000 optional claiming allowance in the seventh race will feature the program and bring together Jaiden’s Best, who is slated to seek his third straight victory after easily capturing his last two by a combined 12 ¼ lengths; Mal Guapo, who captured the $50,000 Perfect Season starter stakes last time out; and multiple stakes-placed Piloting.