Simon Hopes to Keep Winning Ways Going With Xaverian

Trainer Chuck Simon is slated to saddle Garnet Stable’s Xaverian for a start in Saturday’s $75,000 Gleaming Stakes with the hope of continuing his winning ways during Gulfstream Park’s spring meeting.

The veteran trainer, who is in his second season of being based year-round in South Florida, is striking at a 35-percent rate with six winners from 17 starters while his runners have finished 1-2-3 at a 65-percent rate.

“I took me a while to figure out what kind of horses I need. Two-year-olds, we’re getting more and more in,” Simon said. “Summer racing here, more than anywhere else, allows 2-year-old races of all sorts. A lot of places, they can’t get 2-year-old races to go.”

The 5-year-old Xaverian, who was claimed for $30,000 in January 2015, has been competitive with strong rivals in recent starts. He finished fourth in the 1 ½-mile Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream last time out, checking in behind multiple graded-stakes winners, Kaigun, Wake Forest and Grand Tito.

“He didn’t run a bad race, getting beat by only four lengths by those horses,” Simon said. “The horse that finished second (Wake Forest) came back and won a Grade 1 (Man o’ War at Belmont Park).”

Prior to his graded-stakes attempt, the 5-year-old gelded son of Sky Mesa finished third behind a pair of next-out winners after racing wide and being steadied on the turn into the stretch.

“He’s been a little unlucky,” said Simon, who named Matthew Rispoli to ride Xaverian in the Gleaming, carded as the fourth race on an 11-race program. “He’s a much better horse than he was a year ago.”

Three starts back Xaverian held the lead in late stretch before finishing second in the two-mile Allen Jerkens Stakes.

“That would have been a great story,” said the former assistant to the late legendary Hall of Fame trainer. “But he ran great in that race.”

Thoroughbred Champions Training Center’s Copingaway was entered Wednesday for a quick turnaround in the Gleaming after the Jaime Mejia-trained 3-year-old finished fourth in last Saturday’s J. W. Murphy at Pimlico. The son of Brother Derek captured the English Channel at Gulfstream two starts back. Eddie Castro is scheduled for the mount.

Great Hill Stables’ Morning Calm, a three-time winner over the Gulfstream Park turf course, has finished third in a pair of optional claiming allowance races leading up to the stretch-out to 1 ½ miles – the distance over which he registered his last triumph. The Michelle Nihei-trained son of Broken Vow has been winless in eight starts since scoring in the Raymond Earl Handicap at 1 ½ miles last May. Luca Panici has been named to ride Morning Calm, who is making his third start back on turf this season.

Quiet Force, owned by Imaginary Stable, Rev It Up Racing Stable and Aventura Stable, is set for a return to action two weeks after losing to the Simon-trained Aire Bueno by a head in a mile allowance. Claimed by trainer Peter Walder for $35,000 Feb. 4, the 6-year-old son of Dynaformer won a $50,000 claiming event before finishing fourth in the Miami Mile (G3) April 30.

Persuasive enters the Gleaming in sharp form, having won an optional claiming allowance for Florida-breds April 8 prior to a second-place finish May 11. Trainer Ronnie Werner named Tyler Gaffalione to ride Arindel Farm’s home-bred son of Steven Got Even.

Olympia Star Inc.’s Applicator, Rose Family Stable’s Joshua’s Comprise,  Golden Legacy Stable’s Pretty and Sweet, and Winds of Change Racing Stable’s Rich Daddy, a main-track only entrant, round out the field.\

Zayas, Caraballo Involved in Spill

Two jockeys were unseated at the top of the stretch during a spill in Wednesday's eighth race at Gulfstream Park. Jose Caraballo, whose mount Okeemeister sustained an injury and was subsequently euthanized, walked to first-aid complaining of soreness. Zayas, whose mount Shere Khan fell but escaped serious injury, was transported by ambulance to Memorial Regional Hospital for evaluation of upper back pain.

Amapola Surpasses Track Record Prior to Disqualification

Magic Stable’s Amapola streaked to an impressive  9 ¾-length triumph under Jesus Rios in Wednesday’s third race, a maiden special weight contest for 2-year-old fillies, surpassing the track record for 4 ½ furlongs on the main track.

However, the connections for the Antonio Sano-trained filly didn’t get to celebrate the dazzling effort by the daughter of Broken Vow, who was subsequently disqualified for interference on the backstretch and placed sixth. Amapola ran the distance in 50.99 seconds, surpassing the record of 51.07 set by Awesome Banner June 5, 2015.

“I told the owner that she was the best filly I’ve trained in my life since I’ve been a trainer,” a disappointed Sano said.

Second-place finisher Lu Lu Laura ($6.20) was awarded the victory, providing jockey Eduardo Nunez with his second trip the winner’s circle of the day.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover Stands at $88,253

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot swelled to $88,253.75 for Thursday’s program when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $2,924.88 Wednesday.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 3-8

Source: Gulfstream Park