Three Stakes Winners Highlight Gulfstream's Thursday Feature
Three stakes winners who ran in the recent Carry Back (G3) are scheduled to go to post in Thursday’s eighth-race feature, a $40,000 optional claiming allowance. Bullet Gone Astray (third), Li’l Meatball (fourth) and Dream of Me (sixth) will be among the six 3-year-olds that will clash in the seven-furlong sprint.
Trained by Henry Collazo, Bullet Gone Astray, who won the Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes last year, closed from sixth to finish third behind Rated R Superstar and Awesome Banner in the Carry Back. The son of Bullet Gone Astray also finished third in the Mucho Macho Man and the Spectacular Bid during the Championship Meet. Anna Varsi-trained Dream of Me, a 2 ¼-length winner of the $300,000 Dr. Fager in the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes last year, stalked the Carry Back pace before tiring to fourth in his first start since September. David Braddy-trained Li’l Meatball, who also chased the pace before tiring last time out, captured the Florida Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream Park West last fall.
Leo Gabriel Jr.’s Phish Fan, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, returned from an eight-month layoff to finish fourth in a May 22 optional claiming allowance in which Bullet Gone Astray finished second. Stakes-placed Looks Good and At the Ready round out the field.
The feature has been carded as the fifth leg of the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which will span Races 4-9. After going unsolved for 11 consecutive cards, the popular multi-race wager will offer a $130,147 carryover jackpot Thursday.
Spa & Surf Showdown Begins at Gulfstream Wednesday, July 27
Gulfstream Park will celebrate the Saratoga and Del Mar meets with two new contests.
The Spa & Surf Showdown handicapping contest with an entry fee of $40 will be held for six consecutive Wednesdays starting July 27.
Weekly prizes will include Sunday brunch for two in Ten Palms, Frankey's Sports Bar gift certificates and Saratoga and Del Mar merchandise. Each of the six weekly winners, plus the 14 players with the highest overall bankrolls, will compete in the final round on Labor Day, Sept. 5, when the top two finishers will earn berths in the Conquer the Crown Handicapping Challenge, a new $3,000 buy-in contest on opening day of Gulfstream's Championship Meet.
In addition to the Showdown, Gulfstream will hold the “Spa & Surf Drawing” on Labor Day. Players can earn entries based on wagers placed at Gulfstream Park on Mondays and Wednesdays starting July 25. Two names will be randomly drawn on Labor Day and winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to either Saratoga or Del Mar for the 2017 meet.
For more information, contact Nancy Berry at 954-457-6284 or nancy.berry@gulfstreampark.com
Backstretch Workers Asked to Sign Up for Children's Back To School Backpacks
Chaplain Tom LaPointe, who has been helping South Florida backstretch workers since the late 1980s, is once again launching his Back to School Backpack program for the children of parents who groom, hot-walk or exercise horses at Gulfstream, Palm Meadows or Gulfstream Park West.
The backpacks will be handed out in August and each one will include supplies for the upcoming school year. LaPointe is asking all of those interested in the program to be signed up by Friday, July 29. For more information on signing up or donating, call 954.274.7163, 954.709.4367 or 561.305.7732.
Charity Softball Game Featuring Gulfstream Jockeys, Trainers
Gulfstream jockeys, trainers and employees will participate in a charity softball for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) Tuesday, July 26.
Admission is free and a portion of sales of food and beverages will go to the PDJF.
The game will be played at Peter Bluesten Park, 501 SE 1st Avenue, just east of the track and behind the post office.
Game time is 4 p.m.
Source: Gulfstream Park