U. S. S. O’Brien Seeks Hat Trick in Bal Harbour

U. S. S. O’Brien goes after her third straight win and second in a stakes when she makes her 4-year-old debut in Friday’s $60,000 Bal Harbour Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The temperamental daughter of Empire Maker will be making her fourth start for trainer Kathy Ritvo since being purchased by Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing last summer.

“She’s doing good,” Ritvo said. “She has a temper, but, hopefully, with each race we can get a better handle on it. We have seen the progression in her. Her races are better and she’s doing really well.”

U. S. S. O’Brien had the saddle slip and bolted in her first start for Ritvo on June 6 at Gulfstream, finishing last of six as the favorite. Since then, she has strung together back-to-back victories by eight lengths combined, including the one-mile Golden Beach on December 10.

“She is talented. I don’t think she even knows how talented she is,” Ritvo said. “I don’t know what it is about her. She’s not a nervous filly, she just kind of wants her own way with everything she does. We try to make her think it’s her way. As long as it’s not too bad, we kind of go along with it.”

Prior to her victory in the Golden Beach, U. S. S. O’Brien unseated jockey Manoel Cruz both in the walking ring and post parade but was a model citizen in the gate and the race, cruising all the way on the front end. Cruz gets a return call from post 2 in a field of seven 4-year-old fillies going a mile on the main track.

“The post is real good. It’s better than the outside,” Ritvo said. “She’s good in the gate. I don’t think she needs the lead; she’s just faster than they were. I really wanted to keep her in a softer race, but we needed to run so we took the opportunity. We knew she was good enough, but I just wanted to give her more time.”

Following the debut for her new connections, Ritvo sought the advice of fellow trainer Wesley Ward, who personally galloped U. S. S. O’Brien in an effort to get a handle on the filly’s behavior, which can be difficult in the mornings.

“She goes out with the pony in the morning at a really quiet time so we can spend a lot of time with her,” Ritvo said. “It does take a lot of time to train her every day, but she’s worth it. When she goes out there, it just seems like she’s toying with horses.”

            House Rules Returns to South Florida in Bal Harbour

Joseph Shields’ House Rules made five of her first six career starts at Gulfstream Park, including a pair of second-place finishes in the Davona Dale (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) during last year’s Championship Meet for Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, known as The Chief.

Jerkens’ son, Jimmy, took over training duties for the now 4-year-old Distorted Humor filly over the summer, winning an entry-level allowance on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course in their first start together. She sandwiched another allowance win between off-the-board finishes in the Cotillion (G1) and Comely (G3), the latter on November 29.

Stabled with Jerkens at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, House Rules drew post three for Friday’s $60,000 Bal Harbour.

“She seems good,” Jerkens said. “She ran good here last year for The Chief. I hope she runs good this year.”

House Rules made the move with Jerkens from Belmont Park to Florida after Thanksgiving and has breezed three times at Palm Meadows: a bullet three-furlong work in 36.90 seconds on December 17, a five-furlong move in 1:01.50 on December 23, and a half in 48.90 on December 29.

“We’ve crammed in a couple works pretty close together, and she’s handled it pretty good,” Jerkens said. “It looks like a nice spot to try and get her to be a stakes winner.”

Three-time defending Championship Meet riding champion Javier Castellano will be aboard House Rules from post three. Jerkens schooled House Rules in the Gulfstream paddock and walking ring during Wednesday’s first race.

“I always like to do it,” Jerkens said. “It’s difficult coming from where we are, but most of the time I regret it when I don’t do it. It’s not a cure-all but it’s a chance for us to cover our bases.”

Jerkens reported that Grade 1 winner Wicked Strong, fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), is currently in training at Palm Meadows. V. E. Day, who beat his stablemate to win the Travers (G1) at Saratoga, remains on the farm in Ocala and likely won’t join Jerkens for another month.

“We haven’t really put any concrete plans together yet, but we will,” Jerkens said. “We’ll probably try V. E. Day on the turf again.”

                        Benson Guest of Honor at Horsemen's Dinner Tuesday

Multiple stakes-winning trainer Harry Benson, who has won nearly 500 races during a career that has stretched more than five decades, will be the guest of honor at the first Horsemen's Dinner of the season at Luca Bella Restaurant.

Benson, former president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA), has trained the stakes winners Proud Man, Dry Martini and Barbara O'Brien. Guests are encouraged to tell their favorite stories and/or toast the guest of honor.

The dinner will include a three-course meal for $45. Seating will be limited to the first 50 guests. For more information contact Bill and Mary Hirsch at 954.454.9375 or email whirsch@nyc.rr.com.

Source: Gulfstream Park