Yourdreamsormine unleashes strong rally to take Groomstick

N.T.S. Stable’s Yourdreamsormine unleashed a strong stretch rally to capture Saturday’s $75,000 Groomstick Stakes, backing up trainer Milt Wolfson’s pre-race claim that the 4-year-old colt is the best older horse at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the son of Mr. Sekaguchi has won three races, including two stakes, and has finished second twice in five starts since being privately purchased and joining Wolfson’s stable at Gulfstream.

“I tell you what, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time, and I’ve been in the game a long time,” the veteran trainer said. “This horse has so much heart. That’s half the battle. You have to respect a horse like that.”

Sent to post as the 2-1 second betting choice behind El Deal, Yourdreamsormine was outsprinted to the lead by the 6-5 favorite, who was pressed by Mr. Baker, the 5-2 third choice, along the backstretch and around the far turn. Sitting off strong fractions of 22.62 (seconds) and 44.87 through the first half-mile of the seven-furlong sprint, Yourdreamsormine was asked for his run by Gaffalione on the turn into the homestretch, and the Florida-bred colt found his best stride in the stretch to surge past the tiring pacesetters to score by 1 ¾ lengths.

“The race set up perfectly. We talked about it in the paddock and we thought those two would go up and hook each other. We decided to sit off them and let him make his run like he normally does,” Gaffalione said. “He’s just a fun horse to ride. He always tries and makes that run.”

El Deal, who was ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, held second, 2 ¾ lengths ahead of late closing Bullet Gone Astray and jockey Marcos Meneses.

Yourdreamsormine ran seven furlongs in 1:22.22 over a ‘good’ track while winning for the six time in 27 starts and boosting his career earnings to $344,185.

Source: Gulfstream Park