Hall Of Fame jockey Javier (JJ) Castellano has been out of action since mid-November due to leg surgery. He is set to return to riding this Wednesday, February 17th, at Gulfstream Park. Castellano, 43, is named aboard 3-year-old, Florida-bred SEXY DREAM, (a half-sister to multiple Graded-Stakes Winning millionaire JACKSON BEND) in Race 9, a starter/optional Claimer for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf. … Continue reading Javier Back In The Saddle
The Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star on Saturday has drawn a full field of 13 horses who will go nine furlongs in the first Kentucky Derby prep race of the year that offers the increased points level (50-20-10-5). The top four finishers from the Lecomte Stakes (G3), which was the first of the Derby preps this year at Fair Grounds, are in the field. Here is … Continue reading The Risen Star
Saturday is the $400,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. It is this years first prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby to ratchet up the awards and offer a total of 85 qualifying points to the top four finishers. Those points are distributed on a scale of 50-20-10-5. Which means that the Winner will very likely secure … Continue reading The Stakes Are Rising
The jockey colony at Oaklawn Park has grown more competitive as the purses have increased throughout the past decade. One notable addition is Joe Talamo who is back at the Hot Springs, Arkansas track this year for his second full season. Smokin’ Joe – a former mainstay in southern California who was featured on the Animal Planet Network reality show Jockeys – decided to trade Santa Anita Park for … Continue reading Go, Go, Go, Joe Talamo
The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for May 1st, 2021. The health and safety of the entire racing community at Churchill Downs is the primary concern this year. Churchill Downs Inc. (which operates the facility) remains focused on following sound and proven health and safety protocols as they work toward the best experience possible for horse racing fans. They are working under … Continue reading The Derby & Covid Part 2
The coronavirus pandemic impacted just about everything in 2020, including sports across the globe. Thoroughbred racing was no exception, but by May racetracks started reopening with limited or no fans allowed, while the horses and those who care for them got back to business. Not surprisingly, the pandemic also impacted the Eclipse Awards, which honor the Champions of 2020. The awards ceremony that crowned the Winners … Continue reading Virtual Eclipse (Awards)
Two years ago trainer Shug McGaughey followed Florida’s Road to the Kentucky Derby to a 2nd-place finish with CODE OF HONOR in the Run For The Roses. The Hall of Fame trainer found himself back on that illustrious path this past Saturday with a new Triple Crown candidate. GREATEST HONOUR powered his way to a 5 3/4-length Victory in the $200,000 dollar Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream … Continue reading It Was An Honour
Here is a full field analysis for the Holy Bull, which is slated as race 11 on a card of 12, with a scheduled Post Time of 4:50. 1) JIRAFALES [ML 20-1] Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Jockey: John Velazquez. Broke his Maiden at first asking with a late run, to Win by almost five lengths at Gulfstream Park West against Florida-breds. He has been off since that … Continue reading Holy Bull Selections
Gulfstream Park has always been a key racetrack on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and in recent years three of the last eight Kentucky Derby Winners prepped with at least one start at the Hallandale Beach track while on the Derby trail. Saturday’s $200,000, Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes (named in honor of the 1994 Horse Of The Year) is the first of three Kentucky Derby … Continue reading Holy Bull !
On Saturday, (as most of you are aware) the fifth running of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. The Stronach Group which operates Gulfstream, transformed the course and grounds into a socially distant entertainment experience, welcoming 1,500 fans (15% of typical Pegasus World Cup capacity) to the race track for the first time since the outset … Continue reading A Successful And Safe Pegasus
