Gulfstream Park welcomes once again the Caribbean countries on what last year became one of the highlights of the Winter Meet, the Caribbean Series. Four stakes for horses born on those countries and one of imported horses running on those tracks form the series, worth in total over $650,000 in prize money. In total, eleven stakes races are on tap in this great card, lets cut to the chase quickly:
1st race: 6 Furlongs. ™HousePrtyB75K House Party S. Purse $75,000 FILLIES, TWO YEARS OLD.
Paula Andrea (#8) – This can be a great day for Irad Ortiz, and he can start right off the bat with this filly, who was 3/2 against Catherinethegreat in her debut and didn’t fire, probably because of the wet track. She graduated on Oct 20 with Leonel Reyes, so the upgrade jockey wise is notable, and she can sit right off a swift pace that should develop.
Horologist (#4) – Last time out she drew the rail and her jockey was forced to move her, trying not to lose her position. Now comes from a much better post and should be able to stalk the pace rather than go on a speed duel.
Bye Bye J (#2) – Returns to the dirt after a failed attempt on the grass and Vazquez keeps going to the pond with her. Dangerous.
2nd race: 1 Mile. ™HutHutB75K Hut Hut S. Purse $75,000 FILLIES, TWO YEARS OLD.
Lovely Luvy (#2) – Blinkers on today for trainer Victor Barboza, who hots at a 37% from turf to dirt and at a 30% with a beaten fave. She should dictate the pace and gets back to one turn with Jaramillo, a specialist with speed type horses.
Bella Ciao (#4) – Drops from facing Grade I company to this listed stakes, and that alone gives her a class edge over this field. Gets back to one turn, which maybe is the best trip for this filly.
Sweet Diane (#3) – Good win down at Penn National to graduate. Now climbs up the ladder and gets the services of Hall Of Famer Javier Castellano. Should be forwardly placed from the start.
3rd race: 6 Furlongs. BffaloManB75K Buffalo Man S. Purse $75,000 TWO YEAR OLDS.
Zenden (#7) – Its Barboza and Jaramillo again, now on a colt that won his first start very impressively. His trainer gives him a nice freshening and comes back working great in the mornings. There is plenty of speed signed in, so Jaramillo should sit on the garden spot ready to pounce from the 3/8’s pole on.
Jackson (#6) – Already a stakes winner, he has faced very talented horses like Bulletin and Trophy Chaser, and in the case of the latter one, he beat him. Jaramillo preferred the 7, but this colt can not be counted off, Luis Saez is more than an adequate replacement.
Combination (#1) – Paco Lopez will sent him to the lead from that inside post and will try to take them wire to wire. He was much the best in his vow run and there is no way to know who good he can be.
4th race: 1 Mile. SmoothAirB75K Smooth Air S. Purse $75,000 TWO YEAR OLDS.
Souper Jackpot (#7) – Very game win at Churchill Downs. Now gets a much better post on the gate and Irad takes over for Mark Casse. Don’t see that much speed in here, so from that outside post he can be long gone.
Garter and Tie (#5) – He has the experience factor in his corner, with already five starts lifetime. He returns to one turn and Gaffalione knows this circuit like the palm of his hand. He will be right there when all the marbles are counted.
Union’s Destiny (#3) – Solid win from an uncomfortable post last time out, now returns almost four months after that effort and looks like he can be part of that early pace, and if they don’t go to get him, he can take them far and deep.
5th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) PulpitB75K Pulpit S. Purse $75,000 TWO YEAR OLDS.
Nashtrick (#3) – In a race in which speed is scarce, I think Paco Lopez will send this colt to the lead, taking advantage of that good post in the apparatus. Creditable placing in a Grade I at Woodbine, returns to the grass after flunking in the All Weather.
Henley’s Joy (#2) – He just missed in the Grade III Bourbon down at Keeneland, and then he was a no show in the Breeders Cup, in a race that we can draw a line over, as the surface apparently was not of his liking. Gaffalione stays up, a definite positive sign.
Louder than Bombs (#9) – Tried the well regarded Improbable last time out at Churchill, and not surprisingly, didn’t go well at all. Now gets back to the lawn and Castellano takes over the reins. Probably needs a little more pace than what he will get here, lets see how he fares.
6th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™WaitAWhleB75K Wait a While S. Purse $75,000 FILLIES, TWO YEARS OLD.
Red Rounder (#3) – Two things catch my attention from this filly: her wins have been running hard all the way and she has shown gameness in her victories. Maker climbs up the ladder confidently (from Indiana Downs to GP) and goes to Tyler Gaffalione to bring home the gold.
A Bit Special (#4) – She has a stakes win already in a race with no speed at all, so the fact that she was able to make up ground under those circumstances indicate she is very talented. Maragh repeats for Biancone.
Aunt Hattie (#2) – Solid triumph in her debut run, now takes a little back of a cut back and should be forwardly placed from the gitgo. Somewhat of an incognita is how that win was helped by the off track. She must show she can be as affective in a dry lawn surface.
Off the Turf: 2-12-7
7th race: 1 1/4 Mile. InvtionlCB78K Invitational Cup S. Purse $77,500 THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD IMPORTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE COUNTRY OF THE CONFEDERACION HIPICA DEL CARIBE.
Mishegas (#2) – If he repeats that last race at Camarero in Puerto Rico, they will all be running for second. He almost clipped heels with another horse at the three eights pole, and recovered to win by six emphatic lengths. Irad Ortiz takes over the reins and he looms large in here.
Wildcat Wish (#4) – Representing Mexico, he is definitely the fastest of this bunch, and if he is let loose with an easy lead, watch out. He can take them all the way to the finish line. Manuel Franco is a more than capable jockey and will be interesting to see who, if anyone, goes with him up front.
El Kurdo (#7) – Very good horse representing Ecuador and trained by Mr. Biscuits himself, Chad Summers. He came in second a year ago in this same race, and looks to be a main danger again. Maybe he is the one that can put some pressure on Wildcat Wish.
8th race: 1 1/16 Mile. ™LdyCrbnCB89K Lady Caribbean Cup S. Purse $89,000 FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD, BRED IN A REPRESENTATIVE COUNTRY OF THE CONFEDERACION HIPICA DEL CARIBE.
Rosa Salvaje (#6) – She hails from Panama, and you can draw a line to that last race. It was against the boys and she was way over her head. She gets four months off and Javier Castellano guarantees she will be placed in a favorable spot from the start.
Regalada (#2) – From Puerto Rico, she beat the boys in two of the three legs of the Puerto Rican Triple Crown. It is true that maybe she has lost a step or two from that moment, but she has looked great at Gulfstream and if she returns to that old form, she will be a force to be reckoned with . Jose Ortiz rides for his country.
Kutzamala (#3) – She won the filly Triple Crown at Mexico, but maybe, just maybe, those fillies were not that good. I noticed also that her best races have been running on an off track, and I don’t think she will get that on Saturday. She is the fastest of them all and Irad will look to clear the field before that firs turn.
9th race: 6 Furlongs. CrbnCpSpd106K Caribbean Cup Speed S. Purse $105,800 THREE YEAR OLDS BRED IN A REPRESENTATIVE COUNTRY OF THE CONFEDERACION HIPICA DEL CARIBE.
Big Boris One (#7) – This one is from Venezuela and with only two starts lifetime, he still has ,lots of upside potential on his side. He is ridden by Paco Lopez and trained by Juan Avila, connections that know how to win here at Gulfstream.
Tati (#8) – Speedster filly from Mexico that should get a very nice from that number eight hole in the gate. Irad Ortiz again riding for the Cuadra San Jorge and she will be right on the garden spot watching the speed duel develop.
Candy Power (#9) – Another good sprinting filly, this one from Panama that can take advantage of a suicidal pace to caught them close to the wire. Eclipse Award winner Jose Ortiz climbs aboard.
10th race: 1 1/4 Mile. CfrtntyCCB100K Confraternity Caribbean Cup S. Purse $100,000 THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD BRED IN A REPRESENTATIVE COUNTRY OF THE CONFEDERACION HIPICA DEL CARIBE.
Exclusivo (#8) – He is the best horse in Puerto Rico by a country mile. After debuting in 2015 at Belmont and running third second time out at Monmouth, his connections bring them to Puerto Rico, and he hasn’t lost in puertorrican soil; 15 for 15. And his wins have come as easy as he pleases, and always with something left. This year, he trounced last year’s runner up Arquitecto twice. He will be a very tough beat on Saturday. Not that much pace in the race, which plays right into his hands.
Jala Jala (#2) – There is no denial of the great quality of this Mexican filly, winner of the Clasico del Caribe last year. But she has some distance questions to answer, as her last two races over nine and a half furlongs have been average at best. Irad will try to bring her to victory from the same number two slot that she came off last December.
Inspirato (#4) – He seems like a legitimate mile and a quarter horse, just missed beating Jala Jala at his most recent, but he was gaining ground fast. Manny Franco rides for trainer Vicente Davila and will need a good set up on the lead.
11th race: 1 1/8 Mile. CrbnClscHB300K Carribbean Classic S. Purse $300,000 THREE YEAR OLDS BRED IN A REPRESENTATIVE COUNTRY OF THE CONFEDERACION HIPICA DEL CARIBE.
Kukulkan (#3) – No doubt that he has the best figures in this race, and he is undefeated in thirteen starts at the Hipodromo Las Americas at Mexico. The only question he has to answer is if he can rate or he needs to have a clear lead to be dominant. That we will know late Saturday.
Bukowski (#10) – To talk of the Clasico del Caribe is to talk about Emisael Jaramillo and his five wins in this race, a record. A little bit compromised by the far outside post, but he will be close to the pace from when they spring the latch and he is dangerous, to say the least.
Senor Ben Hur (#6) – The best horse from Panama in this race, he looks to be a natural t the 9 furlongs distance. He will need a salty pace up front for his late push to be effective, and is still not clear if he will get it.