Ol
Memorial Stable and C.E. Glasscock’s Soaring Empire was impressive
winning a seven-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old
debut on Feb. 25 for trainer Cam Gambolati and will make the fourth start of
his career and first around two turns in the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) on
Sat., Mar. 20, according to the trainer.
“We’ve
weighed the options and decided to go ahead and give him a chance,” said
Gambolati Thursday morning from Palm Meadows. “His race here was very good to
win after getting nailed at the start and beat a good field. I know we’re a
little behind the eight-ball, but they only get one chance (Kentucky Derby).”
Soaring Empire was bumped solidly at the start and rallied from eighth to score
by three-quarters of a length.
“I was
going to work him this morning, but decided to hold off because of the weather
and wait, probably Sunday. Eddie (Castro) will ride him. Some (trainers) don’t
like the six weeks (between Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby), but it happens
to fit my schedule for this horse. If he needs more earnings, I can run him
once more, maybe the Blue Grass (Keeneland on Apr. 10).”
Soaring
Empire is a son of 2003 Florida Derby hero Empire Maker purchased for $190,000
at the Keeneland September yearling sales and won his career debut at Monmouth
Park on Sept. 26 by 3 ¼ lengths and finished third in the Iroquois Stakes (G3)
going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1. Castro has ridden Soaring
Empire in all three of his starts.
Forward Gal Rematch in Cicada at
Aqueduct Saturday
Lori and
George Hall’s 3-year-old filly Bickersons romped home a seven-length winner of
the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) going seven furlongs on Feb. 27 at
Gulfstream Park with jockey Joe Bravo aboard for trainer Kelly Breen, and the
daughter of Silver Deputy runs back Saturday in the $100,000 Cicada Stakes (G3)
going six furlongs at Aqueduct with Bravo going along for the ride.
Four of
Bickerson’s seven rivals in the Cicada also made their last starts at
Gulfstream, including Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren’s Liam’s Dream and Red Oak
Stable’s Romantic Hideaway, third and fourth, respectively, in the Forward Gal
for trainers Rick Dutrow and Gregg Sacco.
In
addition to the Cicada, South Florida-based horsemen will be represented in major
stakes Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, Oaklawn
Park
and Santa Anita Saturday along with several Gulfstream-based jockeys traveling
for mounts in some of the races.
Leading
Gulfstream trainer Todd Pletcher sends out WinStar Farm’s Super Saver to make
his 3-year-old debut as the favorite in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at
Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Nick Zito has Lucky Shamrock Stable’s Tuvia’s Force in
the race with Jose Lezcano to ride and Tom Albertrani runs Padua Stable’s
Odysseus with Rajiv Maragh aboard.
Lezcano
also rides Nancy Mazzoni’s 2009 Eclipse champion filly She Be Wild in the
$175,000 Florida Oaks (G3) for trainer Wayne Catalano as she makes her first
start since finishing fifth as the favorite in the Forward Gal in her first
start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita on
Nov. 6. Pletcher will be represented in that race by Edward P. Evans’ Imaginary
Saint.
Jockey
Kent Desormeaux also makes the trip to Tampa Bay Saturday with his mounts to
include Brushwood Stable’s 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1) runner-up
Mushka in the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G3) for trainer Bill Mott and
Michael Dubb and partners’ Cuff Me in the Florida Oaks for trainer Anthony
Dutrow in her first start since finishing fourth in the Old Hat Stakes (G3) at
Gulfsteam on Jan. 9.
Also
shipping up for the Hillsborough will be J.H. Richmond-Watson’s English-bred
4-year-old filly Tottie with Jose Lezano to ride for trainer Chad Brown. The
daughter of Fantastic Light has won her only two starts in the U.S.
at Gulfstream this meet, most recently the Suwannee River Stakes (G3) on Feb.
6.
At Oaklawn
Park
Saturday, trainer Ken McPeek will have Chasing Dreams Stables 2008 LLC’s
3-year-old colt Noble’s Promise in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G3) and Peter
Callahan’s 3-year-old filly Beautician in the $125,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3),
both making their season debuts.
McPeek
also will be represented in another very high-profile race as he runs Steve
Stan Stable’s 4-year-old filly Striking Dancer against undefeated Zenyatta in
the $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational (G1) at Santa Anita on Saturday after
the daughter of Smart Strike posted a 13-to-1 upset victory last out in the La
Canada Stakes (G2) over the track on Feb. 14. That race, expected to run around
6:45 eastern, along with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra’s 2010 debut at the
Fair Grounds, will be simulcast live at Gulfstream
Park
immediately following the last live race.
Also in
action at Santa Anita Saturday will be Wertheimer et Frere’s 3-year-old
Interactif in the $150,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) for trainer Todd Pletcher.
The son of Broken Vow finished second by a nose last out as the favorite in the
Hallandale Beach Stakes here on Feb. 7 and was flown to California
on Wednesday.