Jockey
Alan Garcia needs two more wins to hit the 1,000 career victory mark and is
named on mounts in three races Thursday afternoon at Gulfstream Park
while veteran Ramon Dominguez is in town for the day to ride the favorite in
the fourth race allowance feature and needing two wins to hit the lofty 4,000
career victory plateau.
Garcia,
a 24-year-old native of Peru,
is based at Gulfstream this winter where he currently ranks in a tie for eighth
in the standings with 21 wins at the meet. Dominguez flies in from New
York where he leads the
standings at Aqueduct with 86 victories, 30 more than his closest rival.
Dominguez,
a 35-year-old native of Caracas,
Venezuela,
rides West Point Thoroughbreds’ 4-year-old Mr. Fantasy for trainer Mike Hushion
in Thursday’s fourth race as the son of E
Dubai makes his first start since capturing the
Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct last year on Apr. 25.
Dominguez
is named on a full slate of mounts Friday at Aqueduct and is due back at
Gulfstream Saturday for several stakes mounts, including Donald Dizney’s
3-year-old colt First Dude in the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) for trainer Dale
Romans and Alan Brodsky’s 4-year-old filly Don’t Forget Gil in the $150,000
Rampart Stakes (G3) for trainer Mark Hennig.
Jackson Bend & ‘Other Brother’
Nicanor Work at Palm Meadows
Robert
LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm’s 3-year-old Jackson Bend, runner-up to
Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) last out at Gulfstream Park on
Feb. 20, worked six furlongs in 1:14 flat Thursday morning at Palm Meadows for
trainer Nick Zito.
A
Florida-bred chestnut colt by Hear No Evil, Jackson Bend finished second by
three-quarters of a length in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) early in the Gulfstream
meet before checking in 8 ½ lengths behind Eskendereya in the Fountain of
Youth. He is expected to make his next start in the $750,000 Wood Memorial
Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct on Sat., Apr. 3.
Also notable
on the Thursday morning work tab at Palm Meadows was Lael Stables’ 4-year-old
homebred colt Nicanor, full-brother to ill-fated 2006 Florida Derby (G1) and
Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Barbaro and 3-year-old Lentenor, the latter set to
make his stakes debut in Saturday’s renewal of the Florida Derby for trainer
Michael Matz.
Nicanor
breezed a mile in 1:43 3/5 in preparation for his 2010 debut. The son of
Dynaformer out of La Ville Rouge, by Carson
City made his first three
career starts at Gulfstream last winter, finishing second twice on the main
track. He then won both of his starts last summer on turf at Delaware
Park,
a maiden race by 15 ¼ lengths and an allowance last out on June 17.
Turf Marathon
Pan American & Orchid Next Weekend
Next
weekend’s racing at Gulfstream Park will be highlighted by renewals of the
$150,000 Pan American Stakes (G3) on Saturday and $150,000 Orchid Stakes (G3)
on Sunday, companion events run at 1 ½ miles on turf, the Orchid for fillies
and mares.
Trainer
Christophe Clement may have a solid contender in both races with Mr. and Mrs.
Bertram Firestone’s 5-year-old homebred Winchester among the horses to beat in
the Pan American if he goes after his sharp runner-up performance last out
behind 2008 Pan American winner Presious Passion in the 11-furlong Mac Diamida
Stakes (G3) over the course on Feb. 28.
A son of
the Firestones’ 1987 Eclipse champion turf star Theatrical, Winchester
won the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington
Park
as a 3-year-old in 2008 after beginning his career in Ireland.
He ran another big race when third in the 12-furlong W.L. McKnight Handicap
(G3) at Calder in late December behind Cloudy’s Knight.
Another
intriguing prospect for the 49th edition of the Pan American is Fred Bradley’s
9-year-old homebred gelding Brass Hat, winner of the 2006 Donn Handicap (G1)
here earlier in his career. Trained by William ‘Buff’ Bradley, the son of
Prized concentrated on turf marathons last year, finishing second in the Stars
and Stripes Handicap (G3) at Arlington
Park
last out on Sept. 7.
Clement
has won the Orchid a remarkable six times previously, including four straight
from 1999-2002, and could be represented in this renewal with Philip W.
Freedman’s 5-year-old mare Cable, third last out in the 11-furlong The Very One
Stakes (G3) over the course on Feb. 27 and/or L. Neil Jones’ 4-year-old
Irish-bred filly Beauty O’Gwaun, a Group stakes winner in Ireland.
Trainer
Bill Mott has won the Orchid three times previously over the years, including
Dress Rehearsal last year, and may have the favorite next Sunday with
Swettenham Stud’s 5-year-old Irish-bred mare Changing Skies. The daughter of
Sadler’s Wells won The Very One last out on Feb. 27 in her third American start
after racing in France and England earlier in her career.