After a week off from riding to attend to personal business
in his native Mexico, 24-year-old jockey Paco Lopez got back to professional
business at Gulfstream Park on Thursday riding two winners and extending his
lead in the standings to 10 with 62 victories at the session and six racing
days to go before closing on Sat., Apr. 24.
Veteran Elvis Trujillo took advantage of Lopez’ absence
last week to close the gap with nine wins and ranks second on the leader board
with 52 tallies. John Velazquez and Javier Castellano led the standings for
most of the meet before shifting their tack after Florida Derby weekend last
month, but remain third and fourth in the standings with 50 and 46 wins,
respectively.
Trainer Todd Pletcher retains an insurmountable lead in the
standings as he has sealed a seventh consecutive Gulfstream meet championship
with 33 victories, 14 more than closest rival Bill Mott second with 19. They
are followed by Nick Zito third with 17, Rick Dutrow fourth at 16 and Nick
Canani fifth with 15.
Amen Hallelujah Set for Oaks Work
at Gulfstream Saturday
Trainer Rick Dutrow has arranged for IEAH Stables and
Whizway Farms’ 3-year-old filly Amen Hallelujah to work on turf between the
fourth and fifth races on Saturday at Gulfstream
Park
as she continues preparation for her scheduled start in the $500,000 Kentucky
Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on Fri., Apr. 30.
A Florida-bred chestnut by Montbrook, Amen Hallelujah won
the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita for Dutrow in mid-January. Dutrow
then brought her to Gulfstream to romp home a 6 ¼ lengths winner of the
$150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) going a mile over the track here on Feb. 27.
In one more start since then Amen Hallelujah finished
second in the $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) as the 3-to-2 second choice
going 1 1/8 miles on Florida Derby Day, Mar. 20 behind Glencrest Farm’s Devil
May Care with Rose Family Stable’s Joanie’s Catch finishing third. All three
remain on target for the Kentucky Oaks.
Devil May Care also remains in South Florida at Palm
Meadows and trainer Todd Pletcher has her scheduled to work there on
Sunday before shipping to Kentucky on Tuesday along with Zayat Stable’s
Eskendereya, winner of the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at
Gulfstream on Feb. 20, and the current favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on
Sat., May 1.
Fast Tigress Returns in Sunday
Allowance Feature
Sam Kassin and Eli Gindi’s 4-year-old filly Fast Tigress
was last seen at Gulfstream
Park
finishing a good fourth behind Gozzip Girl in the $150,000 Herecomesthebride
Stakes (G3) early last year for trainer John Kimmel. She’s entered to make her
first start this season and first for trainer Rick Dutrow in Sunday’s allowance
feature.
Jockey Jose Lezcano rides Fast Tigress in the 1 1/16 miles
turf test and should rule the choice in a field of six fillies and mares in her
first start since a dull try when finishing ninth of 10 in the Riskaverse
Stakes on turf at Saratoga
on Sept. 3.
While Gozzip Girl went on after the Herecomesthebride to
rank among the leaders of the division as a Grade 1 winner, Fast Tigress ran
some good races as well, finishing third in the Appalachian Stakes (G3) at
Keeneland and just missing when second by a neck in the Desert Vixen over the Monmouth
Park
course in July before the Riskaverse.
Another 4-year-old filly with stakes credentials last year
entered to make her season debut in Sunday’s race is Team Five Star Stable’s
Miss Blakely with C.H. Marquez, Jr. named to ride for trainer Jose Orseno as
she makes her first appearance since a runner-up effort in a Woodbine allowance
on Dec. 6.
A Canadian-bred daughter of highly-successful sire Smart
Strike, Miss Blakely won two races over the Gulfstream course early last
season, including the Boynton Beach Stakes almost exactly a year ago. She went
on to place third in the Woodbine Oaks and Twin Lights Stakes at Monmouth.
Completing the field for Sunday’s feature are Angel Quiroz’
Margaret Smile, Luis Saez; Butterfly Stable’s Romin Robin, Joe Bravo; Greycross
Stable’s Zister, E.T. Baird; and Blue Top Holding Stable’s Who Plays Brahms,
Chris DeCarlo.