Imperial Hint, unraced since mid-February, made an emphatic return Saturday when he rocketed up the rail coming off the final turn en route to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3).
Handicappers of all persuasions will find something to sink their teeth into Saturday, as we turn the calendar page to July and officially begin the second half of the 2017 racing season.
Veteran graded stakes winners Delta Bluesman and Awesome Banner, who each also have a history of success at Gulfstream Park, return to the South Florida track July 1 intent on getting back to their winning ways in the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3).
Rated R Superstar closed from the clouds and snuck wide down the lane, surprising 2-5 favorite Awesome Banner to win the $150,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) July 2 at Gulfstream Park.
Already a winner in four of five starts at Gulfstream Park, including three stakes, topped by a five-length score in this year's Swale (gr. II), Awesome Banner will try to add to that list July 2 in the $150,000 Carry Back (gr. III).
Gulfstream Park sets increases in purses and number of stakes for 2016, as it aims to draw top horses and large fields to its spring-summer meet.
One of the least experienced horses in the Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) field at Gulfstream Park July 5 pulled off the upset when Grand Bili fought off favored Barbados for a one-length victory under Javier Castellano.
Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) winner Barbados will waste no time getting back to business July 5, when he makes his first start off the layup in the $150,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream Park announced a record $4.7 million summer stakes schedule March 1. The schedule will feature five graded stakes starting April 25 with the Miami Mile (gr. III) on the turf.
Calder Casino & Race Course said June 16 it has canceled its "Summit of Speed" program scheduled for July 5 because of its pending racing-dates deal with nearby Gulfstream Park.
Jason DaCosta's Silver Cloud chased the pace and battled down the stretch to win the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint in the Summit of Speed July 6 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Champion sprinter Trinniberg looks to get back on track in a competitive edition of the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) July 6 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
While Comma to the Top registered his biggest win in the 2010 CashCall Futurity (gr. I), the Bwana Charlie gelding has placed in three straight graded stakes, including a clear victory in the Daytona Stakes to close out 2012
Stud El Aguila's Indiano turned the tables on Action Andy with a strong outside rally to take the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 29.
Robert Gerczak's Action Andy and Stud El Aguila's Indiano are headed for a rematch in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Grade I winners Comma to the Top and Smiling Tiger tackle four entrants from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, making for an intriguing Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 3 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
My Pal Chrisy and Bad Debt were repeat winners in the Florida Million at Calder Casino & Race Course Nov. 10, while Cash Rules led all the way to capture the $150,000 Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap.
Kentucky's WinStar Farm and Maryland's Country Life Farm (owned by Josh and Mike Pons) have reached a co-ownership agreement to stand WinStar's homebred colt Cal Nation at the Pons' Merryland Farm near Hydes, Md., in 2013.
Gantry remained perfect at six furlongs, winning his sixth straight at that distance and winning easily in the Smile Sprint after a third to monsters Shackleford and Amazombie at Churchill Downs.
Fort Loudon, a Calder Race Course specialist, wrested the lead from favored Trinniberg and prevailed by a neck to take the gr. III Carry Back Stakes July 7.
Shivananda Racing's Trinniberg, who has returned to sprinting after a dismal effort in the Kentucky Derby, could be trying for his fourth graded stakes win if he takes on six foes in the Carry Back at Calder.
Trinniberg, Field Commission, and Gantry are highweighted trio in the six-furlong Smile Sprint (gr. II), the $400,000 highlight of Calder Race Course and Casino's Summit of Speed card July 7.
Despite stumbling badly at the break and being rushed up into contention, Donald Dizney's homebred Apriority ran down pacesetter Zero Rate Policy to win the Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) by a nose Dec. 31 at Gulfstream.
Grade I winner Capt. Candyman Can, sidelined since June, returns to action in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) as Gulfstream Park rings out the year Dec. 31.
Tom, Ian and Les from Twinspires.com handicap the Malibu Stakes on opening day of the Santa Anita winter/spring meet. watch video
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Bulaga | Pasquale J. Pane |
|
| Cal Nation | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Close It Out | Steve Towne |
|
| Indiano | Martin D. Wolfson |
|
| Silver Cloud | Jason DaCosta |
|
| Smash | Bob Baffert |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Elbert S. | ARP | |
| Norm Barron Queen City Oaks | BTP | |
| Wickerr S. | DMR | |
| San Clemente H. (G2T) | DMR | |
| Washington Oaks | EMD |
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