7th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 1-11, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.83, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
GRANDE (c, 3, Curlin–Journey Home {GSW, $225,997}, by War Front) was off at a modest 9-1 in the face of Camp Hale (Mo Town), who was crunched into 1-2 favoritism on the back of a pair of big-figure runner-up efforts, including to 'TDN Rising Star' and recent Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Guns Loaded (Gun Runner) when last seen over six furlongs at Churchill Downs back on Nov. 16. Given a positive ride from John Velazquez from the inside barrier, the $300,000 Keeneland September purchase quickened through to set up shop just off the flank of the big favorite, who showed good gate speed and crossed his rivals to lead through an opening couple of furlongs in :23.67. The cadence quickened markedly through the next quarter-mile, as Camp Hale held a tenuous advantage over his less-experienced rival and the two pulled well clear of the peloton as they approached the entrance to the stretch. Camp Hale boxed on determinedly inside, but Grande always appeared to be doing slightly the better work and inched clear to the wire to give Velazquez and Todd Pletcher a sweep of the afternoon's 3-year-old maidens. Racing Drive (Dialed In) clipped heels down the backstretch, casting Reylu Gutierrez to the ground, but neither appeared injured. A $200,000 KEESEP purchase by Sam-Son Farm, Journey Home won the 2016 GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes and was sold to Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich Farms for $650,000 with this colt in utero out of the Sam-Son broodmare dispersal at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. Subsequent to Grande's purchase at KEESEP, Journey Home's foal of 2020, Ticker Tape Home, GSW, $273,916, won the 2023 Fury Stakes and 2024 GIII Seaway Stakes at Woodbine. Hailing from the family of GISW 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Japanese freshman sire Nadal (Blame), Grande is the most recent live produce for Journey Home, who visited both Tapit and Into Mischief last season. This owner's success with sons of Curlin is well-documented, having campaigned the likes of GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso, Crupi and Bright Future in partnership with St. Elias Stable. Sales history: $300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. –ALC
O-Repole Stable; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher.
#1 GRANDE ($20.60) by Curlin out of the graded stakes winning War Front mare Journey Home takes race 7 at @GulfstreamPark. @ljlmvel and Todd Pletcher team up for their second win on the card.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/HpF5clErbu
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 11, 2025
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