Gulfstream

6th-OP, 110K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:04 p.m. QUITE BAFFLING (Gun Runner) impressed enough at OBS March last year, breezing a quarter in :21.1, to warrant a $750,000 final bid from Case Clay Thoroughbred Management on behalf of owner Wathnan Racing. Debuting around two turns, Quite Baffling is a daughter of the unraced Graydar mare Baffling, herself a half-sister to MGISW and successful sire Constitution (Tapit). Another half-sister, GSW Jacaranda (Congrats), has produced SW/GISP Be You (Curlin). The only first-time starter in the field is trained by Steve Asmussen...

This week, five 3-year-old colts made the rankings, topped by a new Derby contender that few saw coming. 5-ALBUS, TAM, 2/27, 1 mile 40 yards (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-83 (c, 3, by Yaupon--Adream, by Bernardini) O-Pin Oak Stud. B- Susan Casner (Ky). T-Riley Mott. J-Sammy Camacho. As the debate ensued last week about Solitude Dude's chances around two turns in Saturday's Fountain of Youth (he did fine), another Yaupon colt made his two-turn debut Friday at Tampa--and Albus kicked clear to a decisive 6 3/4 length victory. Based on his...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) looked no worse for wear at Payson Park Sunday morning after taking the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream one day earlier. "He looks great this morning," trainer Brad Cox said. "We're real pleased with him." Winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes in early January, Commandment fended off 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) in the Kentucky Derby point-earning qualifier. The 1 1/16-mile test serves as a prep for the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29 at Gulfstream. While the...

The beautifully-bred Paradise (Gun Runner) made easy work of a short field in Saturday's Busher Stakes to claim her first points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. A $700,000 Saratoga yearling purchase for a partnership which is now NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods, the daughter of MGSW/MGISP Venetian Harbor (Munnings) just broke her maiden at Gulfstream going this same one-mile distance Jan. 4 before shipping into New York to face just four rivals for 37.5 Oaks points. Third in the opening furlong but clearly wanting to do more under...

12th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2fT, post time: 5:50 p.m. ET Dreaming of Joy (Into Mischief), a half-sister to brilliant two-time champion, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Malathaat (Curlin), debuts on the lawn for trainer Brad Cox. Owned by Whisper Hill Farm and bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the daughter of Broodmare of the Year and GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) RNA'd for $875,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. TJCIS PPs 5th-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, post time: 3:12 p.m. ET Pauillac (Gun Runner),...

The Saffie Joseph Jr-trained White Abarrio (Race Day) will ship to Oaklawn to target the GII Oaklawn Handicap April 18, his trainer said Wednesday. Detailing next starts for his stable stars, Joseph said, "White Abarrio is going to come for the Oaklawn Handicap. That's the plan. Dubai is still in play for Skippy, but we haven't come up with a plan yet." Last seen finishing runner-up to stablemate Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last month, White Abarrio also owns a win in the 2023...

GRANDE (c, 4, Curlin--Journey Home {GSW, $225,997}, by War Front), unraced since a runner-up finish in last year's GII Wood Memorial in April and since the subject of a controversial day-before scratch in the GI Kentucky Derby, returned to the races Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole. Tabbed the 7-5 favorite racing with the addition of blinkers, Grande would have to deal with fellow comebacker Praetor (Into Mischief), himself unraced since a third in April's GIII Lexington Stakes for Chad Brown. Both drawn outside, the favorite opted...

The Commerce Committee in the Florida House of Representatives reported favorably Feb. 3 on the controversial decoupling bill backed by Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs that would allow either track to cease live racing while retaining their respective casino and card-room privileges. The vote appeared to be 15-9. The decision was largely split along party lines, with the "no" votes cast by Democrats and only two Republicans splitting off from the "yes" votes to oppose the bill. (One voice vote was inaudible during the roll call; the Florida legislature's...

Two turns, zero problems. With racing action largely limited to the far south across the rest of the country, Nearly (Not This Time) gave the frozen East Coast something to cheer about and passed his stretch-out test with authority Saturday, capturing the GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and picking up 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A Florida-bred and Virginia-certified son of Not This Time, Nearly built on a lackluster Aqueduct debut in October, coming back less than a month later to destroy fellow Florida-breds...

Midnight Martini (Yaupon) wasn't the quickest from the gate but found her feet within a few strides and was intent on the lead, rushing up from the middle of the line to set the fractions in this turf debut. Hounded early by Sugar Doll (Into Mischief), this 9-1 shot had to work to put that rival away into the far turn as the half went in :43.82. With a safe enough margin built up, Midnight Martini was able to kick away for home without fear of the closers, crossing the...

It was nothing less than a perfect GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who finished one-two in the $3-million race with Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and White Abarrio (Race Day). To talk about his big day at Gulfstream, his concerns that White Abarrio would not run well, and plans for the two 7-year-olds going forward, Joseph joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Joseph was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. White Abarrio had not run since the Aug. 31 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup...

Jockey Junior Alvarado and trainer Bill Mott partnered up again for another win on Saturday's Pegasus World Cup card as Grand Job (Justify) romped home as the favorite in the GII Inside Information Stakes. Bred in Kentucky but debuted as a 2-year-old in Ireland for then-trainer Joseph O'Brien, the daughter of Coolmore super-sire Justify hit the board in three of four starts but failed to break through for the win. Imported to North America as a 3-year-old, Grand Job found her footing in her first start for newly-crowned Eclipse-winning trainer...