HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Brian Lynch will send out Carotari for a title defense in Saturday’s $75,000 Silks Run at Gulfstream Park in a quest to saddle the winner of back-to-back runnings of the five-furlong turf dash for a second time.
William Branch’s Carotari, who held on to win the 2020 Silks Run by a neck after setting the pace, is scheduled to meet …….. rivals on Saturday’s 12-race program.
“The Silks Run has been a good race over the years,” Lynch said. “I won it a couple times with Power Alert, and this guy’s won it, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Power Alert captured the 2015 Silks Run in his second U.S. start and came right back to win the turf sprint in 2016. The Australian import won four races in a row over the Gulfstream turf course before finishing second in the 2017 Silk Run, won by Pay Any Price in the North American-record time of 53.61 seconds.
Caratori also demonstrated a fondness for the Gulfstream turf last season, winning two or three starts and finishing second in a photo finish in the World of Trouble Turf Sprint. The 5-year-old gelded son of Artie Schiller has finished first or second in eight of 10 starts at the five-furlong distance on turf.
“He’s a lovely horse to be around and has great demeanor about him. Nine times out of 10 he shows up when you lead him over there,” Lynch said.
Carotari is coming off a second-place finish in which he was beaten by a neck in the Turf Sprint Stakes at Sam Houston Jan. 31.
Julien Leparoux, who rode Power Alert in his 2015 Silks Run win, has the return mount aboard Carotari.
Gary Barber’s Yes I Am Free, who has finished first or second in all five starts at five furlongs over the Gulfstream Turf, will seek to win his first stakes since capturing the 2019 Texas Glitter at Gulfstream. The Mark Casse trainee is a neck and a half-length away from being undefeated in four starts since returning to South Florida from Southern California.
Emisael Jaramillo has the return call aboard the 5-year-old gelded son of Uncaptured.
George Vires’ Mai Ty One On also brings a winning history over the Gulfstream turf into the Silks Run. The 7-year-old gelded son of Put It Back has been first or second in 10 of 14 starts on the local turf. The Jane Cibelli trainee is coming off victories in a $35,000 claiming race and an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream.
Luis Saez has the return call aboard the Florida-bred gelding.
Mark Hoffman’s The Connector is scheduled to make his first start at Gulfstream in the Silks Run. The 4-year-old gelding son of City Zip is coming off a third-place finish in the Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs.
Trainer Wesley Ward awarded the mount to Jose Ortiz.
Sam Wilensky and Harry Orgo’s Harry’s Ontheloose, Lea Farms LLC’s Citrus Burst, Ira Ashwal’s Long Blade, Lone Pirate Racing LLC’s Kobe Fifty Two, and Vicente Stella Stables LLC’s Sovereign Warrior round out the field.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Carotari, (Lauren King)
