Evolution. (Ryan Thompson)
Returns from Saratoga in 6F Sprint for 2YO Fillies
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Arindel homebred Evolution, back in South Florida after a disappointing trip to Saratoga last month for her stakes debut, looks to resume her winning ways in Saturday’s $75,000 Sharp Susan at Gulfstream Park.
The Sharp Susan for 2-year-old fillies and Proud Man for 2-year-olds, each sprinting six furlongs on the main track, are the co-headliners on an 11-race program that kicks off at 12:50 p.m. Gulfstream’s weekend of live racing begins Friday with a nine-race program beginning at 12:50 p.m.
Evolution, trained by Carlos David, had an eventful run in the six-furlong Schuylerville July 4. She stumbled badly at the start from her inside post and then had to check sharply after pressing the pace for a quarter-mile and was ultimately eased across the wire by jockey Luis Saez.
“We just got unlucky. She did pull a shoe off as soon as she stumbled from the start and that was it,” David said. “From the one hole it was not a good spot. So, we brought her back to Florida and regrouped with her and she’s been doing everything right. Her works are on point and this race kind of makes sense for her.”
Evolution debuted April 16 at Keeneland, running a distant but decisive second behind Wesley Ward-trained Satisfied Mind going 4 ½ furlongs. She returned to her home track for a five-furlong maiden special weight May 15, leading every step of the way under jockey Edgard Zayas to win by 2 ¾ lengths as the even-money favorite.
“Her first race at Keeneland behind one of Wesley’s babies, of course you have to kind of send her. With that race under her and being aggressive that day, it’s just going to [carry over to her next race],” David said. “It wasn’t like the instructions were to go to the lead. I just said to break good and see where she puts you. She ended up going to the lead. I guess she likes it. I have to see how it looks on the day.
“She has to beat winners this time,” he added. “It didn’t really go well last time but she had an excuse there. I think she should be OK in this spot. There’s a couple in there that look good, as well, so it should be interesting.”
Zayas gets the return call on the chestnut daughter of Brethren from Post 6 in a field of nine. Evolution breezed a half-mile in 47.95 seconds July 26, fastest of 85 horses at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, and went the same distance in 49.90 Aug. 2.
“She worked good two back and then we slowed it down for the last breeze,” David said. “She’s ready to roll.”
Wolf Pack Racing, Keith Johnston and Robert Murray’s Mo Hijinx, a debut winner July 12 at Gulfstream for trainer Bobby Dibona, is an Indiana-bred daughter of Caracaro. Her sire ran once at 2, graduated second time out at Gulfstream in his 3-year-old debut and ran second in both the Peter Pan (G3) and Travers (G1) before being retired.
“The filly is doing great,” Dibona said. “I liked her the last time and she delivered. She’s really nice. There’s some other nice horses in the race.”
Mo Hijinx, a granddaughter of champion Uncle Mo, fetched $92,000 as a 2-year-old in training in April. Her first timed work came in mid-May at Gulfstream and two months later she stalked and pounced for a three-quarter-length victory going six furlongs.
“I picked her out. I got a little criticism about buying an Indiana-bred,” Dibona said. “I was hoping to get her for a little less, but I just thought she breezed phenomenal at the sale and when I looked at her, she just had the makings for me. Then when I started to train her, like the first day she stepped on the track, I could see the class.”
Miguel Vasquez, up for her debut, gets the return call from Post 2.
“He doesn’t speak a lot of English, but he just said she’s spectacular. That’s a good word to know,” Dibona said. “These young horses, they’re taking a lot in coming from the sale and then coming to the main racetrack. There’s a lot more activity and learning the routine and stuff like that.
“Right from the beginning when I breezed her, each time I worked her I walked away with more confidence. Leading up to the race, I loved her,” he added. “I knew there were some tough ones in there, but I knew good she had been training for me. I was hoping for a short field. I got a full field and a couple of high-priced horses, but she was game.”
Dakota’s Lil Auror, Tessellate, Willow Case and Victory Music are also coming off wins. Willow Case (May 1), Dakota’s Lil Auror (June 20) and Tessellate (July 19), the latter from Royal Palm Meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., each found success at Gulfstream while Victory Music debuted with a front-running 2 ¾-length triumph June 29 at Churchill Downs for trainer Mike Maker.
Trainer Nolan Ramsey said Daugherty Racing and 24th Road Racing’s Late Night Text, second by a nose in debut and third as the favorite in the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity July 5 at Lone Star, would scratch in favor of a maiden special weight Sunday at Ellis Park.
Also, trainer Patrick Biancone indicated he may wait for an upcoming maiden spot for JSM Equine’s Haute Diva, second to Mo Hijinx July 12 from outermost Post 11 at odds of 8-1.
“She ran a good race. She had a very bad draw but she finished a very fast second and I was happy with that,” he said. “She is a nice filly.”
Maiden filly Street Belle, fourth behind Mo Hijinx, completes the field.
