Enterdadragon. (Coglianese Photo)
Pending Saturday Work
Multiple G1 Winner White Abarrio Tops Florida Derby Undercard
Impressive Maiden Winner Cloe Trying Turf in Melody of Colors
Gulfstream Park News & Notes
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Chester Bishop, Anthony Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, PK Ventures and Grand Cay Breeders and Racing Company’s Enterdadragon, runner-up in the Colonel Liam on turf last time out, could wind up in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds March 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo wants to see the gelded son of Outwork breeze Saturday on the main track at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, before the connections decide whether to run in the 1 1/8-mile Triple Crown prep.
“We know that he’s a much better horse on the grass, but I would just like to see how good he can handle the dirt and take it from there to help us make the final decision and put him in the right spot,” D’Angelo said.
The 74th running of the Florida Derby headlines a spectacular program featuring 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses. It carries Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.
Nominated to the Triple Crown, Enterdadragon was entered but scratched as the program favorite from an open allowance for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the all-weather Tapeta course March 13 at Gulfstream. He has run twice as far as 1 1/16 miles, most recently finishing fourth by 2 ½ lengths in the Feb. 1 Kitten’s Joy.
“I took him out of that [last] race because he ran so good in the stakes that we wanted to bring him back in a stakes,” D’Angelo said.
Enterdadragon came flying late along the inside to win a head-bob for second, 4 ¾ lengths behind multiple stakes winner Mi Bago, in the one-mile Colonel Liam March 1. Seven of his nine career starts have come on the grass; in his lone dirt try he got bumped at the start and wound up fifth in the Aventura, also at a mile, last fall at Gulfstream.
“He ran one time on the dirt, and he didn’t run bad,” D’Angelo said. “He looks good. That race also he was wearing blinkers. [Three] races ago I took off the blinkers and he’s improving. He can go long so easy.”
Should the connections decide to bypass the Florida Derby, Enterdadragon is expected to run in the $165,000 Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds going 7 ½ furlongs on the turf.
“The race on the grass here is 7 ½ furlongs and the race on the dirt is longer, so that’s why we are considering it, to let him run long,” D’Angelo said. “We are thinking about it. We are waiting for the last workout on Saturday and making the decision.”
Multiple G1 Winner White Abarrio Tops Florida Derby Undercard
Four-time Grade 1-winning multimillionaire White Abarrio, exiting a record-setting victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 25, tops 18 nominees to the $165,000 Ghostzapper (G3) March 29 at Gulfstream Park.
The 1 1/16-mile Ghostzapper for 4-year-olds and up is one of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses on a spectacular program headlined by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds.
White Abarrio kicked off his 6-year-old season with a 6 ¼-length triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus, surpassing City of Light’s 5 ¾-length margin of victory in 2019. It was his ninth career win and seventh at Gulfstream, including the 2022 Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby. He has banked nearly $6.9 million in purses from 20 starts.
Other nominees include Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown, fifth in the Pegasus, Grade 3 winners Encino and Liberal Artsand Argentinian Group 1 winner Super Corinto.
Capture the Flag, Grand Sonata and Cash Equity, the top three finishers from the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida (G2) March 1, are prominent among nominees for the $215,000 Pan American (G3) for older horses going 1 ½ miles on the grass. Trainer Christophe Clement, who sent out last year’s winner, Kertez, is represented by multiple Grade 1 winner Far Bridge and millionaire Tawny Port. Lord Eddard Stark won Gulfstream’s two-mile H. Allen Jerkens on the grass Dec. 7.
The $165,000 Orchid (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 ½ miles on turf attracted 13 nominees led by Beach Bomb, Immensitude, La Mehana and Queen Regent, top four finishers from the 1 3/8-mile The Very One (G3) March 1; Silvology, riding a two-race win streak on the grass at Gulfstream; and Grade 3-placed Marksman Queen.
Also on the Florida Derby undercard are the $165,000 Army Mule, formerly the Sir Shackleton, for older horses sprinting seven furlongs on the main track, and four scheduled $165,000 turf stakes: the one-mile Appleton for 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/16-mile Sand Springs for fillies and mares 4 and older; Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds and Sanibel Island for 3-year-old fillies, each going 7 ½ furlongs.
Impressive Maiden Winner Cloe Trying Turf in Melody of Colors
Lugamo Racing Stable’s Cloe will find herself on another new surface when she makes her third career start in the $115,000 Melody of Colors, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-old fillies that serves as Sunday’s feature at Gulfstream Park.
Cloe tuned up for the Melody of Colors March 14 with a half-mile breeze in 47 seconds over the turf course at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. The move ranked seventh-fastest of 48 horses.
“She’s doing really good. We worked her on the grass, and she did really good. She’s fast, and we really like her. I think we are going in the right direction with her,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “I just hope that she can show her class.”
Cloe will also be making her first start for D’Angelo after two races with trainer Victor Barboza Jr. The bay daughter of 2020 Florida Derby (G1), Belmont (G1), Travers (G1) and Holy Bull (G3) winner Tiz the Law debuted with a 5 ¾-length triumph sprinting 5 ½ furlongs Jan. 8 on Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta course.
For her next start, Cloe stretched out around two turns in the one-mile, 40-yard Suncoast Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs and ran sixth behind Grade 3 winner La Cara, runner-up in Gulfstream’s March 1 Davona Dale (G2).
“She won first time on the Tapeta and then she had the race on dirt,” D’Angelo said. “This race is on turf, so that’s why last Friday I worked her on the grass with [jockey] Luis [Saez] that rode her in her debut. He told me that the filly really moved well and that she really likes the turf.”
Saez is named to ride Cloe in the Melody of Colors from Post 4 in a field of 10.
“She’s a very nice filly. She’s the kind of horse that makes your job easier,” D’Angelo said. “She has some character, so we change a few things in the morning with her and she’s handled everything very well.”
