Hades triumphant in the Holy Bull (G3) Feb. 3, 2024, at Gulfstream Park (Lauren King)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – D J Stable LLC and Robert Cotran’s Hades is scheduled to make a highly anticipated return to Gulfstream Park for Friday’s $70,000 Tackleberry Handicap, in which the 4-year-old gelding is slated to make his first local start since experiencing a troubled trip in last year’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
The son of Awesome Slew had entered the premier Kentucky Derby (G1) prep with a perfect record, having won all three of his starts at Gulfstream, including the Holy Bull (G3).
Hades has been assigned 123 pounds, between one and five pounds more than his five rivals in the 1 1/8-mile handicap for 3-year-olds and up. The Joe Orseno trainee overcame early trouble in his Dec. 9, 2023 debut to win his debut in at 5 ½-furlong maiden optional claimer by a half length with a late rally from sixth. He got off to a considerably quicker start in his seven-furlong second start to register a front-running eight-length victory. Stretching out around two turns, Hades fought off race-long pressure to prevail by two lengths in the Holy Bull, the first local stop on the Road to the Florida Derby.
“He had pressure the whole way. Then Fierceness came up to him. He got a very good trip that day. He had soft fractions on the front end. He had enough left and kind of drew away,” Orseno said.
Hades suffered defeat for the first time in the Curlin Florida Derby, in which he bumped at the start and raced five-wide to finish well behind a record-breaking Fierceness, who had finished third in the Holy Bull. In a bid to gain sufficient points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, Hades came back two weeks later at Keeneland in the Lexington (G3), in which he finished off the board.
“I kind of regret not running him in the Fountain of Youth, because he was doing so well. Maybe the two months in between [the Holy Bull and Florida Derby] might not have been the right thing for this horse,” Orseno said. “We didn’t get enough points to get in the Derby. We wanted to take a shot and get into the Derby, so we ran him two weeks later in the Lexington. That was the wrong thing to do.”
Hades came back to finish in the money in four consecutive stakes, including a second-place finish at Aqueduct in the Dwyer (G3) behind Domestic Product, whom he had defeated in the Holy Bull.
Given an extended freshening following a start on turf at Churchill Downs in the Nov. 9 River City (G3), which Orseno views as a failed experiment, Hades made his 2025 debut in a seven-furlong non-winners-of-2-other than allowance at Saratoga June 7. He finished off the board while racing on a sloppy track for the first time.
“When we brought him back, we had a hard time finding a race for him. The 2-other-thans just don’t seem to go anywhere. It didn’t go at Monmouth; it didn’t go anywhere,” Orseno said. “I took him to Saratoga, and unfortunately it rained. He was just spinning his wheels.”
Hades will race on Lasix for the first time in the Tackleberry.
Edgard Zayas is slated to ride Hades for the first time.
Trainer Antonio Sano is represented by two entrants in the Tackleberry, Briannjenn Racing LLC’s Awesome Train, who finished second in the June 8 Wildcat Red Handicap, and Tami Bobo’s Catalytic, who finished a distant second behind Fierceness in last year’s Curlin Florida Derby before finishing off the board in the Kentucky Derby.
Miguel Vasquez has the return mount on Awesome Train, who will carry 121 pounds, while Edwin Gonzales has the call on Catalytic, who will carry 119 pounds in his first start for Sano.
“Both of my horses are training very good for the race,” Sano said.
Michael Iavarone and Sanford Robbin’s Relampago Verde, who finished third in the Wildcat Red Handicap in his first start for trainer Bobby Dibona before disappointing on Tapeta last time out in the Soldier’s Dancer Handicap, will carry 122 pounds, including jockey Jose Morelos.
Dr. Pierre Malek and Roderick Rodriguez’s Fiveeyesonskystars, and Daugherty Racing LLC’s Eldest Son round out the field.
