Trainer Jose D’Angelo. (Ryan Thompson)
Lennilu Settling in at Newmarket Ahead of Royal Ascot Run
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $1.5 Million; Mandatory Payout Set for Sunday
Gulfstream Introduces State-Of-The-Art Digital Starting Gate Board
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jose D’Angelo notched his 500th victory in the U.S. Friday at Gulfstream Park, where the former Venezuelan champion conditioner saddled Fire On the Wire ($4) for a 3 ¼-length triumph in Race 1.
Fire On the Wire, who was making his second career start in the five-furlong maiden claiming race for 2-year-olds on turf, stalked the pace before making a powerful stretch run under Miguel Vasquez to put his 35-year-old up-and-coming trainer in the winner’s circle.
“Winning 500 means a lot in this beautiful country,” said D’Angelo, who also saddled Goes the Clown ($3.80) to win Friday’s Race 5. “But we have to keep working and go for more every day.”
D’Angelo scored U.S. Win Nos. 500 and 501 just a week before seeking his first victory in Great Britain with Shisospicy in next Friday’s Commonwealth Cup (G3) at Royal Ascot. The 3-year-old daughter of Mitole won her debut at Gulfstream last fall before going on to win the Limestone Stakes at Keeneland and the Mamzelle (G3) at Churchill Downs in her two most recent starts.
“I’m so excited because I think the filly has a good chance to win the race,” said D’Angelo, who saddled Gabaldon for a runner-up finish in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last year following his debut victory in the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream.
D’Angelo, who currently tops the Royal Palm Meet standings, ventured to Gulfstream from Venezuela in 2019, following his father Francisco ‘Kiko’ D’Angelo, a multiple Venezuelan training champion who arrived in South Florida in 2015. The younger D’Angelo attracted almost immediate attention with Jesus’ Team, a former claimer who finished third in the 2020 Preakness (G1) and second behind Knicks Go in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) before finishing second behind Knicks Go again in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream.
Lennilu Settling in at Newmarket Ahead of Royal Ascot Run
Amy Dunne and partners’ Lennilu was settling in at Beford Lodge Stables at Newmarket Friday in advance of her scheduled start in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) next Wednesday during Great Britain’s Royal Ascot meeting.
Lennilu earned an automatic Royal Ascot entry while winning the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies May 10 at Gulfstream Park.
“She travelled very well. She’s walking around well now. She slept really well,” trainer Patrick Biancone said.
Lennilu, a daughter of 2021 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3) winner Leinster, debuted at Keeneland with an off-the-pace victory in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight race on dirt April 6. She prompted the early pace before drawing clear to win the five-furlong Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies on turf by 3 ¾ lengths.
Luis Saez, who was aboard for both victories, has the return mount.
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $1.5 Million
A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be held on Sunday’s Father’s Day program is expected to have an estimated pool of $1.5 million, barring a single winning ticket Saturday.
You can start handicapping the Father’s Day force-out, which begins at approximately 2:20 ET, with free past performances from the Daily Racing Form by simply clicking the link below and downloading the card.
The sequence begins with a bang, a maiden special weight at five furlongs on the turf for 2-year-old fillies. The sequence includes three turf races. South Florida forecasters are calling on sunny and dry conditions.
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Race 6-11, featuring a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up on turf in Race 10. Ultra-consistent One Whirlwind Ride, who has finished in the money in his last three starts following back-to-back victories, will seem to return to winning form for trainer Rohan Crichton.
The Rainbow 6 carryover pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. On mandatory-payout days, the entire Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the wager’s six-race sequence.
Gulfstream Introduces State-Of-The-Art Digital Starting Gate Board
Gulfstream Park has become the first pari-mutuel facility in North America to launch a state-of-the-art, high resolution digital starting gate board to elevate the experience for fans and create new avenues for sponsorships and marketing.
Gulfstream partnered with BSV Digital, a leading provider of integrated racing technology, to replace the static signage at the starting gate with the digital starting board, capable of dynamic branding, real-time graphics, and customized content. The new gate will display everything from post positions and race logos to seasonal branding and partner messaging. It allows Gulfstream to tailor content in real time and deliver an entertaining race-day experience.
“Our goal is to blend tradition with technology in a way that enhances the spectacle of racing,” said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST Racing & Gaming. “The new starting gate board from BSV Digital brings a fresh, modern look to our race presentation while offering a powerful platform for sponsors to reach fans both on-track and through our broadcast channels.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Gulfstream Park, a track known for its rich history and forward-thinking approach,” said Natalie Vega, Director of Partnerships at BSV Digital. “Our starting gate solution is designed not only to look great but to drive value for venues and their partners.”
