King’s Fortune makes his debut a winning one Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park (Coglianese)
Gulfstream Park Press Release
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.— With a debut victory on his resume, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ King’s Fortune will get his first test on what Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher thinks is his preferred surface Saturday in the $100,000 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park.
The Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Sanibel Island for 3-year-old fillies, each sprinting 7 ½ furlongs on the turf, are among 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.35 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa for 3-year-olds. The eighth running of the Cutler Bay drew a field of nine and the ninth running of the Sanibel Island had 10 entries.
First race post time is 11:30 a.m.
King’s Fortune, a member of the first crop by 2022 top freshman sire Bolt d’Oro, was scheduled to debut on turf on Feb. 4 but, due to wet conditions, the race was moved to Gulfstream’s Tapeta course. Starting from the fifth post position in the field of 11, he rallied from mid-pack in the stretch to win by 1½ lengths under Irad Ortiz, Jr.
“He’s bred for the grass on the bottom side,” Pletcher said. “We just felt like we wanted to try him on the grass in his debut. It ended up he took to the synthetic fine, but we feel like he’s going to prefer the turf.”
Bred by Spendthrift Farm, King’s Fortune is out of Royal Ocean, an Australian-bred mare by Fastnet Rock. Pletcher is training the colt for Niall and Colin Brennan and Susan Moulton. Ortiz Jr. will be aboard when King’s Fortune leaves from Post 8.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. entered two in the Cutler Bay, Michael Iavarone’s Harry Time and Spy Novel.
Irish-bred Harry Time began his career in Europe and the chestnut promptly won his debut, but was well-beaten in his next four starts, all turf sprint stakes on straight courses.
Since being imported and turned over to Joseph, he has raced twice at Gulfstream with better results: third at 7 ½ furlongs on Jan. 14, and second to Far Bridge at 1 1/16 miles on March 11.
“He ran a good race last time. He got a perfect trip and was just second-best to a nice horse from [trainer Christophe] Clement,” Joseph said. “I think 7 ½ is going to be more ideal for him. I think he’ll have a good chance.”
Harry Time drew Post 3 and Leonel Reyes will ride for the second time.
Spy Novel will be making his second start for owner Ken Ramsey and Joseph, who acquired the Pennsylvania-bred for $25,000 in January.
“We claimed him and he won for us in the starter allowance,” Joseph said. “He’s taking a jump up in class and needs to improve but he’s a useful horse. After we claimed him he won back nicely for us with a solid Beyer [Speed Figure]. He could improve. This is going to be class test for him.”
Edgard Zayas picks up the mount on Spy Novel, who drew Post 5.
Ivette Chambless’ gray colt Drinking Problem broke badly and finished last of eight in his career debut over a sloppy track in December. Trainer Jose Garoffalo tried him next in a turf sprint on Jan. 6 where he left the gate alertly, showed speed and won by three lengths. Using his speed again on Feb. 2, he won a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance by three-quarters of a length. The son of Gormley drew Post 2 in the Cutler Bay.
Behind Enemy Lines will make his first start for trainer Jack Sisterson. The son of Sioux Nation was bred in Great Britain and made two starts in Ireland for trainer Joseph O’Brien and owner Justin Casse. He had a troubled trip in his first career start in August at the Curragh, but posted an easy win on the all-weather course at Dundalk on Jan. 4. Behind Enemy Lines, now owned by Talla Racing, Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from Post 4.
Completing the field in the Cutler Bay are the Ontario-bred Cool Kiss; Dunedin, a son of Munnings; The Elkstone Group’s Smoke Lightning; and Anglophile, a chestnut by English Channel trained by Brian Lynch.
