Luvumorgan scoring the Gameface. (Lauren King)
Gabaldon to Scratch from ‘Tough’ Sunday Gulfstream Feature
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When Steven Friedfertig and Saffie Joseph Jr. had to come up with a name for a homebred filly a few years ago, it wasn’t much of a challenge to come up with a name that would hold a special meaning for both owners.
Luvumorgan, who will seek back-to-back stakes victories in Saturday’s $75,000 Azalea at Gulfstream Park, is a fitting namesake for Friedfertig’s brother-in-law Morgan Bishop, who owned 1983 Tampa Bay Derby winner Morganmorganmorgan, and Morgan Joseph, the wife of Gulfstream Park’s leading trainer.
“Steve knew my wife Morgan well and his brother-in-law’s name is Morgan. He called one day and said, ‘I’m going to name her Luvumorgan.’ I said, ‘Sure, let’s do it,’” recalled Joseph, who partnered with Friedfertig to purchase First Mistress for $20,000 at the 2015 OBS April sale.
Luvumorgan is a 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags, out of First Mistress, a daughter of First Dude who was owned by Friedfertig and Joseph during a four-race career that produced one win.
“We bought her out of a 2-year-old sale. She always seemed like she had ability, but she always had some issues, and we always had to stop on her,” Joseph said. “Steve was into breeding. I was never into breeding. This was the first horse I bred with him. The first foals took a while to get to the races. She’s been the best one so far. It’s a new experience and it’s worked out pretty cool so far.”
Luvumorgan, who campaigns for Friedfertig and Joseph’s Shining Stable, will face six other 3-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong Azalea.
She cut back from two turns for her May 31 stakes debut in the 6 ½-furlong Game Face, in which she settled in mid-pack before surging through the stretch to win going away by 2 ¾ lengths.
“I think she wants to go further. Last time we ran her because we missed a mile allowance. We thought it might be a little short for her, but she seemed to handle it well,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, she’ll handle this just as well, but down the line, we’ll probably stretch her out again.”
The homebred filly raced evenly to finish fifth in her Feb. 9 debut at six furlongs after breaking from the less-than-desirable rail post position. Sent around two turns for her second start March 2, she stalked the early pace before drawing clear to graduate by three lengths.
Luvumorgan will be accompanied in the starting gate by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Kuehne Racing and Mark Corrado’s Andrea, her Joseph-trained stablemate who finished second in the Game Face. The daughter of Thousand Words, a stakes winner at 2, was involved in a pressured pace before proving no match for her stablemate late.
“I think she can improve. She’s moved forward from her last race,” Joseph said. “If she fires her best shot, she’s capable of winning this kind of race.”
Edgard Zayas has the return mount on Luvumorgan, while Miguel Vasquez is scheduled to ride Andrea for the first time Saturday.
Bell Racing LLC’s Anna’s Promise will cut back to one turn for the Azalea after finishing a distant third after setting the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Monomoy Girl June 14 at Churchill Downs. The Carlos David-trained daughter of Promises Fulfilled had previously finished fifth of 13 in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) after finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 29.
Edwin Gonzalez is slated to ride Anna’s Promise for the first time in the Azalea.
Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Unchained Elaine will be looking to improve on a tiring fifth in the Game Face, in which she showed early speed from her rail post position while coming off a two-month hiatus. In her prior start, the daughter of American Pharoah scored by two lengths in the six-furlong any limit.
Jonathan Ocasio has the call.
Mark Cherry’s Bee a Queen, Stephen Screnci’s Fede and Porta Pia Stables’ Nerazurri round out the field.
Gabaldon to Scratch from Sunday Feature at Gulfstream
Soldi Stable LLC and Qatar Racing LLC’s Gabaldon was entered in Sunday’s Race 9 feature at Gulfstream Park, but trainer Jose D’Angelo has reconsidered running the promising 3-year-old turf specialist in the 5 ½-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds and up on Tapeta.
“I’m going to wait for the Mahony for straight 3-year-olds on turf next month at Saratoga,” D’Angelo said. “This race is too tough for him – against older horses.”
The Grade 3 Mahony, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds, is scheduled for August 13.
Gabaldon hasn’t run since coming up short while finishing third in the March 22 Texas Glitter at Gulfstream.
“We did throat surgery, the tie-back surgery, a week after the Texas Glitter race,” D’Angelo said. “Not everybody knew he had a bad throat. He’s now good.”
Gabaldon launched his career May 11, 2024, with an impressive front-running victory in the Royal Palm Juvenile Turf, a five-furlong turf sprint at Gulfstream Park in which he qualified for a stakes berth during the 2024 Royal Ascot meeting. The Florida-bred son of Gone Astray set the pace before settling for second, beaten a length, in the five-furlong turf sprint during Great Britain’s most prestigious meeting.
A month later, a half-interest in Gabaldon was purchased for $300,000 by Qatar Racing LLC.
Sunday’s Gulfstream feature drew a field of eight, including Skymac Stables LLC’s Mr. Narcissistic, a 7-year-old Tapeta specialist who has won seven of his last 12 races, in which he hasn’t been worse than third. Ken Ramsey’s Torch is Passed will seek his third-straight victory on Gulfstream’s all-weather surface.
