Four-Win Day Ties Vasquez with Zayas in Jockey Title Race
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Alex and Joanne Lieblong’s Big Thorn benefited from a perfect trip, as well as the morning rains that forced turf races to be run over the sloppy main track, to score a dominating victory in Sunday’s $60,000 Juvenile Turf at Gulfstream Park West.
The seven-furlong Juvenile Turf for Florida-bred 2-year-olds, which was originally scheduled to be run at a mile on the turf course, co-headlined Sunday’s program with the $60,000 Millions Filly and Mare Turf for Florida-bred fillies and mares.
Big Thorn, a main-track-only entrant who had broken his maiden by five lengths in his previous start, raced in third behind dueling pacesetters Hot Blooded and Fulmini, who put up fractions of 22.99 and 45.77 seconds for the first half-mile. Jockey Paco Lopez made a three-wide sweep to the lead leaving the turn into the homestretch aboard the home-bred colt, who drew off to a notch a 4 ½-length victory.
Fulmini, who was ridden by Edgard Zayas, finished second, 9 ¼ lengths clear of Castle King. Big Thorn, the 2-1 favorite, ran seven furlongs in 1:23.23.
“We were fortunate that the race came off and it helped shortening up to seven-eighths. I didn’t expect him to be quite as close as he was. Paco told me he put him into the race early but after that it was all over,” trainer David Fawkes said. “He had so much horse through the whole race. He really, really likes the horse. When he got off the horse he said, ‘Damn, this is a nice horse.’”
Big Thorn finished second in his Sept. 26 debut at Gulfstream in an open maiden special weight race before dominating Florida-bred rivals back-to-back.
“He ran a little green last time, but this time much, much more professional. He acted up on the van coming over, he did a lot of things last time he ran that could have jeopardized him but it obviously didn’t,” Fawkes said. “We’ll just wait and look for the next spot, that’s all. I don’t like to look too far ahead.”
Juvenile Turf Replay
Windylea Farm LLC’s Thissmytime ($11) relished the sloppy going while registering an easy victory in the Millions Filly and Mare Preview. Like Big Thorn, Thissmytime was a main-track-only entrant in the seven-furlong race that was originally scheduled for 7 ½ furlongs on turf.
Ridden by Joe Bravo, who captured the $60,000 Millions Turf Preview on Saturday’s GPW card, Thissmytime closely tracked pacesetter Picara, who showed the way into the far turn after running the first quarter of a mile in 22.45 seconds. Thissmytime moved to the lead entering the turn into the homestretch during a 44.45-second half-mile and drew off powerfully and comfortably to register her first stakes victory.
The Kathleen O’Connell-trained 3-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem ran seven furlongs in a sharp 1:21.40. Starship Nala closed to finish clear of R Prerogative, the 9-5 favorite.
Miguel Vasquez rode four winners on Sunday’s program, propelling him into a 39-39 tie with defending champion Edgard Zayas in the race for the jockey’s title with three cards remaining in the Gulfstream Park West meet. Vasquez scored aboard Terry’s Dream ($13) in Race 3, Lavi ($5.40) in Race 4, Walkoff ($5.20) in Race 5 and Itsmyluckygirl ($5) in Race 8.
However, Vasquez also completed his final day of riding at Gulfstream Park West and is scheduled to return to competition on Wednesday, Dec. 2, the opening day of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet.
Rohan Crichton, who saddled Itsmyluckygirl for her victory, holds a 17-15 lead over Antonio Sano in the race for the trainer’s title. Saffie Joseph Jr., the defending titlist, has had 14 winners.
F&M Millions Turf Preview Replay
Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $425,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $425,000 Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West.
The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 15th straight racing day Sunday, when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $629.86.
The jackpot 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 goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Press Release
Photos: Top: Big Thorn (Ryan Thompson); Bottom: Thissmytime (Lauren King).
