Starship Impulsive. (Ryan Thompson)
Tank Rolls Over Rivals in Not Surprising Co-Feature
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $150,000
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Starship Stables’ Starship Impulsive overwhelmed her seven rivals in Saturday’s $75,000 Martha Washington while romping to a commanding front-running victory at Gulfstream Park.
The even-money favorite captured her third straight victory since trainer Steve Dwoskin decided to send the daughter of Improbable around two turns, scoring by 4 ½ lengths in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies that co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $75,000 Not Surprising, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for 3-year-olds.
“The more experience she has, the better she is. She’s very easy to train. She’s training like a stakes horse,” Dwoskin said. “She’s getting better every day.”
Starship Impulsive entered the Martha Washington off a front-running 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance win on turf March 23 before setting all the pace on her way to 1 ½-length triumph in the mile Honey Ryder on turf April 25. Leonel Reyes has been aboard for all three victories.
Starship Impulsive notched her fourth victory in six career starts while running 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf in 1:40.50. Miss Mary Nell, who stalked the pace under Edwin Gonzalez, finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Olivia Valentina in third.
Earlier on Saturday’s 11-race program, Tank rolled over the competition on his way to his third consecutive stakes victory in the $75,000 Not Surprising.
Sent to post as the 8-5 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds, the Arindel homebred went right to the front at the start of the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes and was never threatened thereafter, scoring by three lengths under Emisael Jaramillo.
Tank ran the 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf in 1:39.93 on fractions of 24.08 and 47.67 seconds for the first half mile. Bankers Street finished second after a ground-saving trip under Edwin Gonzalez, three-quarters of a length ahead of Lastabitlonger and jockey Leonel Reyes.
Carlos David-trained Tank entered the Not Surprising off victories in the March 30 Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs and the May 3 English Channel at Gulfstream.
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $150,000
Sunday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $150,000 Sunday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the fourth racing day following a jackpot hit for $143,445.12.
The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10, featuring the $70,000 Wildcat Red, a 1 1/18-mile overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up, in Race 9. Relampago Verde, formerly trained by Kenny McPeek, is scheduled to make his first start for trainer Bobby DiBona, who has a solid record with new stable recruits. Sam Wilensky-trained Lure Him In, a consistent 10-race winner, appears to be the horse to beat.
In the Rainbow 6, the 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.
