HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Antonio Cioffi was understandably thrilled with Warrior’s Pride’s gate-to-wire victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park but he was especially delighted to win a race named to honor the memory of the late and beloved racing official.
“I very happy to win this race, because when I came into this country Bob Umphrey helped me so much. At the time he was the racing secretary at Calder,” said the Italian born Cioffi, who emigrated from Venezuela in 2001. “I’m proud to win this race.”
The Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up, wrapped up the Fourth of July Weekend stakes action that got underway on Saturday’s Summit of Speed card, highlighted by Ce Ce’s triumph in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) and Miles Ahead’s mild upset victory in the $200,000 Smile Sprint Invitational (G3).
Warrior’s Pride, a 3-year-old son of Poseidon’s Warrior who was sent to post at 9-1, rocketed to the early lead as Caribou Club, the 8-5 favorite, and Ete Indien, the 7-2 second choice, got away slowly. The Cioffi trainee set fractions 22.03 and 44.92 seconds for the first half-mile while maintaining a clear lead into the stretch under Emisael Jaramillo. Tiger Blood, the veteran turf sprinter with 19 career victories, made a late surge from off the pace but fell a neck short of catching the pacesetter. Yes I Am Free finished third, 1 ¼ lengths back.
Warrior’s Pride earned a $25,000 ‘Win Only’ bonus available to Florida-bred starters as well as the winner’s share of the purse after running five furlongs in 57.30 over a ‘good’ turf. The Umphrey score was Warrior’s Pride’s second turf victory in two starts on the grass. He captured the five-furlong Texas Glitter during the Championship Meet prior to finishing fifth in the 6 ½-furlong Roar on the main track.
“He’s so speedy. This is the race for him,” Cioffi said.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Warrior’s Pride, (Conglianese)
