At Gulfstream Park, trainer Victor Barboza Jr. enjoyed a remarkable day on Saturday, notching four wins and introducing an eye-catching debut winner, King Manolete. Owned by Express Factory LLC and piloted by Diego Herrera, the 2-year-old gray colt by Roadster positioned third along the rail through a rapid opening quarter in 22.85 seconds. Despite needing to steady briefly before the turn and being pushed three wide around it, King Manolete surged past the favorite, Tommy’s Miracle, after the eighth pole to claim victory in 1:22.77 over seven furlongs. Barboza, who bought King Manolete for $135,000 at the OBS March Sale, praised the colt’s consistent impressive workouts and called him the best horse currently in his stable. Besides King Manolete, Barboza also scored wins with My Mom Forever, Mosai, and Here Comes Leo on the same day, maintaining a strong 21% win rate since relocating to South Florida in 2015.
At Laurel Park, jockey Sheldon Russell recalled an 18-1 upset aboard Lexitonian seven years ago, then showcased his skill again by guiding Jack Rabbitness, a son of Lexitonian, to victory in a $37,000 maiden race for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. Settling into a tight inside position behind the leader, Mischief Mind, Russell forced his mount through a narrow opening late in the stretch, ultimately holding off a late challenge from Court Night by a neck in 1:48.93 on a good track. Jack Rabbitness, bred by Jamie Ness and previously campaigned by him, was claimed by trainer Brittany Russell for $25,000 after a runner-up finish in October. Brittany praised Jack Rabbitness’s pedigree and straightforward training progress, noting he still needs experience to reach his potential. This claim success adds to a strong streak for the Russells and trainer Gary Aisquith, whose claimed horses have all won at their first starts post-claim.
Over at Parx Racing, Lady Annabelle targets extending her winning streak to eight in Tuesday’s $75,000 Disco Chick Stakes. Claimed for just $7,500 last March by owner-trainer Ernesto Padilla Preciado, the 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Golddigger’s Boy carries a perfect recent record and heads into the race as the 9-5 favorite under regular jockey Sylvestre Gonzalez. Other contenders include former Disco Chick winner Nature’s Candy and Parx’s 2023 Horse of the Year, Aoife’s Magic.
Meanwhile, Remington Park saw a stunning upset when 34-1 longshot Royalamerican overcame three previous poor efforts to defeat 2-5 favorite Mister Omaha in the $50,000 Silver Goblin Handicap. Racing for Oklahoma-breds 3 and older at 6 ½ furlongs, Royalamerican rallied from last to win in 1:17.08 on a fast track, capitalizing on the fast pace set by the favorite. Owner-trainer-breeder C. R. Trout revealed that Royalamerican’s poor form was due to a severe case of EPM, a neurological disease, from which he has made a remarkable recovery with the help of assistant trainer Kassie Gladd. The 3-year-old by Upstart rewarded the faith of jockey David Cabrera and connections with a payoff of $71.20, marking Trout’s second Silver Goblin victory since his previous win in 2021.
Fan Take: This roundup of standout performances highlights the resilience and rising talent shaping the future of horse racing, from promising debutants to inspiring comebacks. Such stories not only fuel fan enthusiasm but also underscore the dedication and skill behind the scenes, promising a thrilling era ahead for the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
