Race Highlights from Gulfstream Park

by Patricia Woo | Jan 6 2009

The Hal’s Hope Handicap and the Old Hat Stakes were the feature races at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., last weekend, highlighting spectacular performances from Delightful Kiss, a brilliant up-and-coming 4-year-old, and Gemswick Park, a Grade 1-placed 3-year-old filly.

Delightful Kiss kicked off his 2009 campaign with a strong win in the Hal’s Hope Handicap, a $100,000 Gr. 3 race for 4-year-olds and up. He showed off his explosive closing kick when he made a bid from 12th place after six furlongs to win by three lengths under jockey Calvin Borel. Bullsbay and Famous Patriot completed the trifecta. "Ah, boy what I can say about this baby,” Borel said after the race. “He just kept giving me more and more.” Trained by Pete Anderson, this Florida-bred gelding is being aimed toward the $1M Sunshine Millions Classic, which will be held at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. Delightful Kiss’s form has been steadily improving: After a string of winless starts in 2008, he snapped that streak with two consecutive grade 3 wins in September, the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes at Turfway Park and the $200,000 All American Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. He has beaten the likes of top older horse Commentator (running second only to Einstein the Clark Handicap) and finished a strong fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. Keep an eye on this top in contender as the $1M Sunshine Millions Classic draws closer.

Gemswick Park was the star of the $100,000 Gr. 3 Old Hat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, Jan 4. She was facing off against three unbeaten fillies: Frolic’s Dream, race favorite Elusive Heat and Redreamit. After sitting just off the pace behind Elusive Heat, Gemswick Park, under jockey John Velazquez, made a bid for the lead on the turn and beat her rival to the wire by the slimmest of margins in a winning time of 1:09.77. Frolic’s Dream had a rough trip and managed third; Redreamit finished last. Trainer Tom Albertrani recently turned back the distance for his speedy charge and has found immediate success; Gemswick Park’s earlier attempts at longer distances – the $400,000 Gr. 1 Frizette Stakes and the $100,000 Gr. 3 Tempted Stakes – were met with a third and second place finish, respectively. "We tried to stretch her out and nurse her speed along in the Tempted and Frizette but she was too keen and had nothing left at the eighth pole," said Albertrani. "I knew she would be more effective going three-quarters…. I was just hoping she had something left for the stretch run and she did.”

Gulfstream Park has another thrilling lineup of races in store this weekend, this time showcasing turf runners. On Saturday, Jan 10, catch 4-year-olds and up in the $100,000 Fort Lauderdale, and on Sunday, Jan. 11, it’s the girls’ turn in the $100,000 Marshua’s River.

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