WinStar Farm, CHC, and Cold Press Racing’s Tappan Street exited his 1 1/4-length victory over Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Sovereignty in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 29 in good order.
“He’s great. He looked really good this morning. We shipped him back last night to Payson. He looked great this morning. We’re very happy,” trainer Brad Cox said March 30.
Tappan Street got the better of Sovereignty at the start, breaking alertly from Post 9, one stall inside of the Fountain of Youth winner, to attain perfect stalking position behind pacesetter Madaket Road , Neoequos and Cool Intentions along the backstretch. The Cox trainee advanced on the turn into the stretch before putting away Neoequos and Madaket Road and holding off a late drive by Sovereignty, who raced wide and in traffic during the early stages before shaking loose.
Tappan Street, who had finished second in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) after a winning debut at Gulfstream Dec. 28, was coming off an eight-week layoff going into the Florida Derby.
“He ran the way he trained. He was doing well, and he showed up,” Cox said. “He got a great trip.”
Tappan Street, who was ridden by Luis Saez, and Sovereignty earned 100 and 50 qualifying points, respectively, to secure berths in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
“We’re not sure when we’re shipping to Kentucky,” Cox said. “They’re going to have some wet weather throughout the week, so it might be the first part of next week before he gets there.”
Gulfstream Oaks Winner Five G Headed to Kentucky
Gatsas Stables homebred Five G exited her popular 2 1/4-length victory in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in good order and will remain in South Florida for the immediate future before making her grade 1 debut in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Five G wins the Gulfstream Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park
“We are over the top. She ran a big race, for sure. We were thrilled to be there and see it,” Mike Gatsas said. “(Trainer) George (Weaver) called me this morning and said that she ate up last night and came out of the stall fine, and everything looked good.
“She’ll stay with George for a while and then head over there in a couple weeks, three weeks, something like that,” he added. “We’re looking forward to getting to Kentucky.”
By two-time grade 1 winner Vekoma , also campaigned by Gatsas and Weaver, Five G earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks to move her up to third on the leaderboard with 125 and establish her as one of the top contenders.
“I think we have one of the best fillies,” Gatsas said. “She ran big. Every time we’ve put her out there, she’s run big. And she’s a game filly. She’s like her father, for sure. A lot of heart. (Jockey) Manny (Franco) was very, very happy with her.”
Franco subbed for the injured Tyler Gaffalione on the New York-bred Five G, who became a stakes winner with her nine-length romp in the one-mile Cash Run Stakes Jan. 1 at Gulfstream. She was second by a length after setting the pace in the Feb. 23 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, her two-turn debut.
Vekoma won the seven-furlong Carter Stakes (G1) and one-mile Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in 2020 in his final two starts. He was North America’s leading first-crop sire of 2024 and is off to a great start this year.
“That makes it that much better that her father ran under my silks. I’ve never had that happen. We’ve had a lot of good homebreds, but not a lot like her,” Gatsas said. “We’ll see what happens in the big dance.”
Trainer Carlos David said following the Gulfstream Park Oaks that Anna’s Promise is also under consideration for the Kentucky Oaks. She earned 50 qualifying points for her runner-up finish, good for 13th on the list, two starts after being claimed for $50,000 out of a Feb. 5 win at Gulfstream.
“We got some points, so we’ll see what happens,” David said.
Joseph Jr., Ortiz Jr., Ramsey Top Championship Meet Standings Again
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. collected his fourth consecutive Championship Meet training title with 70 victories and his 12th consecutive title overall at Gulfstream Park. He also topped the trainer standings by purses won with more than $5.8 million.
“This has definitely been our best meet because this is the first time we’re going to lead in earnings and winners. I think last year we got beat by a small margin in earnings, so it just shows that we have some quality horses,” Joseph Jr. said. “All the credit to the owners for giving us the horses. We’re very thankful to them.”
Saffie Joseph Jr. and Ken Ramsey at Gulfstream Park
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. collected his third straight Championship Meet title with 109 wins. He has worn the riding crown in six of the past seven Championship Meets.
“It feels great to have the support we need to win the title, all the support from the trainers and owners,” said Ortiz, who also gave credit to his agent Steve Rushing. “I love the weather down here in the wintertime. I have my family here. We’ve won some races with horses we followed down here.”
Ken Ramsey topped the Owner Standings for a second Championship Meet in a row with 18 wins.
The Royal Palm Meet will get underway April 3 and will run through Aug. 30. Racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday weekly. First-race post is set for 12:50 p.m. ET.
The $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile and the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies will highlight the Royal Palm Meet stakes schedule May 10. The five-furlong turf sprints are designated qualifiers for Royal Ascot stakes in June. Last year, Jose D’Angelo-trained Gabaldon won the Royal Palm Juvenile and went on to finish a photo-finish second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
