Gulfstream: Dullahan resumes working out for Palm Beach

Dullahan finally returned to the work tab here at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:01.80 from the half-mile to mile pole before galloping out three-quarters around the turn in 1:15.62. It was the first official work for Dullahan, who missed a couple weeks of training since Jan. 14, due to a cough.

Dullahan, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, has not started since finishing a late-running fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Trainer Dale Romans said Dullahan is still on schedule to make his 3-year-old debut on the turf in the Grade 3 Palm Beach here March 11 as a stepping-stone to his final Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 1 Blue Grass.

Groupie Doll works for Sabin

Groupie Doll, who extended Boys At Tosconova before dropping a three-quarter-length decision when taking on males under allowance conditions here last month, breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:01.45 with jockey Jose A. Garcia aboard here Saturday in preparation for her upcoming start in the Sabin on Feb. 25.

Returning against fillies and mares in the Sabin won’t make things easier for Groupie Doll, who will likely face Eclipse Award champion Royal Delta and Grade 1 winner Awesome Maria in the Grade 3 race.

Tackleberry works between races

Owner-trainer Luis Olivares brought his multiple graded stakes winner Tackleberry over from Calder to work five furlongs in 1:00.16 after the third race on Saturday. Tackleberry posted splits of 23.80 and 35.67 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.07 under jockey Rajiv Maragh. Tackleberry, who has not raced since May 31, will launch his comeback in defense of his title in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 10.

“I liked what I saw,” Olivares said.” I told the jock ‘Don’t hit him, let him do it on his own.’ I just wanted him to go an eighth of a mile after the work. The jock told me he felt really comfortable.”

Pletcher wins charity poker tournament

Perhaps Todd Pletcher is wasting his time training horses. Pletcher, who is well on his way to his ninth consecutive Gulfstream Park training title, dead-heated for first place among a field of more than 100 players who took part in the Jocks vs. Joes charity Texas hold’em poker tournament that finally ended after eight hours at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. The tournament raised more than $8,000 for the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Pletcher shared the top prize in the Jocks vs. Joes tourney with Victor Terenek and Mario Defoy.