All Quality confirms liking for synthetic surface
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mark Casse is among the leading advocates for the Tapeta surface unveiled here last week. So it should have come as no surprise the Hall of Fame trainer wasted little time taking advantage of the new track, sending out All Quality to a victory in Sunday’s main event.
All Quality was the first horse to enter a Tapeta race at Gulfstream Park with a victory over a synthetic surface, having won a maiden race on the synthetic track at Woodbine in December 2019. All Quality also came into the race in top form, having finished second under similar conditions over the turf four weeks earlier.
Jockey Edwin Gonzalez orchestrated a perfect stalking trip Sunday for All Quality, the even-money favorite, who drew clear at midstretch and held safe the late surge of Isadorable Aida to register a neck victory, just her second win in 18 career starts.
On Saturday, Choose Joy proved she likes synthetic as much as turf, overcoming a slow start and wide trip to win a $60,000 overnight stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta course. The win was the third in a row, all in overnight stakes, for Choose Joy, who is trained by her owner, Steve Dwoskin. The first two victories in the streak came at five furlongs on the turf.
Choose Joy was the third of three consecutive winners for jockey Miguel Vasquez, which included a very impressive debut performance by the 2-year-old Florida-bred Full Disclosure for owner-trainer Michael Yates.
Sprint headlines Thursday card
Racing resumes Thursday with an eight-race program topped by a $39,000 starter allowance and optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the main track.
The field of seven is led by Picking Up Pennies, a runaway winner of her last start, and the lightly raced Kantstaros, who posted a 14 1/2-length maiden-claiming victory at first asking here on Feb. 3 but idle since finishing seventh three weeks later.