Bob Hess Jr. sticking with Florida-California circuit
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Some trainers have tried but failed to make a racing circuit of Florida and California. In recent times, only Bob Hess Jr. has stuck with it.
“I’m going to keep this circuit til I die,” Hess said.
For four straight winters starting at the 2011 Championship meet, Hess maintained a division at Gulfstream Park while keeping his primary base in his native California, where his career began in 1987. He took three winters off from Florida before returning in December 2017, and he’s been a presence ever since. He has strings of 20-something horses at Gulfstream and Santa Anita.
“I’m staying here in Florida year round,” said Hess, “and my main focus back in California will be Del Mar in the summer followed by the fall meets at Santa Anita and Del Mar. We’ll also keep sending a few of our better horses to the bigger meets in Kentucky. I’ve finally got it worked out the way I want it.”
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Hess, a 1987 graduate of Stanford University, will be looking to add to his record of three wins from 19 starts at the Championship meet when he sends out one of the favorites in an excellent Thursday feature. He’ll saddle Roll On Big Joe, whose 80 Beyer Speed Figure from a last-out maiden romp Jan. 22 is the highest in a full field of 12 Florida-breds.
“It was a good race, although we still haven’t figured out why he bore out like he did,” said Hess, referring to how the gray colt wandered out to about the eight path in the 14 1/2-length jaunt. “I want to think seven furlongs is probably his limit, and maybe more than that, he was just getting tired. He’s worked back since then and did everything right – rated beautifully, quickened home nicely, galloped out great. He looks rock-hard and ready to go.”
Roll On Big Joe, with Tyler Gaffalione riding from post 4, faces a much tougher assignment in this $54,000 first-level allowance at seven furlongs. Foremost among his opposition is the Todd Pletcher trainee Rudder’s Men (post 8, Irad Ortiz Jr.), a St. Elias Stable homebred making his first start in statebred company after two races in open company. Rudder’s Men is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a deep cast that also includes Diamond Cool, Bring Theband Home, and Apocalypso as potential contenders.
One other $54,000 allowance, a 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta dash for Florida-bred 3-year-old fillies, is the co-featured sixth of nine races on a card that starts at 12:10 p.m. Eastern. Both allowances are part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 4-9), which began the five-day race week Wednesday with a carryover of $673,982. Sunshine and a high of 85 are in the Thursday forecast.
Candy Man Rocket favored
Candy Man Rocket, a flashy allowance winner here Jan. 21 after being away nearly a year, figures as a solid favorite Saturday in the $125,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint, the only stakes here this weekend.
Candy Man Rocket is trained by Bill Mott, who has enjoyed a terrific championship meet in winning three graded stakes – the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl with Frank’s Rockette, the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup with Art Collector, and the Grade 3 Holy Bull with Rocket Can.
Frank’s Rockette and Rocket Can are owned by Frank Fletcher, as is Candy Man Rocket, a 5-year-old Candy Ride horse whose eight starts include a victory in the 2021 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. His last-out comeback win resulted in a career-high 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
Scaramouche, whose 6-for-11 record is highlighted by a win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob last fall at Parx Racing, looks like the top threat in the six-furlong Gulfstream Sprint, the ninth of 12 Saturday races.
Maryquitecontrary laying low
As of Monday, Maryquitecontrary still hasn’t had a workout since her victory in the Grade 2 Inside Information here Jan. 28, but trainer Joe Catanese says not to worry.
“She’s doing great,” he said. “We’re taking it easy with her while we think about what’s next.”
Catanese said Maryquitecontrary, now 6 for 7, could run back in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie here March 11 or wait for the Grade 1 Madison on April 8 at Keeneland.
Maryquitecontrary, a 4-year-old First Dude filly bred and owned by retired veterinarian Rodney Lundock, is the first graded winner for the 61-year-old Catanese in a training career dating to 1981.
“Honestly,” he said, “I’m not used to being in a spot like this.”
◗ Sibelius will run next in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen after receiving an invitation last week to the March 25 race, trainer Jerry O’Dwyer said. Sibelius, a 5-year-old Not This Time gelding based at Palm Meadows, earned a 100 Beyer in winning the Feb. 11 Pelican at Tampa Bay Downs, marking the third race in his last six with a triple-digit figure.
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