Deland may target Marathon Stakes, Sunshine Millions Classic

Following his dominant win in last Friday’s $75,000 Mo Exception at GulfstreamPark, Deland has races at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream among his options over the next several months.

Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said possible spots for Deland include the Grade 2, $200,000 Marathon Stakes at 1 3/4 miles on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs and the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream, probably in January. The date of the Sunshine Millions has not been set, but it was run Jan. 20 this year.

The Mo Exception, a one-turn mile at Gulfstream, was the second straight overnight stakes score for Deland, who is a Grade 1 winner in Puerto Rico. He stalked the pace and opened up in the stretch to win by eight lengths.

“He was amazing the way he won,” Barboza said Monday. “We’re trying to figure out what’s going to be the next race.”

Deland’s most prestigious win came over 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 1 Copa Barbosa Memorial in July 2016 in Puerto Rico. The 6-year-old has won four graded stakes in Puerto Rico. Prior to his blowout win in the Mo Exception he won the $75,000 Coast Is Clear – also a one-turn mile – July 22 at Gulfstream.

Among those Deland beat on Friday were Group 1 winner Leitone and Grade 2 winner Conquest Big E. The race was run in the slop. Deland is a Florida-bred by the Coronado’s Quest stallion Gottcha Gold and races for Ricardo Vallejo.

Barboza on Saturday won another overnight stakes at Gulfstream, the $75,000 Trinniberg, with Cautious Giant. Cautious Giant caught pacesetter Harryhee on the wire for a head win.

Barboza said Cautious Giant will be freshened, then prepared for a probable start in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit, which he won last year at Gulfstream. The Claiming Crown returns to town Dec. 1.

Emisael Jaramillo, who rode both Deland and Cautious Giant, had a five-bagger Saturday at Gulfstream and sits atop the rider standings at Gulfstream heading into the Thursday card. Barboza won four races over Friday and Sunday at Gulfstream and is tied atop the trainer standings with Armando De La Cerda.

Barboza and Jaramillo will team in the featured ninth race Thursday at Gulfstream with Gran Malbec, who is seeking to win his fifth straight race in a streak that began in May. The 3-year-old goes in an optional $16,000 claiming sprint that carries first-level allowance conditions. The race is at five-eighths on turf for 3-year-olds and up bred in Florida.