Gulfstream opens spring-summer meet with enhanced stakes schedule

With record handle at Gulfstream’s championship meet, which concluded Sunday, there is a lot of momentum leading into the spring-summer meet, which begins Wednesday at Florida’s premier track.

Last year’s figures for the spring-summer meet were strong, up 16 percent from 2014. With an enhanced 41-race stakes schedule worth $5.58 million, management at Gulfstream is banking on the live handle continuing in an upward trend. In 2015, 29 stakes were worth $4.75 million.

“This is another step in our efforts to reinvigorate and rebuild the summer racing schedule in Florida,” said P.J. Campo, Gulfstream’s general manager. “We believe it will make for a stronger overall program in Florida and will showcase large fields and quality racing.”

Live racing will be conducted Wednesdays through Sundays until the end of April, when a four-day week will be in effect, with Wednesdays being dropped. The meet ends Oct. 1.

The Summit of Speed on July 2 is one of the highlights of the meet. It features three graded sprint stakes: the Grade 2, $250,000 Smile Sprint for 3-year-olds and up; the Grade 2, $250,000 Princess Rooney for fillies and mares; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Carryback for 3-year-olds. The stakes-rich card will include six supporting stakes, including the $100,000 Azalea for 3-year-old fillies.

The only other graded race during the meet is the Grade 3, $100,000 Miami Mile, which kicks off the stakes schedule April 30. The one-mile race on turf for 3-year-olds will be supported by the $100,000 Powder Break, also at a one mile on grass but restricted to fillies and mares.

The $2.9 million Florida Sires Series begins Aug. 6. The series consists of 12 races restricted to horses sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida. The first leg includes the $200,000 Dr. Fager for 2-year-olds, the $200,000 Desert Vixen for 2-year-old fillies, the $150,000 Unbridled for 3-year-olds, and the $150,000 Three Ring for 3-year-old fillies.

The next four races in the series are Sept. 3. They are the $300,000 Affirmed for juveniles, the $300,000 Susan’s Girl for 2-year-old fillies, the $150,000 Prized for 3-year-olds, and the $150,000 Jewel Princess for 3-year-old fillies.

The series concludes on closing day with the $500,000 In Reality for 2-year-olds and the $500,000 My Dear Girl for 2-year-old fillies. Also part of the series are the $150,000 Foolish Pleasure for 3-year-olds and the $150,000 Meadow Star for 3-year-old fillies. Supporting the card are four $75,000 turf stakes.

Another potential big day is June 4, when seven $75,000 stakes are scheduled.

The opening-day feature is a first-level optional $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that drew nine horses. Aplomb has a big shot of winning the 7 1/2-furlong dash on turf.

Trained by Mike Maker, the 4-year-old Aplomb is coming off a third-place finish behind two-time stakes winner Rose Brier going 1 1/16 miles in a $35,000 starter/optional-claiming race at Gulfstream on March 24. It was his first start since he finished third in a $50,000 starter/optional-claiming race Feb. 4.

Considering that Maker has a 22 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff, there is an excellent chance that Aplomb will move forward with a race behind him. Aplomb, who will break from post 3 with Eddie Castro riding, also has decent tactical speed and should get a nice trip stalking Dr. Goldfarb and Gunderson.

Just Foolin Around looks like the main threat. He won a similar race for trainer Timothy Hills on Feb. 14 before finishing a length behind Aplomb on March 24.