Gulfstream Park: Handle hits $1.9 million for first summertime card

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park closed out its 2012-2013 winter meet with the first summer racing program in track history, handling $1,986,428 on an eight-race card here Tuesday.

Gulfstream needed to run one live program between the original closing date of its 2012-2013 meet on April 5 and the end of the fiscal year in south Florida on June 30 to become its own simulcast hub rather than be required to use Calder as its hub as in the past. Gulfstream will open its 2013 summer meeting on July 1.

“It was a great day,” said Gulfstream Park president Tim Ritvo. “Being it was a Tuesday, we’re overwhelmed with the positive response from our guests and horsemen and are looking forward to the opening of our summer meet next Monday.”

Apprentice Edgar Zayas, currently the leading rider at Calder, won three of the eight races on the card, including the featured seventh event aboard Musical Flair for trainer Kirk Ziadie. The win was also the second of the day for Ziadie and owner Frank Calabrese.

Double Judge turned in the most dynamic performance of the afternoon, rocketing to an 8 ¼-length starter allowance win for trainer Juan Arias after completing seven furlongs in a blistering 1:22.21 over the lightning fast track.