Herrera caps big day with stakes wins aboard Chicken Dance, Rolando
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Jockey Diego Herrera won two of the three stakes run Saturday at Gulfstream Park, when Chicken Dance caught favorite Bolero Bay in the $100,000 Not Surprising and Rolando was resolute on the front end in the $100,000 Big Drama.
The races lifted Herrera to a four-win day on the card that also featured the $100,000 Martha Washington won by Haute Diva ($7.80).
Chicken Dance ($15.60) raced in fifth along the rail in the early stages of the Not Surprising as Bolero Bay crossed over to the lead after breaking from the widest post and set fractions of 24 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.33 for the half-mile and 1:12.29 for six furlongs.
Chicken Dance advanced along the rail on the final turn, picked up the pace into the stretch, and moved past Bolero Bay late to cover the 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds on Tapeta in 1:42.66.
Fernando Abreu trains Chicken Dance for Paterpop Racing
Chicken Dance won by 1 1/4 lengths over Bolero Bay, while it was another two lengths back in third to Khon Han.
Chicken Dance is a son of Neolithic who has now won 5 of 7 starts for earnings of $164,250.
Rolando ($9.60) fought off challengers on all sides in the stretch to win the Big Drama for 3-year-olds and up by a nose over Back Em Up. It was another neck back in third to Pure Class.
Rolando tracked Concrete Glory through an opening quarter in 22.49 seconds before overtaking that through a half-mile in 45 seconds. The winner went on to cover seven furlongs on a fast dirt track in 1:22.85.
Fausto Gutierrez trains Rolando for St. George Stables, which is also the breeder of Rolando. He is by Vekoma and out of Mixteca, who is a half-sister to champion Letruska, an earner of $3 million who raced for St. George and was trained by Gutierrez.
Rolando is now 6 for 16 for earnings of $368,932.
Haute Diva rallied from last for a half-length victory over Mia Familia in the Martha Washington. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Bayou Bridget.
Haute Diva raced off fractions set by favorite Nyfive, who took the field through an opening quarter in 23.98 seconds, a half-mile in 47.75 for the half-mile and 1:11.57 for six furlongs. The eventual winner covered the 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies on Tapeta in 1:43.23.
Keith Asmussen was aboard Haute Diva for trainer Patrick Biancone.
Haute Diva is a daughter of Constitution who races for her breeder, JSM Equine. Her dam, Diva Style, is a half-sister to 2020 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law.
* The Rainbow 6 jackpot pool Sunday is estimated at $75,000, according to a press release from Gulfstream.
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