Hurricane Bertie tops three-stakes Saturday card

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gulfstream officials on Wednesday were expecting six fillies and mares for the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie, to be run Saturday with two other stakes.

Cory Gal and Sound Machine are among the likely favorites in the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie, which was postponed from its original March 13 date for a lack of sufficient entries. The 6 1/2-furlong race will be part of a Saturday card that also includes a pair of $75,000 turf sprints, the Texas Glitter for 3-year-olds and the Melody of Colors for 3-year-old fillies.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Gulfstream Park Clocker Report

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr., the three-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey who leads both the championship meet (131 wins) and the national 2021 standings (106 wins), is expected back here Sunday after serving a five-day suspension stemming from a March 5 riding infraction. Ortiz will ride the big Louisiana Derby card on Saturday at Fair Grounds in his first day back following the suspension.

◗ Carotari, winner of the Silks Run here last Saturday, will race next in the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs, trainer Brian Lynch said. Carotari earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in his front-running victory.