HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher swept the first two stakes races decided over the newly renovated Gulfstream Park turf course here Saturday after sending out Ari Gold to a popular victory in the $75,000 Pulpit and Junipermarshmallow to a late-running tally in the $75,000 Wait a While. Ari Gold remained perfect since being equipped with blinkers for the first time to win his maiden at Aqueduct on Nov. 6. As was the case that day, Ari Gold went right to the front in the 7 1/2-furlong Pulpit, controlling the pace under clever rating by jockey Luis Saez before maintaining a safe advantage under pressure to the end. Light of Broadway, a stakes winner over the Tapeta course here in his previous outing, raced forwardly throughout, moved within easy striking distance in early stretch, but proved no match for the winner while holding safe Congruent by three parts of a length to prove second-best. Ari Gold, a 2-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, completed the distance in 1:27.10 seconds over the fast strip and paid $3.80. :: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now! “That was the game plan, to come out running and make a comfortable lead like we did last time,” said Pletcher, who was not in attendance here Saturday. “We gave Luis (Saez) the option to call an audible if needed, but Plan A worked out pretty well. We put blinkers on for his last start because I felt he was a little bit green and not completely focused in his first couple of starts and this might be the ticket to getting him locked in a little more.”                                                                                                                                Pletcher said he would give the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy on Feb. 4 consideration for Ari Gold’s 3-year-old debut. “That’s the next one for him and he’s a big hearty colt who seems to take his races well, so I’d have to say it’s on our radar,” Pletcher added. Junipermarshmallow, who overcame a bit of an eventful trip to win her maiden at first asking at Keeneland on Oct. 16, finished full of run from off a lively pace to register a one-length decision over the slow-starting Malleymoo to capture the Wait a While, a race named after the multiple Grade 1-winning mare who earned nearly $2.2 million under Pletcher’s tutelage during her career. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Junipermarshamllow was hung wide around both turns, responded readily once settling into the stretch to overtake the tiring leaders a furlong out, quickly edged clear, then held safe a belated rally from Malleymoo. The latter, making her U.S. debut after being purchased privately out of her maiden win in Ireland two months ago, trailed during the early going following a slow beginning, came widest with her bid into the stretch but could not quite get to the winner at the end.  Stephanie’s Charm came on strongly at the end to be third. Delight was hung wide, prompting the early pace, before tiring to finish fifth as the 8-5 favorite. Junipermarshmellow, a homebred daughter of Quality Road owned by St. Elias Stable, returned $12.00 after covering 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28.83. “She was a tick wide around the first turn but overall she had a good trip,” Pletcher said. “Irad was following who he felt was the horse to beat (Delight). She accelerated nicely when asked, similar to what she did in her debut. She’s been a straightforward filly to train and get ready. We always felt on the strength of her pedigree that she was going to be a turf filly. I always love winning the Wait a While, since we had her. That was cool.” Pletcher said like Ari Gold, he would consider the first graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies during the Championship meet, the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant, for Junipermarshmellow’s 2023 debut. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.