Shivaree kicks off stakes action with Limehouse win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Five straight stakes, all for 3-year-olds, began Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a popular victory by Shivaree in the $75,000 Limehouse.

Patiently handled by Emisael Jaramillo through the early stages of the six-furlong race after breaking from post 1 in a field of six, Shivaree proved best in the final furlong when returning $3.20 as the heavy favorite.

“He’s a steady colt,” said Ralph Nicks, who trains Shivaree for owner-breeder Jacks or Better Farm. “They out-footed him early, but fortunately he was able to get out and he stayed steady.”

Zaino Boyz and Cajun Casanova faltered after contesting splits of 21.50 and 44.63 seconds over fast going, at which point Ricki Ticki Taffi momentarily inherited the lead passing the furlong pole. But here came Shivaree with his winning move in the middle of the track, finishing in 1:10.91 for his third straight win. After four losses to open his career, the son of Awesome of Course won on consecutive Saturdays, taking a Nov. 23 maiden race at Gulfstream West and the Nov. 30 Buffalo Man at Gulfstream.

Ricki Tikki Taffi, a 17-1 shot, was 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner and another 1 1/2 lengths before third-finisher Peruvian Boy.

Nicks said Shivaree is a logical candidate for the Grade 3 Swale, a seven-furlong race here Feb. 1.

Two races later, Sound Machine also was a clear-cut winner of the filly counterpart to the Limehouse, the $75,000 Glitter Woman, when finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.35.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the Florida-bred daughter of Into Mischief gave closest chase to front-running Sayonara Baby before pulling away down the stretch without a challenge, winning by 6 1/2 lengths. She paid $5.80 as second choice in a field of eight.

Saffie Joseph Jr. is the trainer of Sound Machine, now a winner in two of four starts. Joseph also won the previous race, the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy, with Island Commish.

“I had a fairly easy trip,” said Gaffalione. “She broke well and put herself in a nice position just tracking the leader. When I asked her to run she kicked on nice and finished up strong. Saffie’s team had her ready to run today. She worked really well last week so we had a lot of confidence in her today.”

Sayonara Baby, a 14-1 shot, held second, another 1 1/2 lengths before Spanish Point, the 9-5 favorite. In their respective last starts, Sound Machine had finished second to Spanish Point in the Nov. 30 House Party at Gulfstream.

Sound Machine is owned by the eFive Racing Thoroughbreds of Bob Edwards and family. The bay filly could make her next start in the Grade 3 Forward Gal, a seven-furlong race here Feb. 1.

Some 30 minutes after the Glitter Woman, Gaffalione was right back in the winner’s circle after capturing the $100,000 Ginger Brew aboard She’s My Type, who finished 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28.12 over a firm turf.

Trained by Christophe Clement for Ghislaine Head, She’s My Type rallied from well back, seizing command inside the eighth pole before finishing a neck in front of late-running Moral Reasoning. Abscond, the 2-1 favorite in a field of 11, was another half-length back in third.

She’s My Type, a French-bred by Dunkerque, returned $20.40 when remaining unbeaten in two career starts. She won her debut here Dec. 7 when going a mile on turf.

“She’s a really talented filly with a great turn of foot,” said Gaffalione. “They’ve been telling me for a while how nice she is, and she really proved it today.”

Miguel Clement, the trainer’s son and assistant, said he would defer to his father on a next possible start for She’s My Type. The Feb. 1 Sweetest Chant is the next local stakes in the division.