Soros wins Smooth Air Stakes as a maiden on Juvenile Showcase card

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Earlier this season, trainer Gustavo Delgado shocked the racing world when he sent out Bodexpress to finish second as a maiden at odds of 99-1 here in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. On Saturday, Delgado worked his maiden magic once again, saddling Soros to a 2 ½-length victory over longshot Genghis in the Smooth Air for 2-year-olds, the sixth and final stakes on Gulfstream Park’s Juvenile Showcase card. Each stakes was worth $75,000.

Soros was one of several youngsters who served notice on Saturday they could make a name for themselves this winter during the Gulfstream Park Championship session. But they all took a back seat to the star on the day, jockey Emisael Jaramillo, who won three stakes and five races overall on the 11-race program.

Soros finished a distant second behind California Chrome’s baby brother Fort McHenry in his only previous start, and he readily turned the tables in the one-mile Smooth Air on that rival, who went postward the 4-5 favorite and finished ninth. With Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado aboard, Soros saved ground while racing in mid-pack down the backstretch, swung four wide while rallying on the final turn, overtook the early leaders once settling into the stretch, and was not threatened thereafter.

“That’s pretty much what we do,” assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said with a smile when asked about winning the stakes with a maiden. “He always seemed like a good horse, his first race was promising, and obviously we’ve seen some improvement in the morning since his first start, which made us decide to try him against winners today.”

Soros’ final time of 1:38.10 for a mile was 1.48 seconds slower than Tonalist’s Shape covered the same distance en route to victory in the Hut Hut Stakes earlier in the day.

Tonalist’s Shape was extremely impressive rallying to a nine-length triumph over two-time stakes winner Ceci Valentina in the Hut Hut, filly counterpart to the Smooth Air. The win was the third in as many starts for Tonalist’s Shape and second since being purchased privately and turned over to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. after winning at first asking here in late September.

Tonalist’s Shape stalked the early pace, took control on the final turn, and steadily increased her advantage when roused by jockey Samy Camacho. She completed a mile in a sharp 1:36.62 and paid $4.60 as the favorite in a field that included New York invader Power Move, who finished fifth.

“It was visually more impressive than I thought,” said Joseph. “I knew she was doing well, but she was taking a step up in class.”

Joseph said the Kentucky Oaks will be his ultimate goal for Tonalist’s Shape during the early stages of her 3-year-old campaign.

Shivaree, who won a maiden race just one week ago at Gulfstream Park West, returned on short rest and outgamed the 6-5 Went West to capture the Buffalo Man Stakes, with the 9-5 Complexifier finishing a distant third.

Shivaree relinquished the lead to Went West a furlong from the wire, but fought back bravely along the rail to register a neck decision in the six-furlong race for 2-year-olds. The victory was the first of three straight stakes tallies on the program for Jaramillo, who came back to capture the Wait a While with Cheermeister and the House Party aboard the undefeated Spanish Point.

Shivaree ran six furlongs in a sizzling 1:09.42 on a fast track and paid $10.80. Shivaree’s older brother Garter and Tie won the Smooth Air a year ago. Both are trained by Ralph Nicks.

Spanish Point got a stalking trip under Jaramillo to win the six-furlong House Party for 2-year-old fillies, edging away by 1 ¾ lengths over the eve- money favorite Sound Machine. Spanish Point, a daughter of Creative Cause, won her maiden under a $50,000 claiming tag at Belmont Park in her only other start.

Trainer by Jorge Abreu, Spanish Point covered six furlongs in 1:10.79 and returned $6.40.

Sole Volante and Cheermeister kept their records unblemished by registering upset wins in the Pulpit for 2-year-olds and Wait a While for 2-year-old fillies, both at one mile on the turf.

Sole Volante made a steady run from back in the pack, ran down the 3-2 King Guillermo, and edged away by 1 ½ lengths in the Pulpit. Sole Volante, who used similar tactics to win his debut earlier this fall at Gulfstream Park West, was ridden by Jairo Rendon and trained by Patrick Biancone.

Irish Mias rallied mildly to finish second, with King Guillermo tiring to be third after having to take up briefly at the start. Graceful Kitten, the 3-1 second choice exiting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, bolted after his rider, Hector Berrios, lost his irons on the final turn.

Sole Volante completed the distance over the firm course in 1:33.02 and rewarded his backers with a generous $29.40 mutuel.

Cheermeister, who won her only previous start via a stewards’ disqualification at Gulfstream West, led throughout and was never seriously menaced, registering a two-length triumph over Sunset Promise in the Wait a While. American Giant, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth.

Armando De la Cerda trains Cheermeister, a daughter of Bodemeister. Her final time of 1:34.22 for a mile was more than a second slower than the boys covered the same distance in the Pulpit. She returned $28.20.