Trainer McGoey gets first winner

Monica McGoey, who recently opened a public stable, on Sunday had her first winner from just her second starter, when Nile Princess won a restricted $10,000 claiming race at Gulfstream by 11 lengths.

“It felt awesome,” said McGoey, who owns a Fort Lauderdale bail-bond business. “I’ve had horses win before, but not in my own name.”

McGoey, 32, grew up in nearby Hollywood, riding the local rodeo circuit on Quarter and barrel horses before taking racetrack jobs about three years ago. She worked under trainers Luis Ramirez and Herbie Miller before hanging her own shingle. She would like for her five-horse stable at Gulfstream to expand in the coming months.

“That’s my goal,” she said.

Solid 9-race card Friday

A nine-race Friday card anchored by a $47,000 allowance (race 7) and several races with big fields will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern. The Rainbow 6, which spans races 4-9, began Thursday with $24,847 in the carryover jackpot.

The weekend highlight at Gulfstream is a terrific Saturday card that will include four six-figure stakes, led by the second legs of the Florida Sire Stakes – the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan’s Girl. Entries for Saturday were to be drawn Wednesday afternoon.