Zayas expected back for Florida Sire Stakes next weekend
There will be a familiar name back in the entries next Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Jockey Edgard Zayas, who has been sidelined since the middle of July, is set to make his comeback on the card, which features the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes.
Zayas fractured his left collarbone in a July 17 race at Gulfstream. He underwent surgery for the injury, received clearance Tuesday to resume riding, and was back getting on horses Thursday morning at Gulfstream.
“He’s been working horses in the morning,” agent Tito Fuentes said. “He’s ready to go. We’re going to start next Saturday on the big day.”
Gulfstream has eight stakes planned for Saturday, with entries for those races to be taken Wednesday. Fuentes said Zayas is scheduled to ride in the $150,000 Jewel Princess division of the Florida Sire Stakes, among other races. The plan is for him to start back with five or six mounts.
Zayas is a multiple title winner in south Florida and was tied atop the Gulfstream standings when injured in July. The recovery has gone as scheduled, with Sept. 5 long the target date for Zayas to make his return to race riding, said Fuentes.
“He’s super happy to be back,” Fuentes said Friday. “If it was up to him, he’d probably be riding tomorrow. But that wasn’t the plan. We’re going to stay to the original plan and start Saturday. We’re looking forward to next weekend.”
Zayas won the Grade 2 Smile Sprint aboard Favorite Tale earlier in the meet at Gulfstream. Overall, he has won 591 races from 3,110 mounts since notching his first career victory on Nov. 17, 2012. Stakes highlights for Zayas include a win in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney aboard Starship Truffles in 2013.
Jazil’s Dream tops feature
Jazil’s Dream, who is nominated to the $75,000 Wasted Tears next Saturday at Gulfstream, leads the Sunday feature at the track. She should go favored in a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.
Jazil’s Dream has been edged by a nose and a neck in each of her last two starts at Gulfstream. She was caught in an optional $16,000 claiming race July 12, then came rolling to just miss in an optional $25,000 claiming race Aug. 9.
Jazil’s Dream demonstrated tactical speed in both races and could get a tracking trip behind Princess Fiona and Knox City Zip. The rivals break to the inside of Jazil’s Dream, who will start from post 3 under Luca Panici.
David Fawkes trains her for breeder and owner Hair’Em Corp.
Others of interest in the race include Don’t Blame Me, who is making her first start since finishing seventh to eventual champion Take Charge Brandi in the Grade 1 Starlet on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos. Don’t Blame Me is moving back to turf, where she ran third in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante on Nov. 29 at Del Mar.
◗ Platinum Band will add Lasix for the seventh race, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies. She is a half-sister to C. Zee, the winner of the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint in February.