The Lead:
Gulfstream Park co-features turf sprints Saturday that will provide automatic berths to international showcase races at Royal Ascot this summer. The second runnings of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 8) and Royal Palm Juvenile (Race 10) are hoping to replicate last year's success. Crimson Advocate parlayed Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Turf success into a victory in Royal Ascot's prestigious Group 2 Queen Mary in 2023.
Both fields promise to be challenging betting chances with fields of 12 entered, predominantly occupied by first-time starters. My confidence leans to the latter and so I'll tackle the Juvenile in this space.
Field Depth:
Nine first-time starters are in the lineup with only RAISE THE BAR in possession of a victory to date.
Pace:
Impossible to predict from a race shape with so many first-time starters.
Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.
#1-MAKEIT TO CHEYENNE: From the female family of elite sprinter Munnings, this son of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map (18% GP turf wins last 4 years, + ROI) debuts for trainer Mark Casse. Series of workouts at Palm Meadows includes one on turf and a bullet on dirt May 4.
#2-ENTERDADRAGON: $17,000 purchase by Outwork debuts off a series of 7 workouts at Palm Meadows, the most recent of which came on turf. Outwork sired last year’s brilliant early season 2-year-old filly Brightwork, winner of the Debutante, Adirondack and Spinaway Stakes. Jose D’Angelo trains the direct descendent of the legendary mare Personal Ensign, his fourth dam.
#3-MADROC: Constitution colt chased and tired to be fifth in his Keeneland turf debut April 25, finishing behind Royal Palm Juvenile rival Bright Skittle. Ocala-based colt returns to Florida for trainer Mary Lightner. Dam Holly Hundy was a Colonial Downs turf sprint stakes winner.
#4-CLASSY WAR: Trainer Mark Casse notably campaigned this colt’s sire War of Will to 2019 Preakness glory and eventually Grade 1-winning turf credentials. Boasts bullet drills on turf not once, but twice, at Palm Meadows for the debut, notable this time of year when working amongst older horses.
#5-REACH FOR THE ROSE: Home-bred debuts for owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. By Holy Bull-Florida Derby winner Audible and whose second dam was a juvenile turf stakes winner for the Ramseys. Audible's offspring have been strong on the GP turf (20% win, 44% exacta, + ROI). Solid turf work coming into this capped a string of 6 clocked morning moves.
#6-I KNOW I KNOW: Long, strong series of 8 workouts for the debut, including a bullet on turf at Palm Meadows on Sunday. Trainer Patrick Biancone tabs Keith Asmussen to ride, fresh off the Oaklawn meeting that closed last weekend. Sire Jess’s Dream, the impeccable son of Curlin-Rachel Alexandra, won his 1 and only start before going to stud. His best success at stud has been with turfer My Dani Girl.
#7-GABALDON: $9,000 purchase by Gone Astray debuts after 7 Palm Meadows published workouts for Jose D’Angelo. Solid turf move April 26 among those. D’Angelo teams with Emisael Jaramillo, winning at a 20% rate in tandem over the past year-plus.
#8-RAISE THE BAR: Cruised to victory in his lone start, a Keeneland dirt dash that clocked second-fastest of 9 two-year-old races at the 2024 Spring Meet. Trainer Wesley Ward finished seventh in this race last year with 4-5 favorite and debut runner Holding the Line. Ward has trained 2 other offspring of this mare, both of which found the winner’s circle in their first or second start.
#9-BRIGHT SKITTLE: Late-running debut third on turf at Keeneland on April 25, finishing 1 length in front of Royal Palm Juvenile rival Madroc after a troubled break. $142,000 pricetag on this son of solid GP turf sire Twirling Candy and the debut-winning mare Harbor Lights (her first foal to race). Trainer Rusty Arnold has had many top turf sprinters in his care, including Leinster and Gear Jockey.
#10-GOVERNOR SAM: Trainer George Weaver swept last year’s Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile in the inaugural year for the event, winning this race with debut runner No Nay Mets. This rookie sold for $275,000 at Ocala in April and is from the first crop of $2.7 million earner Improbable. Grandsire City Zip long known for turf sprint success at stud. Bullet workout on dirt at Palm Beach Downs April 25 among 2 published drills. Dam I’m Betty G was a multiple stakes winner on turf.
#11-INCANTO: Stonestreet Stable looks to continue its annual treks to Royal Ascot with this Irish-bred rookie who is working bullets. Jack Sisterson trains, while much of the Stonestreet-to-Ascot history came with Wesley Ward. Sire Mehmas best known to US players for exported offspring Going Global and Chez Pierre. He's also sired Mamba Wamba, who has had some local success in GP turf sprints.
#12-GARDEN OF WAR: Like Classy War in this same field, trainer Mark Casse notably campaigned this colt’s sire War of Will to 2019 Preakness glory and eventually Grade 1-winning turf credentials. Back-to-back bullet workouts at Palm Meadows on dirt and turf coming into the career debut. Casse turns here to jockey Miguel Vasquez, a 21% winning combination over the past year-plus.
Most Certain Exotics Contender:
GARDEN OF WAR is training like a good thing and should avoid any issues from the outside post, albeit accepting some ground loss.
Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
Given George Weaver's success here last year and Wesley Ward's history of being bet in these type of races, the value will be to avoid those runners.
Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$70 win REACH FOR THE ROSE. $5 exacta key-box REACH FOR THE ROSE with GARDEN OF WAR, CLASSY WAR and BRIGHT SKITTLE ($30).
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