Earning a $25,000 stipend and an automatic berth into one of the juvenile stakes during next month's Royal Meeting at Ascot, it was longshot Gabaldon (Gone Astray) who snagged the voucher in the final race Saturday at Gulfstream Park–the Royal Palm Juvenile S.
Overlooked at odds of 16-1 for this debut, the Jose D'Angelo trainee flashed his speed from the bell as he moved to the rail to take on Governor Sam (Improbable) up the backstretch. The juveniles distanced themselves from the rest of the field around the far turn and it was Gabaldon who struck the front down the lane. Searching for the wire as a quartet of foes bore down on him, the gray dug deep to earn his ticket to England.
“The horse showed class from the first day. He's never missed a workout,” D'Angelo said. “We were looking for a horse to run in this race. Now, we are looking for a [top] hat.”
The winner's unraced dam produced a filly last year by Girvin and she foaled a filly by Mutasaabeq Feb. 19.
ROYAL PALM JUVENILE S., $110,000, Gulfstream, 5-11, 2yo, 5fT, :56.20, fm.
1–GABALDON, 118, c, 2, by Gone Astray
1st Dam: Valuable Miss, by Value Plus
2nd Dam: Caridad, by Groomstick
3rd Dam: Safety Toss (Arg), by Egg Toss
($9,000 Ylg '23 OBSOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Soldi Stable LLC; B-Carol Ann Reitman, Susan Gannon & Warren Miller (FL); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo; J-Emisael Jaramillo. $57,500. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,500.
2–Reach for the Rose, 118, c, 2, Audible–Divine Mission, by Twirling Candy. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Kenneth L. Ramsey; B-Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $20,900.
(DH) 3–Bright Skittle, 118, c, 2, Twirling Candy–Harbor Lights, by Shackleford. ($142,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Dew Sweepers LLC; B-H & E Ranch (KY); T-George R. Arnold, $9,500.
(DH) 3–Garden of War, 118, c, 2, War of Will–Sky Garden (GB), by Acclamation (GB). ($80,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Gary Barber; B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $9,500.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NO, NO. Odds: 16.50, 9.80, 3.60, 3.80.
Also Ran: Incanto (Ire), Governor Sam, I Know I Know, Classy War, Madroc, Makeit to Cheyenne, Enterdadragon. Scratched: Raise the Bar.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Gabaldon makes all!
The 20/1 shot cannot be caught in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes, and strikes impressively under Emisael Jaramillo… pic.twitter.com/0SIC0l2EKb
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 11, 2024
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