Gulfstream kicks off New Year with pair of sophomore stakes

Ancient Rome (nearer camera) stretches out off his photo-finish decision in the Spectacular Bid (Adam Coglianese Photography) Gulfstream Park will celebrate New Year’s Day with a pair of $100,000 stakes races for three-year-olds, the inaugural running of the Gulfstream Park Derby and the Grade 3 Old Hat for fillies, and there is intrigue surrounding both races. Ancient Rome, a gutsy nose winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes on Gulfstream’s opening weekend, is the top draw in the 11-horse Derby, but the Roman Ruler colt has never been past six furlongs and faces a number of promising runners looking to make a name for themselves as Kentucky Derby prospects. The six-furlong Old Hat has attracted a contentious field of eight, including multiple stakes queen Say a Novena and unbeaten Quick Flip. Ancient Rome, who will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on Sunday, figures to be up close from the start with regular rider Joe Rocco. The Tony Dutrow pupil captured his second career outing in wire-to-wire fashion, scoring by 7 3/4 lengths at Delaware Park, and raced close to the pace before getting up late to win the Spectacular Bid.

Casual Trick looks like a major contender for Nick Zito. By Bernardini and
out of the Group 1-winning Red Ransom mare Casual Look, the well-bred colt exits
a good-looking maiden tally at Churchill Downs and has been posting fast works
at Palm Meadows in preparation for his stakes debut. John Velazquez will pick up
the mount.

Other maiden winners of interest include King Kid, a Lemon Drop Kid colt
trained by Dale Romans who rallied to a sharp two-length win when making his
career debut at Churchill Downs last out; the Graham Motion-trained Gold
Megillah, who romped to a 18 1/2-length decision in a two-turn maiden special
weight last time; Politicallycorrect, a winner over the track and distance for
Wesley Ward on December 4; and Nachas and Joy, who exits a nice triumph at
Hawthorne for Jimmy Divito.

The Derby also marks the stakes bow for Reveron, an easy winner of his last
two starts against maiden and allowance rivals at Calder; Yourhonorandglory, who
has registered respectable BRIS numbers in his recent attempts at Parx; and
unbeaten Silver Menace, who was sold and transferred to trainer Kathy Ritvo
following a convincing optional claiming victory at Hawthorne on November 27.

Rounding out the Derby field are longshots Ravelo’s Boy and Rex’s Last Tour.

In the Old Hat, Quick Flip will make her first start at the graded level. The
Terri Pompay-trained lass captured her career debut at Parx on October 2 and
followed it with a 2 1/4-length score over optional claiming foes at Monmouth
Park on October 23, winning both starts in front-running fashion. Overlooked at
7-1 in the December 10 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, the chestnut showed
the ability to rate before pouncing for a 1 1/2-length decision. She will
receive a rider switch to Rajiv Maragh.

Say a Novena looks to rebound from Breeders’ Cup disappointment (Alyssa Spakowski/Equi-Photo) After posting a 6 1/2-length win in the October 1 Brandywine Stakes at Parx, Say a Novena earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but the Ed Plesa Jr. charge experienced a rough trip and weakened to 10th. The Grade 2 runner-up is eligible to rebound with a much-improved showing beneath a returning Elvis Trujillo. Awesome Belle was also badly beaten in the Juvenile Fillies, checking in 12th, but recorded a 7 1/2-length winner of the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Stallion series two starts back for trainer Stanley Gold. Yara will try open company for trainer Jose Garoffalo off a 5 1/4-length romp in the Joe O’ Farrell Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Calder. Soft Whisper, Sabrina’s Dance, Sacristy and Bet to Win complete the Old Hat field.