Among the chief contenders in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park
Oaks is House Rules, who will be making her fifth start of the Champions
Meet for owner Joseph V. Shields Jr. and trainer Allen Jerkens.
The daughter of
Distorted Humor has progressed strongly since arriving in South Florida,
finishing second to subsequent stakes winner Please Explain in an 8 1/2-furlong
maiden on December 19 before trumping another talented filly in Lucky for You, a
dead-heat second last out in the Sunland Park Oaks, by 5
3/4 lengths in a one-mile maiden at Gulfstream on January 17.
“She’s improved steadily and we’re hoping she can keep it
up on Saturday,” Jerkens said.
House Rules stepped up in company for the February 22 Davona Dale
and chased home the brilliant Onlyforyou on her way to a
runner-up finish. The Davona Dale was run at 8 1/2 furlongs, and Jerkens has
sent his charge out for a pair of stamina-building breezes in anticipation of
the nine-furlong Gulfstream Park Oaks. House Rules worked six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 on March
16 and came back to go seven panels on March 24 in 1:28 1/5.
“She ran a mile-and-a-sixteenth pretty well last time,”
Jerkens confirmed. “I think with that race behind her and (the fact that) we
worked her long a few times, she should be able to go the distance.”
Jerkens and Shields have teamed up with several successful
runners in the past, including 1998 Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Wagon Limit
and 2003 Personal Ensign Handicap winner Passing Shot. The New York
natives also fielded Any Limit, a two-time winner of the Hurricane Bertie
(2007-09) at Gulfstream Park.
Jerkens became involved with Shields, an investment
banker, while participating in another equine activity.
“We were playing polo together at the time at Meadowbrook
Club (on Long Island),” Jerkens recalled. “He had horses with other people
before. I’ve been training for him for about 25 years.”
Shields purchased House Rules through his friend and
advisor Leverett Miller for $90,000 as a yearling at Keeneland. The three-year-old
filly is the first registered foal from Teamgeist, who won several Group races in her
native Argentina before finishing third in the 2009 Spinster.
Jockey Alex Solis has ridden House Rules in each of her last three outings
and will be aboard once more in the Gulfstream Park Oaks.
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