Gulfstream opens early for winter meet

by Brisnet.com

Gulfstream Park, the East Coast's premier wintertime venue, will have one of

the earliest openings in its history when racing resumes on Saturday for an

87-day meet. Earlier this year, the Hallandale Beach, Florida, track requested,

and was granted, most of the south Florida December dates in exchange for an

earlier closing in April. With Calder now absorbing most of the April dates,

Gulfstream's meet will end on Easter Sunday, April 8.

The 2011-12 meet will feature 56 stakes, 33 of which are graded, highlighted

by the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby. Run on the first Sunday in April this

year, the 2012 Florida Derby is scheduled for March 31.

"While running the Florida Derby last season on the first Sunday in April was

a huge success, a similar schedule this year would have resulted in running the

Florida Derby on Palm Sunday," Gulfstream general manager Tim Ritvo said.

"Because we don't want to exclude our customers and fans in New York from one of

our biggest days, we decided to run the Florida Derby this season on the last

Saturday in March."

The installation of a second finish line on the main track will allow

Gulfstream to resume carding 1 1/16-mile races, which were discontinued

following Gulfstream's re-configuration in the middle of the last decade from a

one-mile track to a nine-furlong track. Among the major stakes returning to its

former distance is the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, the leading Florida

Derby prep, which had been run at distances ranging from one mile to 1 1/8 miles

since 2005. The 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth is scheduled for February 26.

Other meet highlights include the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap and the

Grade 1, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, both scheduled for February 11;

the Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 10; and the Grade 2,

$300,000 Gulfstream Oaks for three-year-old fillies on March 31.

A revamped Florida Sunshine Millions program will take place on January 28,

with six races exclusively for Florida-breds with combined purses of $1.3

million. The previous nine editions of the Sunshine Millions showcased horses

bred in Florida and California with the six races divided evenly between

Gulfstream and Santa Anita.

"We're excited about this new version of the Sunshine Millions," Ritvo said.

"It will be the same six races at the same six distances. The purses have been

adjusted slightly due to the fact there will be no participation from

California."

The wagering menu will include the introduction of the $1 Super Hi 5 and the

return of the popular 10-cent Rainbow 6.

The Super Hi 5 requires fans to pick the first five finishers in the last

race each day. If no one selects the first five finishers in the correct order,

75 percent of the wagering pool will be carried over. Like the Super Hi 5, the

50-cent Pick 5 (on the day's last five races) will have a low, 15 percent

takeout.

The popular Rainbow 6, which produced a record total pool last April of

$5.018 million, will return with a 20 percent takeout and will be contested over

the day's final six races.

Gulfstream has also lowered the minimum wager on its trifectas to 50 cents.

There will be a 10-cent minimum wager on the Rainbow 6 and superfecta, 50-cent

minimums on trifectas, Pick 4 and Pick 5, and a $1 minimum on all other wagers,

including the Super Hi 5.

Gulfstream will play host to its popular "Breakfast at Gulfstream" every

Saturday from December 3 through March 31, which affords fans and families an

opportunity to watch the Thoroughbreds train in the early morning across

Gulfstream's track while enjoying a buffet breakfast at the Tiki Hut and new

Picnic Area. There will also be giveaways, autograph signings and a chance to

meet Gulfstream's leading riders and trainers as well as track announcer Larry

Collmus and handicappers Ron Nicoletti and Jessica Pacheco.

Children and adults will also be able to get their picture taken with horses

Hollywood, Pacific and Jager before taking a free tour of Gulfstream's barn area

with host Lisa Wintermote.

Parking and admission to Breakfast at Gulfstream is always free and runs from

7-10 a.m. (ET). There is an $8 charge for the unlimited breakfast buffet.

Fans will also be able to see the new picnic area, six new Daktronics LED

boards throughout the facility, and partake in the delicious new menu at Ten

Palms Restaurant and the concessions stands of executive chef and television

star Ralph Pagano.

Anyone buying a seat in Ten Palms, Silks or the grandstand opening day will

receive a commemorative Gulfstream Park polo jersey.

The feature on Saturday's 10-race program is the $100,000 Spectacular Bid

Stakes for two-year-olds at six furlongs. The leading contenders include Grade 2

Nashua Stakes winner Vexor, who trailed the field in the inaugural Breeders' Cup

Juvenile Sprint last month; the undefeated Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes

winner Luke of York; Jack Price Juvenile victor For Oby; and Ancient Rome, an

impressive maiden winner at Delaware Park for trainer Tony Dutrow.