Gulfstream Park Set For Historic July 1 Opening Day of Summer Meet
Gulfstream Park will celebrate opening day of its first-ever live summer Thoroughbred meeting Monday, July 1 with an eight-race program highlighted by special appearances by four of racing’s most prominent jockeys.
Two-time defending Gulfstream champion Javier Castellano will be joined by Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Edgar Prado, as well as Joel Rosario, to compete on Monday’s program. The four stars, who have ridden the winners of more than 16,700 races and $790 million in purses, will also greet fans and sign autographs and memorabilia.
Rosario, who rode Orb to victories in the Besilu Stable Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream before his triumph in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1), and Prado, a two-time riding champion at Gulfstream, will be the most active of the star quartet. They are scheduled to ride in five races each, while Castellano was named on three horses and Velazquez has accepted two mounts.
Both Castellano and Rosario are slated to ride in the featured seventh race, a $35,000 optional claiming allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. named Castellano to ride Felixia, a daughter of Free Thinking who is coming off a front-running victory at Calder in her career debut on May 2. Rosario is set to ride the Marty Wolfson-trained Jewel in the Sky, who will return to the allowance ranks after three straight stakes appearances.
Following up on Monday’s opener, Gulfstream Park will celebrate the Fourth of July on Thursday with the first running of the $100,000 Armed Forces, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up. Live racing will continue on Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays through November before the start of the traditional Champions Meet on Dec. 1
Post time for the first race during the summer months has been set for 12:50 p.m. ET.
Gulfstream Park Summer Meet Wagering Highlights
The 10-cent Rainbow 6, a popular multi-race wager that has produced multi-million-dollar payoffs, will get underway in the third race, while the 50-cent Pick 5 will begin in the fourth race. Because Tuesday’s program is the official final program of the 2012-2013 meeting, there will be mandatory payoffs for both wagers. Beginning on July 1, there will be a carryover pool for the Rainbow 6, as well as the Pick 5, if no one holds a unique winning ticket.Click for Rainbow 6 rules
In addition to the Rainbow Pick 6, as well as win, place and show wagering, a full menu of multi-race wagers will once again be available to Gulfstream players. In addition to rolling Daily Doubles and Pick 3s throughout the program, Exactas, Trifectas and Superfectas will be offered on every race. Two Pick 4 wagers will also be offered each day. The Daily Double and Exacta will have a $1 base wager. The Trifecta and Pick 4 bets will have a base wager of 50 cents, while the Superfecta will be a 10-cent base bet.
Along with the 10-cent Rainbow Pick 6, the 50-cent Pick 5 and the $1 Super Hi 5 will once anchor the daily programs this year. The 50-cent Pick 5 will require bettors to pick the winners of the last five races, while the Super Hi 5 requires bettors to pick the first five finishers of the last race in exact order. Bettors have found the 15-percent takeout to be an incentive for betting both the Pick 5 and Super Hi 5.
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Gulfstrearm Park Summer Meet Information
Date: July 1 - November 24
Gulfstream Park Racing Schedule: Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays through November before the start of the traditional Champions Meet on Dec. 1
Post Times: 12:50pm ET
Gulfstream Park Race Track Information
Main track (dirt): 1 1/8 mile oval
Length of stretch from last turn to finish line: 898 feet
Composition: 85.5% sand, 14.5% clay
Width of stretch: 90 feet
Turf: 1 mile, inside turf track
Length of stretch from last turn to finish line: 990 feet
Composition: Sandy loam, 75% sand, 25% clay, and Celebration Bermuda grass is grown directly into the base.