BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Lightning Tones, Steal Sunshine and Back Em Up have all been assigned to carry the top weight of 123 pounds in Friday’s $70,000 Wildcat Red overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Jose Castro and owned by his JC Racing Stables, Lightning Tones is one of four Florida-breds and 10 total 3-year-olds and older entered to go one mile on the main track.
Lightning Tones makes his fourth start of the year but first since March 28 when fourth in the Grade 3 Ghostzapper won by Grande going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream on March 28. The 6-year-old gelding started the year with a three-and-a-quarter-length victory while defending his title in the $75,000 Sunshine Classic for Florida-breds on January 10 then finished off the board two weeks later in the $2.9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) won by Skippylongstocking racing nine furlongs at Gulfstream.
Claimed for $16,000 by trainer John Nevarez and JC Stable in July of 2024, Lightning Tones has won three with two seconds and two thirds. In addition to his two Sunshine Classic victories he took the $70,000 Black Diamond Cat overnight handicap by a length-and-a-quarter going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream in August of last year.
Lightning Tones has won seven overall with seven seconds and six thirds n 35 starts with earnings of $409,435. He is by Tonalist out of Rosesandlightning, by Lightning and Thunder and was bred in Florida by H & A Stables of Ocala.
Jose Morelos has ridden him in each of his three starts this year and gets the return mount from the inside post.
Florida-bred Roar of the Beast was third in the Black Diamond Cat and gets another crack at Lightning Tones Thursday. The 4-year-old son of The Big Beast trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and owned by Lawson Racing Stables exits a third behind Con Compania (Chi) in a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream on May 23. He was twice second in two other starts this year in six-furlong second condition, $32,000 optional claiming races at Tampa Bay Downs in February and March.
His last win came in June of last year when he dominated a first level, $75,000 optional claiming, winning by 13 ¼ lengths going a mile.
Roar of the Beast has won two of 14 career starts with three seconds and three thirds while banking $122,155. Bred in Florida by Peter Lawson, the bay colt is out of Sound Defence, by First Defence.
His will carry 120 pounds including jockey Micah Husbands from post seven.
Trainer Nicholas Palmer trains Florida-bred Nothingsubtle, who has been assigned 119 pounds.
A multiple stakes-placed homebred for David and Teresa Palmer of Jupiter, Florida, Nothingsubtle was third in the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint for Florida-breds racing six furlongs at Guflstream on March 29 to start the year and most recently finished second to Mogul in a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile at Gulfstream on May 29. In two other stakes appearances this year, his was fifth in both the $110,000 NYRA Bets Sprint at Tampa Bay Downs on March 29 and in the FHBPA Sprint at Gulfstream on April 25.
Nothingsubtle is by Echo Town out of Subtle Livie, by Mr. Livingston and has won three with a second and five thirds in 19 career races while earning $136,827.
Leonel Reyes will guide Nothingsubtle from post four.
Trainer Patrick Biancone owns stakes-placed Florida-bred I Know I Know with Amy E. Dunne. The 4-year-old gelded son of Jess’s Dream makes his second start of the year after finishing fourth in a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile-and-70 yards on synthetic at Gulfstream on June 12.
Also bred by Biancone, I Know I Know is out of Prove Me, by Big Drama and has three wins, three seconds and a third in 15 starts with earnings of $183,750.
I Know I Know has an 118-pound assignment and will break from post three with Keith Asmussen aboard.
Rounding out the field are The Thor (Chi) with jockey Rajiv Maragh, Icelander with Yolber Torres taking the riding chores, Diego Herrera rides Steal Sunshine, Back Em Up has Samy Camacho taking the call, Jose Morelos gives second call to Fiveeyesonskystars and Racing Driver will have Jesus Rios in the saddle.
Return to the July 1 issue of Wire to Wire
