BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Arindel homebred Boots, a gray granddaughter of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper and champion mare Wait a While, launched her career in grand style with a three-and-a-half-length victory Thursday in the first race of the season for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
The victory was worth $39,000 plus $25,000 will be paid directly to Arindel by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association as part of the new Florida Sire Racing Incentive Program for eligible 2-year-olds. The new program pays $20,000 to the owner and $5,000 to the breeder of eligible 2-year-olds who win open or restricted maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming and stakes at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs in 2026.
Ridden by Samy Camacho for trainer Jorge Delgado, Boots ran four-and-a-half furlongs over a fast main track in :52.09, following in the footsteps of her stablemate Mythical, who successfully kicked off Gulfstream’s 2025 juvenile season for Arindel before going on to win five stakes in her next seven starts.
Florida-breds have won the first 2-year-old race of the year at Gulfstream Park going back to at least 2020 when Arindel homebred and future stakes-winner Gatsby defeated Florida-bred Golden Pal in the first race of the year for juveniles. Golden Pal went on to become a multiple graded stakes-winner of $1.8 million including two Breeders’ Cup victories.
Breaking outside each of her four rivals, including another Arindel homebred Dorothy trained by Carlos David, Boots pressed 6-5 favorite Celtic Dispute through a quarter mile in :21.93 while racing in the two path. The half went in :45.55 with the two still engaged until leaving the far turn, when Camacho gave Boots her cue and she opened up once straightened for home.
“She just put me in a good position out of the break,” Camacho said. “After that, [Celtic Dispute] shakes loose a little bit, so I just tried to stay away from her, because they’re first-time horses. Before the three-eighths pole, I know we’re going to the first wire, so I asked my filly and she responded right away. She had enough kick to the end.”
Florida-bred Celtic Dispute was a decisive second by five-and-three-quarters lengths ahead of 20-1 longshot Jost a Chance Yadi in third. It was another length back to Florida-bred Dorothy in fourth with Satira fifth. Dama Du Sucre was a late scratch.
Boots paid $7 to win.
Boots is by Arindel’s foundation sire Brethren out of the Ghostzapper mare Medusa whose only sibling, the 3-year-old colt Bowie, has one second in six starts. Ghostzapper won four Grade 1 races and nearly $3.5 million in purses and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Wait a While was a three-time Grade 1 winner of close to $2.2 million who was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2006.
“She won very easy,” Camacho said. “She’s not 100 percent there. She’s still learning and she’s going to be an even better horse. Thank God and the owners for putting me on this winner.”
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