BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Arindel homebred Evolution, back in South Florida after a disappointing trip to Saratoga last month for her stakes debut, looks to resume her winning ways in Saturday’s $75,000 Sharp Susan at Gulfstream Park.
The Sharp Susan for 2-year-old fillies and Proud Man for 2-year-olds, each sprinting six furlongs on the main track, are the co-headliners on an 11-race program that kicks off at 12:50 p.m.
Evolution, trained by Carlos David, had an eventful run in the $150,000 Schuylerville won by Kingsolver at six furlongs on July 4. She stumbled badly at the start from her inside post and then had to check sharply after pressing the pace for a quarter mile and was ultimately eased across the wire by jockey Luis Saez.
“We just got unlucky. She did pull a shoe off as soon as she stumbled from the start and that was it,” David said. “From the one hole it was not a good spot. So, we brought her back to Florida and regrouped with her and she’s been doing everything right. Her works are on point and this race kind of makes sense for her.”
Evolution debuted April 16 at Keeneland, running a distant but decisive second behind Wesley Ward-trained Satisfied Mind going four-and-a-half furlongs. She returned to her home track for a five-furlong maiden special weight May 15, leading every step of the way under jockey Edgard Zayas to win by two-and-three-quarters lengths as the even-money favorite.
“Her first race at Keeneland behind one of Wesley’s babies, of course you have to kind of send her. With that race under her and being aggressive that day, it’s just going to [carry over to her next race],” David said. “It wasn’t like the instructions were to go to the lead. I just said to break good and see where she puts you. She ended up going to the lead. I guess she likes it. I have to see how it looks on the day.
“She has to beat winners this time,” he added. “It didn’t really go well last time but she had an excuse there. I think she should be okay in this spot. There’s a couple in there that look good, as well, so it should be interesting.”
Zayas gets the return call on the chestnut daughter of Brethren from post six in a field of nine. They are 4-1 on the morning line.
Evolution breezed a half-mile in :47.95 July 26, fastest of 85 horses at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, and went the same distance in :49.90 Aug. 2.
“She worked good two back and then we slowed it down for the last breeze,” David said. “She’s ready to roll.”
Evolution is out of Sweet Khaleesi, by Maimonides and has earned $65,957 in her three starts.
Florida-breds Dakota’s Lil Auror, Tessellate and Willow Case are all coming off wins at Gulfstream Park.
Dakota’s Lil Auror is trained by Herbert Miller for Oliver Gray and won a maiden special weight for Florida-bred fillies by three-quarters of a length on June 20. That was her second out after finishing fourth in a maiden special weight for fillies on May 29. Both races were at four-and-a-half furlongs.
Dakota’s Lil Auror is by Echo Town out of Mony’slittlegracie, by Alphabet Soup and was bred in Florida by Crystal Lanum.
Jose Morelos will ride Dakota’s Lil Auror from post one and they are 15-1 in the program.
Tessellate won by two lengths in her debut against Florida-bred maiden special weight fillies at Gulfstream on July 19.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Magic Cap Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Kuehne Racing and John Reinhardt and breeder Castle Gate Farm LLC, Tessellate is by McKinzie out of Shotdowninflames, by Trappe Shot.
She has $25,800 to her credit from her lone start and will be ridden by Wilfred Vasquez from post three. Tessallate is 2-1 on the morning line.
Willow Case exits a one-length victory against maiden special weight fillies going four-and-a-half furlongs in her second start. She is trained by Ramon Minguet for Amanda Hernandez and will be ridden for the first time by Leonel Reyes from post four.
Willow Case is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, out of Pillow Case, by Drosselmeyer. She was bred in Florida by the late Sherry R. Mansfield and Kenneth H. Davis and has earnings of $42,200.
Willow Case is listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Mo Hijinx with Miguel Vasquez taking the riding assignment, Victory Music and rider Edwin Gonzalez up, Haute Diva has jockey Jonathan Ocasio, Emisael Jaramillo rides Late Night Text and Street Belle will carry Rajiv Maragh.
Florida-breds Let Them Watch in 2023 and Win N Your In last year won the last two versions of the Sharp Susan. Arindel looks for their second Sharp Susan having won with Florida-bred Onyx in 2019.
–Brock Sheridan contributed to this story
Return to the August 7 issue of Wire to Wire
