BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Unsuccessful in four tries against stakes horses, 47 Roses LLC’s Ghostly Rose will drop in class for Thursday’s eighth race at Gulfstream Park, a $35,000 optional claiming starter allowance for eight 2-year-olds going five furlongs on the all-weather course.
Trained by Javier Gonzalez, Ghostly Rose won his first start against special weight maidens over the synthetic course at Gulfstream in June, winning by nearly three lengths.
He then twice chased home winner Governor Sam, first when fifth in the $100,000 Tyro sprinting on the Monmouth Park turf in August before finishing third in the $138,000 Exacta Systems Rosies going five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Colonial Downs on Sept. 7.
Gonzalez then tried sprinting him on the synthetic course at Gulfstream in the $95,000 Hollywood Beach on Sept. 28, but the grey or roan son of Battalion Runner could do no better than fourth, three lengths behind winning Florida-bred Most Handsome.
Most recently, Ghostly Rose was sixth after being bumped at the start of the $135,000 Atlantic Beach won by Warheart going six furlongs on the turf on Nov. 1.
Bred in Florida by St. Elias Stables, LLC, Ghostly Rose is out of Let Right Be Done, by War Front and has earned $65,794 in his five races. He was purchased for a bargain $3,500 out of the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale.
Ghostly Rose will be ridden from post three by Leonel Reyes.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will saddle Venezuela Is Gold for the first time Thursday after claiming the chestnut colt for $35,000 out of a maiden victory on the grass at Gulfstream in September.
That was just the second career start for Venezuela is Gold after finishing third under the same conditions at Gulfstream on Aug. 11.
Venezuela Is Gold is by Bucchero out of My New Venezuela, by Ghostzapper and was bred in Florida by Orlyana Farm. He is owned by Skymac Stables LLC and has $28,440 in earnings from his two starts.
Jockey Edgard Zayas will guide Venezuela is Gold from the outside post eight.
Makoa looks for his second career victory after winning a $16,000 maiden claiming over the Gulfstream synthetic course in his second career start on Sept. 20. He was unfortunate in his only race since, finishing sixth after breaking out in a nonwinners of two, $75,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-70-yards on synthetic at Gulfstream on Oct. 11.
Nicholas Palmer trains Makoa for Teresa and David Palmer, who also bred the dark bay or brown colt. Makoa is by Street Boss out of Boss Babe, by Take Charge Indy and has career earnings of $16,920.
Jose Morelos has the mount and they have drawn post seven.
Rounding out the field are Torch is Passed with jockey Miguel Vasquez, Dios Will and rider Emisael Jaramillo, Florida-bred Sweet Cha Cha will have Jonathan Ocasio up, Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Possum and Florida-bred Spice Bag has Samuel Marin taking the call.
