BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Big Paradise makes his first start of the year and The Tiny Equestrian Group’s Mati Gol returns to the main track in the $75,000 Carry Back at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The Florida-breds are among seven 3-year-olds who will race seven furlongs.
Big Paradise won two of three starts last year and makes his first start since a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in the $81,000 Juvenile Sprint going six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 23. The David Fawkes-trained son of The Big Beast won at first asking against special weight maidens going six furlongs at Gulfstream in September then graduated into stakes company in his next start on Sept. 28. Unfortunately, he bobbled at the start and finished fourth in the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the male division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes won by juggernaut Rated by Merit.
Also bred by the Lieblong’s, Big Paradise is out of Paradise Bay, by Blame and has earned $89,610 in his three starts.
He is rated as the third choice on the morning line at 3-1 and will be ridden by Miguel Vasquez from the outside post seven.
Mati Gol made his stakes debut last time out in the $75,000 Roar at Gulfstream on May 17. Going five furlongs on the turf, he improved from fifth early to finish third, three-and-a-half lengths behind winning Florida-bred Most Handsome. In one other start this year, Mati Gol was also third in a state-bred allowance race going seven furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream on April 24.
Mati Gol has won one of five starts, a six-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds in December at Gulfstream. He also has a second and two thirds with revenues of $48,340.
Trainer Victor Barboza, Jr. has given the riding assignment to Jose Morelos and they will break from post three. Mati Gol is 15-1 on the morning line.
Here Comes Francis, who is undefeated in two starts for trainer Victor Barboza Jr., is the morning line favorite at even money.
A $250,000 purchase out of Steven Venosa’s S G V Thoroughbreds consignment by Jeff Kresnak at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Spring Sale, Here Comes Francis won at first asking in March, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight by a length-and-a-half at Gulfstream. Friday, he makes his first start since winning his next race by more than five lengths against first level, $75,000 optional claimers going six-and-a-half furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on April 26.
(Here Comes Francis’s Under Tack Video)
A son of Improbable, Here Comes Francis has earned $61,500 in his two starts for owner Arcadia Michigan Stables.
He will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo and has drawn post one.
Rounding out the field are Grand Joker with jockey Jonathan Ocasio, Outta Money will be guided by Cipriano Gil, Luis Fuenmayor takes the call on Insurmountable and Forged Steel will be ridden by Edgard Zayas.
Return to the July 3 issue of Wire to Wire
