BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Although one might be wondering why the connections of Florida-bred Mattingly would look to Horseshoe Indianapolis to secure a jockey for Saturday’s $69,000 Chasing Artie Handicap at Gulfstream Park, a review of Fernando De La Cruz’s career highlights should provide more than a hint.
The multiple graded stakes-winning journeyman, who has ridden more than 2,800 winners, enjoyed two of his most memorable victories aboard Mattingly’s sire, Bucchero, whom he rode to back-to-back triumphs in the Woodford Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in 2017-2018.
Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC, the owner of Bucchero, campaigns Mattingly with Harlow Stables LLC.
“Fernando rode Bucchero for the owner, Ironhorse. They’ve had a relationship for years,” trainer Joe Orseno said while noting that De La Cruz won the $1.7 million Kentucky Turf Cup (Grade 2) at Kentucky Downs in 2023 aboard Get Smokin’, who was owned by Ironhorse Racing Stable and partners.
When Orseno had trouble finding a rider for the Chasing Arite, a five-furlong overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and older on turf that will co-headline Saturday’s 10-race card with the $60,000 Daring Kathy overnight handicap for fillies and mares on turf, he contacted Harlan Malter, the managing partner of the Ironhorse ownership syndicate.
“I came up with the idea. ‘You have a connection with Fernando, why don’t you see if Fernando will come ride the horse?’” Orseno said. “Fernando jumped on it.”
De La Cruz, who currently has a 20-plus win lead in this season’s Horseshoe Indianapolis standings, is a three-time titlist at the track.
Mattingly is coming off an impressive last-to-first win in the $92,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, a five-furlong stakes on September 12 that was transferred to Gulfstream’s synthetic course due to weather. Southern California’s leading jockey Juan Hernandez, who was at Gulfstream to ride Simply Joking in the Princess Rooney (G3) that day, was aboard for Mattingly’s victory in his second start since being gelded. The Florida-bred gelding had returned from a three-month layoff with a close-up, late-closing third in the $70,000 Warrior’s Pride Handicap on turf at Gulfstream August 9.
“This horse is doing really well right now. We need to run him,” Orseno said.
Mattingly showed a lot of talent from the start of his career but had fallen short of living up to his potential, prompting the decision to geld him.
“This horse has had some rough trips. He probably should have knocked out a couple more races,” Orseno said. “Five-eighths turf racing at Gulfstream – the best horse doesn’t always win. It’s all about the trip.
“We just felt like we need to try something,” he added. “The dream was that maybe he was going to be a stallion and stand next to Bucchero, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen. We decided to try something to help him, and it looks like it did.”
Mattingly, who is priced at 6-1 on the morning line, has been assigned co-highweight of 123 pounds, one more than Orseno-stablemate Extendo.
Robert Cotran’s Extendo, a 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Handsome Mike, captured the $70,000 Warrior’s Pride Handicap, is scheduled to accompany Mattingly and 10 others in the starting gate Saturday. Extendo, who is priced at 8-1 on the morning line, finished an even seventh behind Mattingly in the Umphrey Turf Sprint.
“We cleaned him up and scoped him the other day and he scoped perfect,” Orseno said. “I think Mattingly and Extendo are a good 1-2 punch.”
Hot-riding Edwin Gonzalez has the return mount aboard Extendo.
Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Quest, the 123-pound co-highweight, has been installed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite and is coming off a runner-up finish in the $151,000 Da Hoss going five-and-a-half furlongs over Colonial Downs’ turf course on September 7.
Sonny Leon has the return mount on the Mark Casse-trained Munnings gelding, who has 13 in-the-money finishes from 18 turf starts, including two wins at Gulfstream.
Winning Stables Inc., JPG 2 LLC and Mr. Pug LLC’s Florida-bred Rouki has held his own while competing against Mattingly in his last two starts. The Gerald Bennett-trained 6-year-old gelding, who finished a neck in front of Mattingly while beaten by a half-length by Extendo in the Warrior’s Pride Handicap, is coming off an even fourth-place finish in the Umphrey Turf Sprint.
Samy Camacho has the return mount on Rouki, who has been assigned 122 pounds and is priced at 8-1 on the morning line.
Champion Equine LLC’s Esperon, who set a pressured pace before tiring to third in the Umphrey Turf Sprint, will also carry 122 pounds after finishing in the money in his last six starts. The David Braddy-trained son of Chitu will be ridden back by Diego Herrera.
Fugget About It Racing Stable’s Itza Boss and Stonebase LLC, Michael Ivarone and Jules Ivarone’s Axthelm, will both carry 120 pounds. Sunshine Meet’s leading rider Leonel Reyes has the call on Jose D’Angelo-trained Itza Boss, who came up short late to finish fifth in the Umphrey Turf Sprint. Bobby Dibona-trained Axthelm will seek his first win since 2024 while making his first start of 2026 under Miguel Vasquez.
Sherry Racing Inc.’s Full Disclosure, Mr. Pug LLC and JPG 2 LLC’s Naughty Rascal, Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable’s Guns Loaded, Auricchio and Jacobson LLC’s Three Zero and All Stars Stables LLC’s Ajaayb round out the field.
Return to the October 9 issue of Wire to Wire
