BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Graded stakes-winner Octane returns to Gulfstream Park for the $80,000 Big Drama Handicap Saturday after two races at Oaklawn Park where he won the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in February. The Arindel homebred son of Brethren is one of four Florida-breds in the seven-horse field of 3-year-olds and older in the seven-furlong contest that will share the day’s spotlight with the $75,000 Mr. Steele for older horses on the turf.
Both stakes offer a $20,000 Top 3 bonus for Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Octane was out of the money in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap won by Skippylongstocking on April 20 but returns to Hallandale Beach where he has finished in the top three in 11 of 15 races including six wins, half of which have come in stakes. His last added-money score at Gulfstream came in the $150,000 FTBOA Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap against Florida-breds in October.
For his career, the son of the Aldebaran mare Star Recruit has won eight of 19 career starts with four seconds and a third with earnings of $1,042,605.
Trainer Juan Alvarado has given the riding assignment to Emisael Jaramillo and they have drawn post six. Octane is the 124 pound highweight.
Florida-bred Loco Abarrio also has a solid record on the Gulfstream main track with 10 top three finishes in 11 starts including five wins.
Trained by Ronald Spatz for Mad Dog Racing Stable and Joseph H. Parker, Loco Abarrio makes his first start since finishing third to winner Run Classic in the $129,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint on Feb. 24. He won his previous start on the Gulfstream main track taking a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming on Dec. 24.
Loco Abarrio is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of Ballyhoo Moon, by Malibu Moon and was bred in Florida by Rivermont Farm. He has earned $233,680 from five wins, six seconds and two thirds from 16 lifetime starts, providing good return for Mad Dog Racing and Spatz. They claimed him for $35,000 from trainer Carlos Perez out of his second career start in November of 2022.
Perez purchased Loco Abarrio for $15,000 out of the Beth Bayer consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale.
Loco Abarrio will be ridden by Edwin Gonzalez from post two and is assigned to carry 120 pounds.
Trainer David Fawkes is hoping Florida-bed Shaq Diesel will duplicate his length-and-a-half victory in an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming at Gulfstream in his last race on April 20.
The 4-year-old son of Journeyman Stud’s leading sire Khozan has a consistent record for owners Chester A. Bishop, Anthony Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, Patrick Biggs and Donovan Stanford having won six of 16 with a second and a third while banking $255,680. He looks for his first stakes victory since taking the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 9.
Bred in Florida by Bishop Racing Inc., Shaq Diesel is out of Kleodora, by Tiznow and will be ridden by Miguez Vazquez from post four. He too has a 120-pound impost.
Florida-bred Ticking has won all three of his lifetime victories at Gulfstream including an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming on Jan 24. In one race since, he was seventh in the $125,000 Sir Shackleton won by Oscar Eclipse at Gulfstream on March 30.
A $675,000 purchase out of the de Meric Sales consignment by current owners Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Laurie Plesa at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale, Ticking is by Bolt d’Oro out of Polyester, by Tiz Wonderful. He was bred in Florida by France and the late Irwin Weiner and Valery and Tristan de Meric.
Ticking has won three with a third from nine career starts with earnings of $151,838 and Edgard Zayazs will ride from post seven. Ticking has a 118-pound assignment.
Also entered are Mbagnick (Chi) with jockey Marcos Meneses, Collaborate and rider Leonel Reyes and Edgar Perez will be aboard Vivir Con Alegria (Chi).
