BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Spicy Taco and jockey Diego Herrera overcame a slow start and tight quarters early to make a big late run and debut with a nice victory in a $65,000 maiden special weight for at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Trained by Luis Ramirez, Spicy Taco topped a field of seven Florida-bred 2-year-olds racing four-and-a-half furlongs.

Spicy Taco banked $39,000 for owner Smith Ranch Stables while also earning a $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Capped at $1 million, the FSRI program pays $20,000 to the owner and $5,000 to the breeder of eligible Florida-sired juvenile winners of maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming and stakes run at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs in 2026. 

Both 2-year-old winners at Gulfstream Saturday, including Florida-bred Colombina in Race 2, earned the FSRI bonus. The FSRI bonus has been paid out to the winner of nine of the ten juvenile races, including the two stakes, held this year at Gulfstream.

Spicy Taco started a step slow from post two but Herrera had him quickly underway on the rail before Win Jet Win moved into his path as they neared the turned. Even-money favorite Strike showed the way through two furlongs in :22.20 with Road to Midnight and King Henry in close pursuit and Spicy Taco still four lengths back in fifth to the outside of Win Jet Win. Strike had three lengths on King Henry in second turning for home as Spicy Taco was on the move four wide with three-and-a-half lengths still to make up. Spicy Taco made up three lengths in the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length in :53.56 on the fast track. Strike was second with King Henry three lengths farther back in third. Etruscan Warrior, Slew de Oro, Road to Midnight and Win Jet Win completed the order of finish.

Spicy Taco paid $14.60 to win.

 

Spicy Taco is by Uncle Chuck out of Overbeliever, by Midshipman and was bred by Bulldog Racing and Four Horseman’s Ranch.

He was a $14,000 selection by bloodstock agent Sean S. Pearl at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale where he was consigned by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm. He is the second winner from three starters and four foals for Overbeliever, who has an unnamed Florida-bred colt by Global Campaign, also bred by Bulldog Racing and Four Horseman’s Ranch. She was bred to Leinster in 2025.

Note: Herrera, whose streak of multi-win days was stopped at seven Friday by a one-win day, got back on track at Gulfstream Saturday with two wins. The up-and-coming 22-year-old jockey, who ventured to Gulfstream from Santa Anita in late March, found the winners circle back-to-back aboard Western Shaft in Race 5 before winning on Spicy Taco.

Return to the June 20 issue of Wire to Wire