Reylu Gutierrez made a remarkable return to Gulfstream Park on Friday, guiding Losecontrol, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., to a confident win in the day’s second race. The 29-year-old jockey, who hails from Rochester, New York, was previously based at Ellis Park and Churchill Downs. He now plans to remain at Gulfstream through the rest of the Royal Palm Meet and continue riding during the Sunshine Meet later this fall.
Gutierrez expressed his enthusiasm about coming back to familiar ground. Known for his breakout success as an apprentice at Gulfstream in 2018, he has since built an impressive career with over 700 wins across various circuits, including the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southern California. On Saturday, he’s scheduled to ride in four races, including two for Joseph, a trainer he’s worked with closely in the past.
Saturday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park features several exciting contests. One of the highlights is a six-race sequence beginning in Race 6 and concluding with Race 11. The opener of that stretch showcases Florida-bred 2-year-old fillies over five furlongs. Among the debutantes is Tessellate, a bay filly by McKinzie and a high-profile yearling purchase. Trained by meet leader Saffie Joseph Jr., she arrives after a consistent set of workouts at Palm Meadows.
Another promising newcomer is Finding Strength, trained by Michael Yates, who has a strong record with debut runners. Trainer Gary Jackson sends out Lady Chance and Rogue Runner, who finished second and third respectively in a similar race last month. Lady Chance is sired by 2019 FSS double winner Chance It, while Rogue Runner is by Rogueish, a once-raced winner trained by Steve Asmussen.
Saturday’s main feature appears in Race 10—an optional claiming allowance for three-year-olds and older, run over one mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta surface. King d’Oro, the top choice on the program, brings solid form with consistent finishes and two victories during the previous Championship Meet. Challengers include Navy Cross, who has won three of his last four races, and Stroke of Midnight, who recently triumphed in a seven-furlong event on the turf.
Meanwhile, Gulfstream Park’s leading jockeys Edgard Zayas and Emisael Jaramillo will be riding elsewhere on Saturday. Zayas, who leads the standings with 79 victories, has mounts at Monmouth Park, including Lord Eddard Stark in the United Nations (G2), Vitality in the Monmouth Cup (G3), and Eamonn in the Wolf Hill Stakes. All three horses have notable wins from earlier Gulfstream meets, showcasing Zayas’ strong connections.
Monmouth’s top attraction is the prestigious Haskell (G1), which features major three-year-old names like Burnham Square and Preakness winner Journalism. Sacred Wish, runner-up in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2), is the favorite in the Matchmaker (G3), facing a competitive field including No Mo Candy, trained by Joseph Jr.
Jaramillo, second in the Gulfstream standings with 60 wins, will head to Saratoga for two graded stakes. He’ll ride Twirling Queen in the Caress (G3) for Jose D’Angelo and Nakatomi in the A.G. Vanderbilt (G2) for Wesley Ward. The Vanderbilt also includes Damon’s Mound, a winner at Gulfstream, now trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Jaramillo previously tasted success at Saratoga this season with Mythical, a two-year-old he piloted to a stakes win in June.
Friday’s card also saw impressive performances from other riders. Miguel Vasquez picked up two wins aboard Mom’s Martini and Victory Dash, while Rajiv Maragh enjoyed victories with Brenna and Lily Bird. Jockey Edwin Gonzalez is on the cusp of a major milestone with 1,999 career wins and is slated for nine rides on Saturday as he aims for number 2,000.
