Shaq Diesel Fires Up Gulfstream Park Crowd with Stakes Win – August 24, 2025
The Gulfstream Park conducted a line-up of ten live races on August 24th, 2025 with the first contest starting at 12:50 pm. The highlight of the day was a stakes race for three-year-old and upward runners. The programme featured maiden events, maiden claiming tests, and special weight races, ensuring a fun-filled racing experience for those in attendance.
The afternoon opened with a claiming race for fillies three years old or fillies and mares four years old and upward that had never won three races. Staged on a sloppy 1 1/16-mile track with a purse of $28,000, the event was taken by Trumpetta (J: Edwin Gonzalez, T: Steve Klesaris). Diamonds N Thrills (J: Yolber Torres, T: Victor Barboza Jr.) followed next, with Smart Style (J: Jonathan Ocasio, T: Roger Laurin) filling the placings.
Next came a maiden test restricted to fillies and mares three years old and upward, run on a sloppy 5½-furlong strip for $26,500 in prize money. Seeking a Prayer (J: Reylu Gutierrez, T: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.) strode away to victory, ahead of Meet Me in the Air (J: Edwin Gonzalez, T: Eniel Cordero) and Muscle Maiden (J: Edgard J. Zayas, T: Jose Francisco D’Angelo).
Another maiden event followed, this time for three-year-olds and upward over six furlongs with the same $26,500 purse. Fourty Four (J: Leonel Reyes, T: Rafael Romero) secured the win, with Senor Money (J: Emisael Jaramillo, T: Jose Pinchin) and UFO (J: Luis Fuenmayor, T: Kathleen O’Connell) completing the frame.
The action rolled into a $24,500 event for three-year-olds, or four-year-olds and upward, who had never won three races. The 5½-furlong sprint delivered a double to trainer Amador Merei Sanchez as Reverend Moon (J: Emisael Jaramillo) won narrowly from stablemate To Monarch (J: Marcos Meneses). Star of the Beast (J: Jose Morelos, T: Laura Cazares) was third.
The card’s richest maiden contest arrived next — a mile and seventy yards on a sloppy track with $56,000 on offer. Maruvy (J: Edgard J. Zayas, T: Jose Francisco D’Angelo) emerged the winner, chased home by Maximus Cat (J: Edwin Gonzalez, T: Gerald Bennett) and Replevin (J: Miguel Angel Vasquez, T: Laura Cazares).
Fillies and mares three years old and upward took the stage in a 6½-furlong claiming contest worth $33,000, restricted to those who had started for $12,500 or less since August 2023 or carried a $20,000 tag. St. Olaf Rose (J: Leonel Reyes, T: Frank J. Regalbuto) proved strongest, with Sea Art (J: Edwin Gonzalez, T: Victor Barboza Jr.) second and Singing Sandra (J: Heriberto Figueroa, T: Carlos Luis Perez) third.
The programme then produced another lively sprint for fillies and mares three years old and upward, contested over six furlongs on a sloppy dirt track with a $29,000 purse. Motown Mika (J: Luca Panici, T: Amador Merei Sanchez) finished best, denying R Firebird (J: Marcos Meneses, T: Steve Budhoo) and Smart Jenny (J: Miguel Angel Vasquez, T: Clifton A. Christie).
The stamina test of the day came next: a 1 1/16-mile contest for three-year-olds and upward with a $27,000 purse. Light Fury (J: Edwin Gonzalez, T: David Fawkes) outstayed rivals, with Guildenstern (J: Cipriano Gil, T: Sebastian Pulgarin) second and Tapit Three Times (J: Jonathan Ocasio, T: Bobby Dibona) third.
The feature stakes event carried $75,000 in prize money and was run over seven furlongs for three-year-olds and upward. Shaq Diesel (J: Miguel Angel Vasquez, T: David Fawkes) delivered the headline performance of the afternoon, drawing loud cheers from the grandstand. The Golden Gorilla (J: Jose Morelos, T: Jena Antonucci) was runner-up, with Fawkes’ other entry Pure Class (J: Emisael Jaramillo) completing the top three.
The finale, another maiden test, was staged over 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track with $29,000 at stake. A Great Date (J: Leonel Reyes, T: Jose Francisco D’Angelo) took the honours, beating Blushing Tiger (J: Luca Panici, T: Christopher Hall) and Lunetta Jak (J: Elijah Greenidge, T: Diley A. Dakin).
A fitting finish at Gulfstream Park
By the close of play, the crowd had seen a blend of maiden breakthroughs, training doubles, and a stakes highlight from Shaq Diesel. Gulfstream Park once again showed its ability to mix emerging names with seasoned hands on a card full of variety and drama.
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