There was a sense of quiet satisfaction in trainer Ron Spatz’s voice as he watched Private Thoughts stride back to the winner’s enclosure at Gulfstream Park. The gelding had just done it again notching his third consecutive victory in the $70,000 Jet Propulsion, and doing so with heart, grit, and just enough daylight to spare.
“Three in a row. It’s awesome,” Spatz said, his tone a blend of pride and relief. “He had a few minor issues before, we took care of them, and now he’s come back fresh.”
A Confident Ride, a Close Finish
Ridden perfectly by Leonel Reyes, the 4-year-old son of Neolithic broke sharply and settled in right behind Prevent and Tocayo, stalking the pace through measured fractions of 24.04 and 47.61 seconds. As the field turned for home in the 1 1/16-mile handicap — switched from turf to Tapeta — Reyes asked for his mount’s trademark kick, and Private Thoughts responded with authority.
Behind him, Relampago Verde and Miguel Vasquez launched a fierce late run that briefly threatened to spoil the party. But Private Thoughts dug in bravely, holding off the challenger by a head in 1:39.73, keeping his streak alive.
“The trip was perfect,” Reyes said. “It went exactly to plan. Coming to the wire he was waiting for the others, and when he felt them coming, he found more.”
Both Private Thoughts and Relampago Verde carried 118 pounds, seven fewer than co-highweights Lorenze and Just a Photo, who finished third and fourth respectively.
For Spatz, the win carried sentimental value. Purchased for just $11,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale, Private Thoughts has since turned into a trainer’s dream — a durable, honest horse who now owns seven wins from 15 starts.
“He was an inexpensive little 2-year-old,” Spatz smiled. “But he’s certainly stolen my heart.”
First Wins for Arscott and Pulgarin Highlight Undercard
The undercard produced a pair of heartwarming milestones for two hardworking horsemen.
In Race 6, Garrett Arscott, a former Caymanas Park trainer from Jamaica, celebrated his first U.S. victory when Antillean, an Ontario-bred 5-year-old gelding, slipped up the rail under Wesley Henry to win by 1ÂĽ lengths in 1:38.48.
“It’s special,” Arscott said, after securing the breakthrough with just his third U.S. starter — all with Antillean. “It’s been a long journey, but moments like this make it worth it.”
Later in Race 11, 31-year-old Sebastian Pulgarin achieved a personal landmark of his own when Kalik stormed home from off the pace to spring a 15-1 upset, earning Pulgarin his first career training win.
The Colombian-born trainer, a former assistant to Carlos David, now manages eight horses and had been knocking on the door with several close finishes. “I’m just grateful,” he said. “We’ve been trying hard. This one means everything.”
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $50,000
Attention now turns to Sunday’s program at Gulfstream Park, where the Rainbow 6 jackpot has rolled over again. The 20-cent multi-race wager will feature an estimated $50,000 pool, following Saturday’s unsolved sequence.
The six-race sequence spans Races 5–10, highlighted by a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds in Race 6 featuring Arindel homebred Hawk, and a five-furlong Tapeta sprint in Race 9 where Be Thankful chases her third straight win.
A mandatory payout is scheduled for October 12, ensuring a full jackpot distribution to tickets with the most winners.
Post time for Sunday’s first race is 12:50 p.m.
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