The first juvenile races of the year at Gulfstream Park arrive on Thursday with familiar colours to the fore, as Alan Cohen’s Arindel Farm sends out two well-bred fillies in Race 2 of the Royal Palm Meet. Twelve months ago, the same operation introduced Mythical at this stage of the season, and she went on to build one of the standout two-year-old campaigns of the year.
That success gives added intrigue to the reappearance of Arindel on the opening card, where seven fillies line up over 4½ furlongs in a maiden special weight on the main track. First post on the eight-race programme is set for 12:50 p.m.
Mythical used this race as the springboard to a fine season, winning five stakes in her next seven starts, including victories against male rivals and at Grade 3 level. She has now won six of eight starts, most recently taking the Any Limit over six furlongs on March 14.
Arindel will be represented this time by Dorothy and Boots, both homebred daughters of Brethren and both carrying pedigrees that suggest ability and speed.
Dorothy, trained by Carlos David, has drawn the rail and will be partnered by Paco Lopez. Installed among the leading fancies, she is out of the stakes-winning Sweet Khaleesi and is a full sister to stakes-performed fillies Mist and Evolution. She is also related to Olga, an eight-time winner who earned more than $315,000 across a durable career.
Her preparation began with five breezes at Arindel’s Ocala base before three further timed works at Palm Meadows.
David said: “They always have a good base when they come from the farm. They do such a good job there. Hopefully she comes out of the gate running. It’s always about the gate with these young horses. We’ve done a lot of schooling there.”
Boots, the other Arindel contender, is trained by Jorge Delgado and has been made the early choice on the market. She breaks from stall six with Samy Camacho aboard. Out of Medusa, a daughter of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, she has also completed a polished series of works ahead of her debut.
David added: “Boots seems a little bit sharper than her, but she comes from a good family so she should be OK. I’ve got Paco, too, so that will help.”
The trainer also saddles Silver Magic, a Florida homebred owned by Richard Arnold. Drawn in post four, she is by Grade 2 winner Magic On Tap and is out of Magical Madam, making her a half-sister to stakes winner Magical Warrior.
Another notable newcomer is Celtic Dispute from the Patrick Biancone stable. Drawn in post two, she is by Leinster and out of Bert’s Altarcation. She is a half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed Vulcan and has completed four workouts at Palm Meadows, one of them on turf.
The remainder of the field is completed by Satira, Dama Du Sucre and Jost a Chance Yadi.
Juvenile action continues on Sunday with an open maiden over the same trip, where Arindel is again strongly represented by Strike and Medieval.
Strike, trained by Delgado, is a Florida-bred son of Grade 1 winner Roadster and has drawn the rail with Camacho booked. Medieval, a New York-bred homebred filly descending from Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, will start from post six under Lopez.
David said of Strike: “We’ll see what happens. We want to give him one good experience and get him some schooling and if he wins, he wins. You have to get them going somewhere, so we’ll get him some experience and get his feet under him and go from there.”
The trainer has also been active in the sales ring, spending recent days in Kentucky and at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction searching for future prospects.
“This is what it’s all about,” he said. “Trying to get some winners, trying to get the next thing and horses that can take you up to the next level.”
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