Mattingly will reunite with Fernando De La Cruz for Saturday’s Chasing Artie Handicap at Gulfstream Park, bringing together a jockey and ownership team with a successful history through the horse’s sire, Bucchero. Trainer Joe Orseno hopes the partnership can build on Mattingly’s recent improvement as the Florida-bred gelding prepares for another five-furlong turf challenge.
De La Cruz has recorded more than 2,800 career winners and has secured multiple graded stakes victories. Among his notable achievements were back-to-back wins aboard Bucchero in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland in 2017 and 2018. Bucchero raced for Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC, which now campaigns Mattingly in partnership with Harlow Stables LLC.
The established relationship helped Orseno find a suitable rider for the Chasing Artie Handicap, which will share top billing on Saturday’s 10-race programme with the Daring Kathy Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile turf contest for fillies and mares.
After struggling to secure a jockey, Orseno approached Harlan Malter, managing partner of the Ironhorse ownership syndicate, about contacting De La Cruz. The jockey accepted the opportunity, adding a familiar connection to Mattingly’s preparations.
De La Cruz currently holds a lead of more than 20 victories in the Horseshoe Indianapolis jockey standings and has won the track championship three times.
Mattingly Arrives at Gulfstream Park in Strong Form
Mattingly enters the Chasing Artie Handicap following an impressive last-to-first victory in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint on September 12. The five-furlong stakes was transferred from turf to Gulfstream Park’s Tapeta surface because of weather conditions.
Juan Hernandez, who was at Gulfstream Park that day to ride Simply Joking in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney, partnered Mattingly to victory. The performance came in the gelding’s second start since being gelded, following a three-month break from racing.
Mattingly had previously finished a close third in the Warrior’s Pride Handicap on turf at Gulfstream Park on August 9, making a promising return with a late-running effort.
Orseno believes the horse is in good condition and ready to race again. Although Mattingly showed considerable ability early in his career, difficult trips and inconsistent results prevented the gelding from fully realising that promise.
The decision to geld Mattingly was intended to help unlock that potential. The recent results suggest the change has been beneficial, with the trainer encouraged by the horse’s progress.
Mattingly has been assigned 123 pounds, sharing the highest weight in the field with Souper Quest. Stablemate Extendo will carry 122 pounds.
Extendo Joins Mattingly in Gulfstream Park Challenge
Orseno will also saddle Robert Cotran’s Extendo, a six-year-old son of Handsome Mike who won the Warrior’s Pride Handicap. Extendo finished seventh behind Mattingly in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, although his performance may have been affected by a pulmonary bleeding issue during a race conducted without Lasix.
The trainer reported that Extendo had undergone further examination and was showing satisfactory results. Edwin Gonzalez will return to ride the gelding, giving Orseno two runners with recent form to consider in Saturday’s contest.
Souper Quest, owned by Live Oak Plantation and trained by Mark Casse, is another leading contender. The Munnings gelding finished second in the Da Hoss Stakes over five furlongs at Colonial Downs and has recorded 13 in-the-money finishes from 18 turf starts, including two victories at Gulfstream Park. Sonny Leon retains the mount.
Rouki, trained by Gerald Bennett, also brings competitive recent form. The six-year-old finished ahead of Mattingly in the Warrior’s Pride Handicap, where he was beaten by a half-length by Extendo. Rouki subsequently finished fourth in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, with Samy Camacho booked to ride again.
Esperon, trained by David Braddy, will carry 122 pounds after finishing third in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint. The son of Chitu has finished in the money in each of his last six starts, and Diego Herrera will continue in the saddle.
Itza Boss and Axthelm will carry 120 pounds. Leonel Reyes will ride Itza Boss, trained by Jose D’Angelo, after the runner finished fifth in the Umphrey Turf Sprint. Axthelm, trained by Bobby Dibona, will make his first appearance of 2026 under Miguel Vasquez while seeking his first victory since 2024.
The remaining runners are Full Disclosure, Naughty Rascal, Guns Loaded, Three Zero and Ajaayb, completing a competitive field for the five-furlong turf handicap.
Gulfstream Park Friday Feature Draws Leading Jockeys
Gulfstream Park will resume live racing on Friday with a nine-race programme headed by an optional claiming contest over one mile in Race 8. The event has attracted a field of three-year-olds and a strong group of jockeys from the current Sunshine Meet.
Leonel Reyes leads the jockey standings with 18 victories and is scheduled to partner Azam, trained by Jose D’Angelo. Azam narrowly missed victory by a neck under similar conditions in the horse’s previous start.
Diego Herrera, Samy Camacho and Miguel Vasquez are tied for second place in the standings with 16 wins each. Edwin Gonzalez has also been in good form, recording 14 victories from 31 mounts during the Sunshine Meet.
The Race 8 contest will headline Friday’s programme, which offers another opportunity for the leading riders to strengthen their positions in the standings as the Gulfstream Park meeting continues.
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