Saturday’s $70,000 Portofino Bay Handicap at Gulfstream Park is shaping up to be a showcase for consistency and class, with Orlyana Farm’s Great Venezuela emerging as the standout among a competitive field of fillies and mares sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta track.
The 4-year-old filly, trained by Victor Barboza Jr., has been nothing short of a model of reliability throughout her career. With a spotless record of 12 top-three finishes from as many starts—including seven wins—she has built a reputation as one of the most dependable performers in South Florida. A closer look at her Tapeta credentials only adds to her credentials: five wins and a second-place finish in six tries on the surface, including a sharp effort first time out.
While her recent campaigns have taken her to the turf, where she picked up a notable stakes victory at Tampa Bay Downs in the Lightning City, her return to Tapeta may see her at her most effective. Jockey Leonel Reyes, who has forged a strong connection with Great Venezuela over 11 prior rides, will once again be in the saddle.
The line-up for the Portofino Bay includes several other interesting contenders, most notably Mrs. Gambolini, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. A $325,000 Keeneland yearling purchase, she was a narrow runner-up in her last appearance and previously wired a field on the grass in the Golden Beach. Her Tapeta debut last summer was a convincing maiden score, and she enters this weekend’s contest as the high weight at 124 pounds with Edgard Zayas aboard.
Others in the field include Trumpets, Cousin Kristi, and Oh Darlin, all looking to make their mark in this stakes sprint. In addition to the feature race, Gulfstream Park will offer bettors added incentive on Sunday with a mandatory payout for the 20-cent Rainbow 6. The popular multi-race wager, which has eluded a single winner over five consecutive race days, is gaining momentum. With an estimated carryover set to reach $125,000 by Friday and potentially climbing to $1.25 million by Sunday, interest is building rapidly.
Friday’s six-race sequence will include a Tapeta sprint where veteran mare Amore Y Control, trained by Elizabeth Dobles, aims to regain her winning form after back-to-back second-place finishes. Previously, she had reeled off an impressive string of seven victories, and her new partnership with jockey Jose Morales adds intrigue to her comeback attempt.
On mandatory pay-out days, the full jackpot is distributed among ticket holders with the highest number of winners, regardless of whether a single perfect ticket is sold. This makes Sunday’s card particularly appealing to bettors seeking a significant score.
With high-stakes racing on the track and a potential seven-figure pay-out up for grabs, Gulfstream Park promises a thrilling weekend for fans and punters alike.
