Joe Orseno couldn’t hide his emotions. As Hades powered past the wire at Gulfstream Park last month, the veteran trainer threw his arms in the air, kissed his cap, and hugged his team. The crowd roared, owners D.J. Stable and Robert Cotran cheered — it was the comeback they had been waiting for. And then, just as quickly, the victory was snatched away.
The gelding’s gutsy performance in the Tackleberry Overnight Handicap should have been the fairytale return. Instead, a drifting incident in deep stretch led to a heartbreaking disqualification, placing him second behind Catalytic.
Five weeks on, Orseno insists the sting has faded. “Everyone was thrilled with the race,” he said. “When you get a performance like that, it’s not about the money. It’s about the way he dug in. He showed us he’s back.”
Now, Hades faces his moment of redemption. The Florida-bred son of Awesome Slew tops a competitive eight-horse field in Saturday’s $70,000 Black Diamond Cat Overnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park — a 1 1/16-mile feature that headlines an 11-race card on the Royal Palm Meet’s closing weekend.
Hades Chases Redemption in Black Diamond Cat
Carrying topweight of 123 pounds under leading jockey Edgard Zayas, Hades breaks from the rail as the 2-1 morning-line favorite. His July 25 run marked just his second start as a four-year-old and his first at Gulfstream since his electric unbeaten streak early in 2024, capped by a Grade 3 Holy Bull win over eventual Grade 1 star Domestic Product and champion Fierceness.
Orseno admitted that the Tackleberry came sooner than planned. “He wasn’t 100% ready for a mile and an eighth, but he fought like a lion,” he said. “That race told me everything I needed to know — he’s fit, he’s willing, and he’s ready.”
Hades sharpened up with a mile workout on August 24, clocking 1:48.60 over the main track. Connections hope Saturday marks the next chapter in what could still be a big four-year-old campaign.
Catalytic, Lightning Tones, and Relampago Verde Add Depth
Standing firmly in Hades’ way is familiar rival Catalytic (5-2), who benefited from the Tackleberry disqualification to notch his first win for trainer Antonio Sano. A son of Army Mule, Catalytic has finished outside the top two only once in 10 career starts — a distant 19th in the 2024 Kentucky Derby — and reunites with jockey Edwin Gonzalez from post six.
Third-choice Lightning Tones (7-2), a seasoned Gulfstream specialist, returns from a three-month freshening for his 30th career start. The Tonalist gelding, trained by Carlos David, brings a résumé featuring the 2023 Carry Back and Sunshine Classic wins, plus a third in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2).
Trainer Bobby Dibona’s Relampago Verde (4-1) ran a solid third in the Tackleberry and continues to improve, while Fiveeyesonskystars (15-1) looks to build on a promising fourth-place effort last time out.
Rounding out the field are Roar of the Beast (10-1), representing Royal Palm Meet leader Saffie Joseph Jr., veteran Las Olas (30-1) making his 30th start, and Smart Striker (15-1), a stakes-placed Tapeta specialist.
A Race Honoring a Local Star
The Black Diamond Cat Handicap pays tribute to the popular Florida-bred gelding who raced 66 times between 2009 and 2015, capturing nine wins — five in stakes — and earning over $500,000. Saturday’s edition promises a worthy showcase, blending proven Gulfstream specialists and rising contenders.
For Orseno and his team, though, one thing matters: redemption. “He’s back,” the trainer repeated, smiling. “Now we just need to prove it.”
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For race details, schedules, and live updates, visit Gulfstream Park’s official website.
