After a series of twists and turns in his young career, Hades is set to rediscover his groove in Saturday’s $70,000 Mr. Jordan Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old gelding, known for his graded-stakes success around two turns, returns to a one-turn mile—a distance that has historically brought out the best in him.
Hades, owned by D J Stable LLC and Robert Cotran, started his career with consecutive one-turn victories at Gulfstream, hinting at his early speed and determination. Yet his journey around two turns in 2024 showcased his stamina and grit, most notably in the Holy Bull (G3) and the Curlin Florida Derby (G1). While he won the Holy Bull impressively, a bump at the start of the Florida Derby led to a fifth-place finish.
Trainer Joe Orseno remains optimistic about the one-turn setup on Saturday. “Hades is doing great and needs to run in a stake like this. I think cutting back to one turn will be good for him,” Orseno said.
After a six-month break, Hades returned to the track in June over a sloppy Saratoga surface for a seven-furlong allowance, finishing wide and off his best. He came back stronger in late July at Gulfstream, appearing poised for victory in the 1 1/8-mile Tackleberry Handicap under Edgard Zayas. However, a stewards’ ruling relegated him behind Catalytic for drifting out in the stretch. In his latest outing in the 1 1/16-mile Black Diamond Cat Handicap, Hades struggled with traffic and finished fourth.
Orseno remains confident with Zayas back aboard. “He didn’t get the best of trips last time off of winning and getting taken down. Now, Edgard is back on him, and he knows him,” the trainer said.
Hades will carry 122 pounds, slightly less than his main rivals: Steal Sunshine (124 pounds), Lure Him In (123), and Lightning Tones (123). All three present stiff competition, with Steal Sunshine returning to dirt after a turf stint, Lure Him In coming off a Pacific Classic (G1) effort at Del Mar, and Lightning Tones cutting back to one turn following a rallying win in the Black Diamond Cat.
Other contenders include Awesome Train, Big Data, Holiday Pay, Con Compania, and Classic of Course, making the Mr. Jordan Handicap a competitive field. With the right trip and a confident ride, Hades could once again remind fans why he’s a horse to watch in one-turn stakes.
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