A powerful front-running display defined the Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, where R Disaster produced an emphatic performance to capture the $175,000 sprint in her first appearance of 2026.
Owned by Averill Racing LLC, Two Eight Racing LLC and ATM Racing, the five-year-old mare showed her customary speed from the outset, dictating the pace before pulling clear to win by an authoritative five and a half lengths. The victory extended an extraordinary run of consistency for the Florida-bred daughter of Awesome Slew, who has now finished first or second in 14 consecutive starts.
The Hurricane Bertie (G3) headlined a busy 12-race programme at the South Florida track, which also included the $125,000 Silks Run, a five-furlong turf sprint for older horses that went to Litigation, racing for Stone Farm.
Hurricane Bertie (G3): R Disaster Dominates
Despite returning from a four-month break, R Disaster quickly asserted control of the Hurricane Bertie (G3). Sent forward immediately by jockey Micah Husbands, the mare set crisp fractions of 22.36 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.86 for the half-mile.
Lynn’s Milky Way attempted to keep pressure on the inside during the backstretch, but the leader remained comfortable in front. Turning for home, Husbands asked for a little more and R Disaster responded decisively, surging clear around the far turn before stretching her advantage down the straight.
She completed the six-and-a-half furlongs in 1:16.28, sealing a commanding victory that reaffirmed her standing among the leading sprint mares in training.
“I didn’t take anything away from her,” Husbands said afterward. “She broke well and I just let her travel. Everything came very naturally to her today.”
Trainer Watches from Afar
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. viewed the race from afar, having travelled to Barbados, but he expressed satisfaction with the mare’s performance following the layoff.
“She was very impressive because I didn’t think she was fully fit,” Joseph explained. “She only had four workouts coming into the race, but she’s a mare who runs very well fresh. It was the first time we had given her a proper break, so there was some concern about her fitness.”
Moments before R Disaster’s success in Florida, another runner connected to the stable made headlines overseas when Public Sector—owned by Joseph’s wife Morgan—captured the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
Strong Finish Behind the Winner
While R Disaster proved dominant, the race for the minor placings remained competitive. Sterling Silver tracked the pace along the rail before emerging into the stretch and holding off a late bid from Beyond Belief to secure second by a neck.
Lynn’s Milky Way, who had applied early pressure to the winner, weakened late to finish fourth, another three-quarters of a length behind.
The result maintained R Disaster’s remarkable sequence of top-two finishes and added another significant success to her résumé, following her narrow second in the Dream Supreme Stakes at Churchill Downs last November and her decisive victory in the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.