Trainer Patrick Biancone will return to familiar territory at Gulfstream Park on Saturday with another daughter of Leinster carrying high expectations into the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile.
Biancone enjoyed success in the corresponding fillies’ division last season when Lennilu captured the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies before later placing third in the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot Racecourse during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. This time, the experienced conditioner will saddle Dee Sweepers’ Celtic Dispute in the five-furlong turf contest, which forms part of Saturday’s 10-race programme.
The Royal Palm Juvenile and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies both offer more than prize money. Winners receive automatic entry into one of six races at Royal Ascot, alongside a $25,000 travel allowance, adding international significance to the Gulfstream feature.
Celtic Dispute enters the Royal Palm Juvenile after finishing second on debut in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight on Gulfstream’s main track April 16. Biancone indicated the dirt outing was intended as a preparation run before a move to turf.
“She was a little green on the inside,” Biancone said. “She’s a turf horse, but we gave her a race to prepare.”
Breaking from the rail that afternoon, Celtic Dispute dueled early with Boots before weakening late to finish 3 ½ lengths behind. Boots is expected to reappear in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies on Saturday.
With Dew Sweepers also represented in the fillies’ division by Pot’s Right, trained by Phillip Antonacci, Biancone opted to keep Celtic Dispute against the colts. Pot’s Right has attracted attention following an impressive debut victory at Keeneland and was installed as the morning-line favourite for the fillies’ event.
Celtic Dispute has been rated the 3-1 second choice behind 8-5 favourite Skara Brae for the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park. Top jockey Luis Saez takes the mount, having also partnered Lennilu to victory in last year’s renewal. Saez notably rode Leinster to his final career victory in the 2021 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3), adding another layer of connection to Saturday’s assignment.
Elsewhere on the weekend card, attention will also turn to Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence, where the jackpot pool is projected to reach $50,000 when racing resumes at Gulfstream Park.
The multi-race wager spans Races 4-9 and includes several promising runners. Ocala Gala, now under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, heads into Race 5 following a dominant victory over Gulfstream’s Tapeta surface. Previously trained by Cherie DeVaux, the daughter of Code of Honor impressed with a front-running performance against state-bred rivals.
Another daughter of Leinster, Sweetster, will also feature prominently in the same race. Trained by George Weaver, the filly makes her turf debut after showing promise in two starts over the Tapeta track, including a winning debut.
Later on the programme, Souper Debonair seeks a breakthrough victory in Race 9, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for Florida-bred fillies and mares on turf. The daughter of Nyquist, also trained by Casse, has produced three consecutive runner-up finishes and again shapes as a leading contender.
Saturday’s Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park is expected to draw considerable interest as connections pursue not only black-type success, but also a pathway toward Royal Ascot in June.
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