Trainer George Weaver will bid to extend his remarkable record in Gulfstream Park’s Royal Palm series when he sends out runners in both juvenile turf stakes this Saturday, renewing a transatlantic pathway that has already yielded notable success.
The two five-furlong contests, each carrying a purse of $125,000, once again offer more than domestic prestige. Winners earn automatic entry into select races at Royal Ascot, alongside a $25,000 travel incentive — a route Weaver has navigated with precision in recent seasons.
Last year, Weaver struck a memorable double. Crimson Advocate captured the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies before progressing to win the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Sandal’s Song landed the Royal Palm Juvenile and later placed third in the Norfolk Stakes. The stable had previously taken the inaugural running of the Juvenile in 2023 with No Nay Mets, underlining a sustained affinity for the programme.
This time, Weaver relies on Easy Life, an unraced daughter of Life Is Good, in the fillies’ division, which has attracted a field of nine. In the colts’ equivalent, Automatic Press—who shaped modestly on debut at Keeneland—will look to improve on turf.
Competition is formidable. Wesley Ward, long associated with precocious juveniles, introduces Skara Brae, an emphatic debut winner at Keeneland, in the fillies’ race, and Joker’s Chic in the colts’ contest. Ward has secured the services of internationally renowned rider Joao Moreira for both mounts, adding further intrigue.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse is doubly represented as well, fielding Pros and Cons and Sass Sass in the fillies’ event, alongside Braums Run in the Juvenile. Carlos David also sends out a pair, with Boots—an impressive debut scorer at Gulfstream—lining up against the fillies, while Blackjack debuts in the colts’ race.
Elsewhere, Pot’s Right, a closing winner first time out at Keeneland, and Dee Snook, an Irish-bred newcomer, add depth to the fillies’ field. Celtic Dispute, runner-up on debut, is set to take on the colts.
The Royal Palm Juvenile Gulfstream Park contests continue to grow in stature, offering a rare and direct bridge between American early-season form and one of Britain’s most prestigious summer meetings.
On Sunday’s card, attention shifted to the Thirsty Fish Handicap, where Okiro produced a sweeping late run to secure his third consecutive victory since rejoining trainer Jose Garoffalo. The five-year-old, ridden by Jose Morelos, came from off the pace to narrowly deny Extendo in a five-furlong contest transferred to Tapeta, stopping the clock in 55.70 seconds. Esperon stayed on for third.
Garoffalo, who previously handled Okiro earlier in his career, credited a tailored training approach for the resurgence. The result reaffirmed the gelding’s consistency and adaptability across surfaces.
Racing resumes at Gulfstream Park on Friday, with competitive fields expected across the programme, including a strong turnout for a five-furlong allowance featuring Ocala Gala, an eye-catching recent winner for Mark Casse.
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