Multiple Graded-Stakes Winner Grand Tito Tops G3 Miami Mile Noms Daring Kathy, Notte d’Oro among 18 Nominated to Powder Break
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Grupo 7C Racing Stables’ Grand Tito is among the most prominent of the 25 nominees for the $100,000 Miami Mile (G3), a mile turf event for 3-year-olds and up that will kick off Gulfstream Park’s $5.575 million Spring-Summer Meet stakes schedule on April 30.
Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the enduring 6-year-old stakes performer is coming off a strong Championship Meet, during which he won two of three starts. The son of Candy Ride came off a four-month freshening to capture a top-level optional claiming allowance Feb. 13 before posting a 1 ¼-length triumph over multiple Grade 2 stakes-winning Kaigun in the Mac Diarmida (G2) March 9. Grand Tito most recently finished third, beaten by 1 ½ lengths by Mark Casse-trained Kaigun in the Pan American (G2) April 2.
Grand Tito captured the 2014 Miami Mile run at Gulfstream Park West and finished second, a half-length behind Rerun, last year at Gulfstream.
Trainer Christophe Clement nominated Mr. & Mrs. Bert Firestone’s Middleburg and Jon and Sarah Kelly’s Chamois for the Miami Mile.
Middleburg, a winner of three of six starts over the Gulfstream Park turf course, captured the Cliff Hanger (G3) last year at Monmouth. The 6-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid hasn’t raced since finishing sixth in the Knickerbocker (G3) at Belmont Oct. 18.
Todd Pletcher, who captured his 13th consecutive Championship Meet title, nominated Repole Stable’s Nonna’s Boy and Team Valor International and Southern Equine Stable’s Savoy Stomp. Nonna’s Boy, also unraced since October, won the Lamplighter at Monmouth last year. Savoy Stomp, who finished fourth in the Skip Away (G3) April 2, has yet to try the turf.
The Miami Mile will be supported on the April 30 card by the $100,000 Powder Break. John Eaton and Steve Laymon’s Daring Kathy and 17 others were nominated for the mile turf stakes for fillies and mares. The 5-year-old daughter of Wildcat Heir is a five-time stakes winner, scoring twice over the Gulfstream turf and capturing the 2014 My Charmer (G3) at Gulfstream Park West. The David Fawkes-trained mare most recently finished third in Distaff Turf at Tampa Bay Downs April 9.
Miller Racing’s E B Ryder and Kiss to Remember, as well as Ben McElroy’s Miss Melinda, were nominated by trainer Marty Wolfson. E B Ryder finished second in the 2015 Powder Break. Kiss to Remember, a Grade 1 stakes-placed daughter of Big Brown on dirt, has a win and three seconds in five starts on turf.
Trainer Joan Scott nominated R.K. Johnson and partners’ Speed Seeker, who defeated Daring Kathy by two lengths in the Distaff Turf last time out.
Smile Sprint, Princess Rooney Designated ‘Win & You’re In’ Races
The $250,000 Smile Sprint (G2) and the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2), scheduled for renewals at Gulfstream Park July 2, have once again been designated as Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ events.
The winner of the Smile, a six-furlong sprint, will earn a fees-paid berth in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Favorite Tale edged out 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Work All Week in the 2015 Smile and went on to finish third behind Runhappy and Private Zone in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The winner of the Princess Rooney, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, will be awarded a fees-paid spot in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), a seven-furlong event at Santa Anita.
The Smile and Princess Rooney will be joined by the $150,000 Carry Back (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, and the $100,000 Azalea, a seven-furlong race for sophomore fillies, on the July 2 program.
