Holiday Program Features 12 Starter Stakes worth $680,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – A total of 270 horses were nominated to 12 starter stakes worth $680,000 in purses that will comprise a special Presidents Day holiday card Monday Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park.

The $60,000 Old Man Eloquent for 4-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less going 1 1/16 miles on turf had the most nominations with 40, led by Grade 3 winner Quiet Force, two-time defending Sunshine Millions Turf winner Manchurian High, and stakes winners Golden Rifle, Key to Power, Rizwan and Sayler’s Creek.

Grade 3 winners City of Weston and Trouble Kid; Successful Native and Delta Bluesman, who ran 1-2 in the Claiming Crown Canterbury Dec. 5; and stakes winners It’s Not Me and Officer Griffin are among the 29 nominees to the $60,000 Rail Splitter for 4-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less going 6 ½ furlongs.

The $60,000 Old Hickory for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles which have started for $35,000 or less drew 16 nominations led by Sr. Quisqueyano, who upset the Sunshine Millions Classic to open 2015 and Catholic Cowboy, who capped the calendar year by taking the Claiming Crown Jewel. Born to Be Winner, third by a length in the Sweetest Chant (G3) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream tops the 25 horses nominated to the $60,000 Mrs. Presidentress, a 7 ½-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies that have started for a tag of $35,000 or less.

Claiming Crown Tiara winner Quiet Kitten and runner-up Seneca Destiny, who exited the race with back-to-back wins including the San Jacinto Stakes Jan. 22, top 20 horses nominated to the $60,000 Mary Todd at 1 1/16 miles on turf for females 4 and up that have started for a claiming price or $25,000 or less.

The $50,000 Trust Buster at seven furlongs for 4-year-olds and up that have started for a tag of $12,500 or less has 20 nominations led by stakes winners Doubledown Again and Ghost Is Clear and Cooking Up a Storm, who has opened 2016 with three straight victories at Laurel Park for trainer Mike Trombetta.

Florida-bred stakes winner Silvery Sashay, a front-running winner of the inaugural Claiming Crown Distaff Dash Dec. 5, is nominated to a pair of seven-furlong sprints for females 4 and up, the $60,000 Queen Mother for horses that have started for $35,000 or less and the $50,000 Lady Bird for horses which have started for $12,500 or less.

Runs With Bulls and Twocubanbrothersu, the 1-2 finishers in the Claiming Crown Iron Horse, and stakes winner Purely Boy are among 14 nominees to the $50,000 Rough and Ready for 4-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less going 1 1/16 miles.

The $50,000 Little Magician for 4-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less going a mile on the turf drew 30 nominations. A total of 43 horses were nominated to the $60,000 American Fabius at seven furlongs on dirt and the $60,000 Sage of Monticello at 7 ½ furlongs on turf, each for 3-year-olds that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less.