Gulfstream Park
Weaver and Ward send juveniles to Gulfstream in Royal Ascot qualifier
George Weaver and Wesley Ward are targeting the Royal Ascot pathway on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies headlines a card built around two five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds.
The winners of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies and the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile each earn an automatic entry into one of six juvenile stakes at Royal Ascot (June 16-20) at Ascot Racecourse, plus a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
Weaver will debut Easy Life, owned by R A Hill Stable, BlackRidge Stables LLC and SGV Thoroughbreds. “We don’t know if she is turf or dirt to be perfectly honest with you, but we’re going to ask her to turf to see if she can run at Royal Ascot,” Weaver said. Easy Life is a daughter of Life is Good and was purchased for $300,000 at the OBS March sale. J.G. Torrealba is named to ride, and the filly is 6-1 on the morning line. Weaver will also be represented by Automatic Press in the Royal Palm Juvenile.
Ward runs Joker’s Chic for Twin Oaks Bloodstock LLC after a fourth-place debut in a 4 ½-furlong maiden at Keeneland on dirt. “When she ran, I was pretty confident with her. She broke and Irad had her in a beautiful position, but she didn’t make that explosive move she made at Palm Meadows,” Ward said. “I told the owner, ‘This must be a grass filly.’ If she runs back to her work at Palm Meadows, she’s going to be double tough to beat.” Joao Moreira was originally named but is unavailable due to Hong Kong commitments; Joe Bravo takes over, with Joker’s Chic also listed at 6-1.
Dew Sweepers’ Pot’s Right is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a nine-filly field after a debut win at Keeneland on dirt, and will switch to turf for trainer Phillip Antonacci with Luis Saez aboard. Other contenders include Arindel’s Boots, a 3 ½-length debut winner at Gulfstream now in the care of Carlos David, plus two Mark Casse first-timers: D.J. Stable LLC’s Pros and Cons and Gary Barber’s Sass Sass.
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George Weaver
Weaver and Ward target more Royal Ascot glory via the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Trainer George Weaver will send Easy Life to Gulfstream Park this Saturday for her career debut in the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies with the hope that the filly, owned by R A Hill Stable, BlackRidge Stables LLC and SGV Thoroughbreds, is destined for a future on turf.
“We don’t know if she is turf or dirt to be perfectly honest with you, but we’re going to ask her to turf to see if she can run at Royal Ascot,” Weaver said.
The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies will co-headline Saturday’s Gulfstream card with the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile. The winners of both five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds will each earn an automatic entry into one of six juvenile stakes during the Royal Ascot meeting (June 16-20) at Ascot Racecourse and a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
Weaver has enjoyed considerable success in Gulfstream’s Royal Palm stakes since their inception in 2023, when he saddled Crimson Advocate for a Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies victory and No Nay Mets for a win in the Royal Palm Juvenile. Crimson Advocate went on to capture the Queen Mary (G2) at Ascot Racecourse. No Nay Mets ran off the board in the Norfolk (G2).
“It’s a very, very hard place to win. It’s some of the best racing in the world that you can get. It’s not only great racing, it’s a great social scene, a great atmosphere,” said Weaver, who won the Royal Palm Juvenile last year with Sandal’s Song, who went on to finish third in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot. “When you’re there you feel like you’re participating in something special.”
Easy Life, a daughter of 2022 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner Life is Good, was purchased out of the OBS March sale for $300,000.
“She came out of the 2-year-old sale and had a nice breeze over there. She’s got some speed and we’ve been having a little progress with her since we got her,” said Weaver, who will also be represented at Gulfstream Saturday by Automatic Press in the Royal Palm Juvenile.
J.G. Torrealba has the mount on the filly who is priced at 6-1 on the morning line.
Joker’s Chic, trained by Wesley Ward, enters the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies with one-race experience, however disappointing her fourth-place finish may have been. The Twin Oaks Bloodstock LLC’s daughter of Practical Joke had trained sharply in preparation for her debut, particularly at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
“She had a work at Palm Meadows on March 15 on turf. Joel Rosario breezed her. We sent her off behind two very nice fillies – two, three lengths behind – and she sat back there and she just eased out and went rolling by them,’ Ward recalled. “It was a very impressive workout.”
Joker’s Chic, a $200,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland September sale, prompted the early pace on her debut in a 4 ½-furlong maiden test over Keeneland’s main track before fading to fourth under Irad Ortiz Jr.
“When she ran, I was pretty confident with her. She broke and Irad had her in a beautiful position, but she didn’t make that explosive move she made at Palm Meadows,” Ward said. “I told the owner, ‘This must be a grass filly.’ If she runs back to her work at Palm Meadows, she’s going to be double tough to beat.”
Joao Moreira was named to ride Joker’s Chic at the time of entry but was unable to be released from commitments in Hong Kong. Joe Bravo will replace the international star aboard the Ward trainee, who is rated at 6-1 on the morning line.
Dew Sweepers’ Pot’s Right has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of nine fillies on the strength of her debut victory at Keeneland. The daughter of Bolt d’Oro overcame a slow start to rally for a 1 ½-length debut victory in a 4 ½-furlong maiden test on dirt.
The Phillip Antonacci-trained filly returned to Palm Meadows to become acquainted with turf during a four-furlong breeze last Friday.
Luis Saez will ride Pot’s Right for the first time on Saturday.
Arindel’s Boots, an impressive 3 ½-length winner of her 4 ½-furlong debut at Gulfstream April 16, is rated second on the morning-line for her turf debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies. The homebred daughter of Brethren, who debuted for trainer Jorge Delgado, will make her first start since being transferred to Carlos David.
Samy Camacho has the return call on Boots.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will be represented by D.J. Stable LLC’s Pros and Cons and Gary Barber’s Sass Sass, in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies. Pros and Cons, a $375,000 son of Triple Crown champion Justify, and Sass Sass, a homebred daughter of War of Will, will both make their debuts on Saturday.
Edwin Gonzalez has the call on Pros and Cons, while Martin Chuan will ride Sass Sass.
Mark B. Davis’s Dee Snook, an Irish-bred daughter of Sioux Nation trained by Doug O’Neill, and John Franklin and Diane Franklin’s Mo Town Foxy Brown, a Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Mo Town, are entered to make their respective debuts.
Leonel Reyes has the mount on Dee Snook, while Nick Juarez has the call on Mo Town Foxy Brown.
Teresa and David Palmer’s Liberty Rings enters the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies off a rallying third-place finish, beaten by a half-length, on her debut on dirt at Gulfstream on April 19.
Miguel Vasquez has the return mount on the Nicholas Palmer-trained daughter of Awesome Slew.
Key takeaways from the Royal Palm>
- Winners of Gulfstream Park’s Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes (fillies’ and colts’ contests) receive free entry & travel stipends to any of Royal Ascot’s two-year-old races (six to choose from).
- Now in its fourth year, Gulfstream Park’s Royal Palm Juvenile Series started with a bang in 2023’s fillies’ division when Crimson Advocate landed a rare transatlantic double, before 2024 Juvenile victor Gabaldon finished second in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
- Five of the six Royal Palm winners have subsequently taken up their Royal Ascot engagements (with Lennilu and Sandal’s Song flying the flag by both recording third-placed finishes in 2025).
- Crimson Advocate was also subsequently bought by Wathnan Racing, rehomed in the UK, before going on to win last year’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes, demonstrating the long-term prospects of these juveniles.
The post Weaver and Ward target more Royal Ascot glory via the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
1/ST
1/ST Announces $25 Million on the Line with Introduction of New Racing Series Linking Preakness 149, The California Crown and 2025 Pegasus World Cup
149th Preakness Stakes Purse Increases to $2 Million to Kick Off Series
$5 Million Challenge Coast-To-Coast Pick’ Em Challenge Sweepstakes Connects 1/ST Premier Events
1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s most prestigious thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, has announced a $25 million dollar racing and incentive series connecting Preakness 149, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup.
Kicking off at Preakness 149, 1/ST’s three premier race days will feature more than $12.5 million in elevated purses and $7.5 million in incentives for both dirt and turf participants. 1/ST is offering a $5 million bonus in addition to the respective purses to the owner(s) of the horse who wins the 149th Preakness Stakes (GI), The California Crown (GI) and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (GI). For turf stars, 1/ST will award a $2.5 million bonus, added to the elevated purses, to the connections who win the Dinner Party Stakes (GIII), The California Crown John Henry Turf (GII) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GI).
Preakness 149 celebrations, taking place on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course, will mark the inaugural races in this new series. The 149th Preakness Stakes purse will increase to $2 million and the Dinner Party Stakes will increase to $500,000, making Preakness 149 race day the most lucrative in the event’s history with a total of $3.3 million on the line. The decision to elevate the purses for the 149th Preakness Stakes and for the Dinner Party Stakes reflects 1/ST’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and growing the thoroughbred horse racing industry to usher in a new era for racing in Maryland.
On September 28, The California Crown will debut at Santa Anita Park for a reimagined opening day experience for the track’s 2024 fall meet. The California Crown will replace the Awesome Again Stakes for three-year-olds and up and will be run on 1 1/8 mile offering a $1 million-dollar purse. The $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf along with the $750,000 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint (GII), taking place on Santa Anita Park’s famed downhill turf course featuring American racing’s only right-hand turn, will add to the excitement of what will be California’s richest day of racing.
Since 2017, the Pegasus World Cup has become the premier luxury event in the sport and has set the standard for the modern thoroughbred horse racing experience. The 2025 Pegasus World Cup, to be held on January 25 at 1/ST’s Gulfstream Park, will feature the coveted $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. The live broadcast of the Pegasus World Cup – horse racing’s hottest party – will feature the presentation of the potential $7.5 million in bonuses for any owner(s) who manage to achieve this remarkable feat.
In its continued effort to engage the next generation and provide game-changing opportunities for existing customers, 1/ST is putting up $5 million for a Coast-To-Coast Pick’ Em Challenge sweepstakes to successfully pick the first four finishers of each race, in order, for the 149th Preakness Stakes, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The challenge is free to enter through the innovative 1/ST Bet app. If there is no perfect winning entry, the entry with the most overall correct selections will win a $100,000 cash prize.
“My team and I continue to believe and invest in the modernization of thoroughbred horse racing with a commitment to the highest level of international safety standards and horse care as we continue to elevate our already industry-leading wagering, entertainment and hospitality programs,” the Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer for 1/ST, Belinda Stronach, said. “To back this up, 1/ST is adding to the legacy of the Preakness by increasing the purse, creating a new marquee race event for the majestic Santa Anita Park – The California Crown – and continuing to build on the phenomenal success of the Pegasus World Cup. We’re proud to work with incredible partners who share our vision and see the future of world-class thoroughbred racing combined with unique and elevated guest experiences.”
“The $25 million in racing purses and bonus incentives available for Preakness 149, The California Crown and the Pegasus World Cup including a $5 million sweepstakes for bettors and fans shows our commitment to innovation and excellence in thoroughbred racing,” the President for 1/ST, Aidan Butler, said. “Providing lucrative opportunities for owners and bettors while also delivering exceptional entertainment experiences is our speciality.”
1/ST’s industry-leading horse care and safety protocols including increased veterinary oversight will be strictly enforced throughout the new racing series under the leadership of Dr Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer for 1/ST Racing.
For more information and to purchase tickets to Preakness 149, visit www .Preakness. com or @ PreaknessStakes on social.
To stay connected on The California Crown, visit @ CaliforniaCrownOfficial on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube and @ TheCaliCrown on Snapchat. Tickets for California Crown go on sale in the spring 2024.
For more information on the Pegasus World Cup, visit www .PegasusWorldCup. com or follow on social @ PegasusWorldCup.
1/ST CONTENT
Tabcorp Forges New Long-Term Partnership with 1/ST CONTENT for Premium North American Racing
Progressive deal sees leading United States racing provider deliver fixed-odds and tote betting service on its dominant range of racetracks to the biggest entertainment company in Australia, ahead of Breeders’ Cup World Championships weekend
1/ST CONTENT, the leading provider of premium content for North American horse racing, has broadened its dominant global footprint after the announcement of its latest long-term tier-1 operator partnership with Tabcorp, Australia’s biggest wagering and entertainment company.
The deal is a multi-year agreement pertaining to tote betting into local pools as well as fixed-odds wagering on 1/ST CONTENT’S premier portfolio of racecourses.
It will enable greater coverage of North American horse racing via the TAB brand and the SKY Racing channel, a subsidiary of Tabcorp, with SKY Racing to continue its long support and promotion of international races throughout Australia and on its popular SKY Racing Active app.
1/ST CONTENT has now assembled an unrivalled network of over 70 tracks, managing more than 3,300 racing meetings every year from top North American circuits such as Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Pimlico, Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga alongside Del Mar, Keeneland, Tampa Bay Downs, Woodbine and Santa Anita, scene of this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
These high-profile venues equip international operators with a highly-flexible programming schedule, supported by a steady stream of rapid-cycling betting opportunities that are proven to increase digital dwell-time for new and existing customers.
1/ST CONTENT’s acclaimed end-to-end solution, encompassing extensive content that maps approximately 90% of all United States thoroughbred racing, opens the door to many of the planet’s most prestigious horse races. Highlights include every leg of the Triple Crown, the season’s aforementioned flagship finale at the Breeders’ Cup (November 3 to 4) and January’s Pegasus World Cup.
This daily timetable of engaging action, whose chronology naturally complements international racing coverage across varied time zones from Europe to Australia, provides 1/ST CONTENT’s global partners with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content at both primetime and off-peak viewing slots.
“Tabcorp prides itself on expanding its variety of premium international racing content and this wide-ranging deal with 1/ST CONTENT underscores that commitment,” Adam Brownlee, General Manager, SKY Racing and International Media, said. “The strength of its data and wagering technology combined with a depth of broadcast and video streaming rights makes it the clear provider of choice to facilitate both fixed-odds and commingling into Australian pools, which will help drive growth and diversified revenues for the racing sector.”
“1/ST CONTENT is delighted to announce our progressive partnership with Tabcorp, which is broadening the international appeal of North American thoroughbred racing,” Simon Fraser, Senior Vice-President International at 1/ST CONTENT, said. “It’s another key string to our bow in returning value to the genuine stakeholders in North American racing, ensuring they become the principal beneficiaries of revenues generated through international wagering, and safeguarding the domestic scene for the next generation of fan and bettor.
“Tabcorp naturally represents an incredibly strong partner for us in the Australian market, so it’s a real validation to benefit from its support, scope and local expertise. Its distributional spread across digital and retail is staggering, while its development of products is enhancing our offering significantly. It’s a great time to be growing our global audience ahead of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and a packed fall and winter schedule.”
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