Castellano: Mouttet Mile Win ‘Another Achievement’

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $200,000
Gabaldon Favored to Return to Winning Ways Thursday

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano returned to Gulfstream Park Sunday after adding another chapter to his lengthy career success story with a victory the previous afternoon in Jamaica’s biggest race, the Mouttet Mile (G1), at Caymanas Park.

Castellano guided Rideallday to a nine-length triumph over rival Legacy Isle in the $300,000 (U.S.) Jamaican classic, the richest horse race in the English-speaking Caribbean. The winning time was a record 1:36.40 on the dirt.

“It was awesome, just a great experience,” the 48-year-old Venezuela native said. “It was my first time in the country. I’d never been there to ride horses. To win the biggest race in the country is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling. The atmosphere, the people, the fans, they have so much passion for the races, for the horses. It’s a big party. Everybody’s excited for the races.”

Leading rider at the Championship Meet five consecutive years from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016, Castellano had been invited to Jamaica in each of the previous two years but had to pass up the opportunity to ride until this year.

“In 2023 I couldn’t go because I had a commitment to ride the Cigar Mile. In 2024 I had a commitment to ride in Venezuela,” he said. “This year I guess it was meant to be. [It was] the right place and the right time. They called me and I was open and able to go over there and ride the horse.”

Adding to the enjoyment for Castellano was that Rideallday is a son of millionaire Vekoma, whom the four-time Eclipse Award winner rode to victories in the 2020 Met Mile (G1) and Carter (G1) and 2019 Blue Grass (G2).

“We had a lot of success together in the past,” Castellano said. “Now I had a chance to ride his son, in a different country, in the Grade 1, the biggest race in Jamaica. It’s a great feeling. It’s unbelievable. It’s another achievement for my career, and I’m very excited for that.”

Emisael Jaramillo, who rode Legacy Isle in the Mouttet Mile, was also back at Gulfstream and rode two winners Sunday, D. J. Stable’s Alpyland ($4.40) for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in Race 5 and Vicente Stella Stables’ Blue Slide Park ($4.40) in Race 8 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr.

Jockey Junior Alvarado celebrated his return to Gulfstream for the Championship Meet with a victory on his first mount, Anthony Margotta Jr.-owned and trained Better With Vino ($12.60) in Race 7, a six-furlong claimer for 2-year-old maiden fillies.

Alvarado ranked fifth in wins (41) and sixth in purse earnings ($1.468 million) during the 2024-2025 Championship Meet. Among his victories were Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2), Fort Washington in the Canadian Turf (G3), Nic’s Style in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) and Rocket Can in the Harlan’s Holiday (G3).

“It always feels good just coming back and having your first win right away off the bench the first day,” Alvarado said. “It’s nice to be here. I just came in this morning, and it was 26 degrees [in New York]. It definitely feels a whole lot better. But mentally I think it’s very important to get the first win right away. We’re just going to work hard and hope for good opportunities during the meet.”

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $200,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to reach $200,000 Thursday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday for the fifth racing day following a mandatory payout.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a five-furlong optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up on turf in Race 8. Jose D’Angelo-trained Gabaldon will seek a long-awaited return to the winner’s circle following a pair of very solid runner-up finishes behind crack turf sprinters Izta Boss and Rezasrolex in his last two starts.

Gabaldon, the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven, launched his career last year with a victory in the Royal Palm Juvenile and a runner-up finish in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot. Sidelined for nine months, the son of Gone Astray returned to finish third in the Texas Glitter at Gulfstream in March before finishing fifth in the Mahony (G3) at Saratoga in August. Apprentice Yolber Torres has the return mount.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will be represented by My Voodoo Doll in Thursday’s feature. My Voodoo Doll, who finished a length behind Gabaldon while checking in third behind Itza Boss, is rated second on the morning line at 9-5. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount.

In the Rainbow 6 the jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Who’s Hot: Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. saddled a pair of winners, Big Amadeus ($20.60) in Race 2 and Blue Slide Park ($4.40) in Race 8.

Jockey Emisael Jaramillo doubled aboard Alpyland ($4.40) in Race 5 and Blue Slide Park in Race 8.