Damon’s Mound Returns a Winner in Sunshine Sprint

Ninja Star Sparkles in $75,000 Sunshine Turf Victory
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $325,000
Gaffalione Rides Four Winners Saturday, Three for Joseph

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Cliff Love and Michele Love’s multiple Grade 2-winning 5-year-old homebred Damon’s Mound, racing for the first time in 390 days, made a triumphant return to action with a determined neck victory over Comedy Town in Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

The six-furlong Sunshine Sprint was the second of two stakes for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up, following the Ninja Star’s upset of the $75,000 Sunshine Turf, which was moved to the all-weather Tapeta due to overnight rain.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Damon’s Mound ($6.40) completed the distance in 1:09.80 over a fast main track in his 12 career start and first against fellow state-breds. Alvarado had been aboard in his four prior starts, the most recent being a fourth in the Malibu (G1) in December 2023.

“He seems bigger and stronger right now,” Alvarado said. “He’s been working very good and when a good horse is coming from a big layoff for Mr. Mott, he always gets them ready. He always has them 120 percent ready, and that was the case today.”

Banded Rocket, sent off at 35-1, was alert from the gate and established an early lead after going a quarter-mile in 22.19 seconds with Damon’s Mound settled in second two wide ahead of 6-5 favorite Classify and Comedy Town.

Damon’s Mound forged a short lead after going the half in 45.10 when Comedy Town, who had been 3-0 on Gulfstream’s main track including a pair of stakes wins, ranged up to challenge. Racing side-by-side down the stretch, Damon’s Mound dug in to turn back Comedy Town for his fourth career stakes win.

Classify finished 1 ¼ lengths back in third, with Gatsby and Banded Rocket completing the order of finish. Loco Abarrio, Pure Class and Mish were scratched.

“I worked him last week and we knew he was ready,” Alvarado said. “I had a very good trip today. I was able to bide my time and run with him when I wanted to. When Comedy Town came to me, I know my horse likes to fight so I didn’t even have to hit him. I just keep him right next to the other horse and he’ll keep fighting, and that’s what he did today.”

Damon’s Mound had been training steadily at Payson Park for his return. He won the 2022 Saratoga Special (G2) in his second career start and the Robert Hilton Memorial and Gallant Bob (G2) back to back in 2023.

In the $75,000 Sunshine Turf, Donald Ming’s Ninja Star ($14.60) split horses at the top of the stretch and turned back an extended bid from Treasure King on his outside to win by a half-length in 1:41.51 for 1 1/16 miles.

It was the fifth win from 19 career starts and first in a stakes for the 4-year-old Ninja Star, trained by Kevin Rice. Three of the gelding’s wins have come in 10 tries over synthetic surfaces.

Victory Achieved, the 8-5 favorite in a field of eight, broke running and went to the front as expected, leading though splits of 23.36 seconds for a quarter-mile and 46.32 for the half with 21-1 longshot Prevent pressing from the three path. Ortiz settled Ninja Star between horses early and they moved up to fifth midway around the far turn, finding plenty of room at the head of the lane to move through and dispel the challenge from Treasure King.

Anamnestic was third, followed by Boppy O, Victory Achieved, Adios Cole, Prevent and If Not for Luck. Lord Eddard Stark was scratched.

Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $325,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will have an estimated pool of $325,000 when racing resumes Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

Sunday’s sequence spans Races 5-10 and opens with a claiming event for 4-year-olds and up scheduled for 7 ½ furlongs on the turf that drew an overflow field of 15 including last-out winners Reggae Man and Four Top, the latter dropping off a half-length victory going 1 1/16 miles Dec. 14 for trainer Mike Maker.

Race 9 is an optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather Tapeta course led by six-time winner and narrow 9-2 program favorite Fast Fixer, exiting a 4 ½-length triumph Dec. 22 on the Tapeta. My Voodoo Doll was similarly dominant in his prior start, scoring by 2 ¼ lengths in a five-furlong turf dash Dec. 13 at Gulfstream.

The feature comes in Race 10, a maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass. John Gunther’s All Night Revival, a bay daughter of Into Mischief, raced three times at 2 with one third and a runner-up finish behind undefeated Tepin winner Laurelin. A $275,000 daughter of Triple Crown champion Justify, Jalila returns after running fourth as the favorite in her one-mile unveiling Oct. 19. Emtinaan (by English Channel), Inesperee (Flintshire) and Sailaway (Omaha Beach) are all entered for their race debut.

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: Jockey Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. teamed up for three winners Saturday – Lookin for Roses ($5.60) in Race 2, Alexander Helios ($10.40) in Race 3 and R Disaster ($5) in Race 10 … Gaffalione added a fourth winner with King of Ashes ($9) in Race 11 … Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. visited the winner’s circle twice, on Ms. Tart ($26) in Race 1 and Ninja Star ($14.20) in the $75,000 Sunshine Turf … Junior Alvarado also doubled, aboard Wistucky ($) in Race 7 and Damon’s Mound ($6.40) in the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint.