Orseno Well-Represented by Mattingly, Extendo in Warrior’s Pride

Stakes Winner Mattingly Returns as Gelding in 5F Turf Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Mattingly and Extendo will provide trainer Joe Orseno with ‘a strong 1-2 punch’ in Sunday’s $70,000 Warrior’s Pride at Gulfstream Park.

But, then again, it’s hardly news that Orseno will be well-represented in a five-furlong turf event.

“I didn’t go searching for five-eighths turf horses. I think it just happened and being able to recognize what they want to do,” said Orseno, who has conditioned multiple graded-stakes winner Imprimis and Rezasrolex, a winner of 15 of 22 career races, among his many successful turf sprinters over the years. “My whole idea when I train this style of horse is: Keep them cranked up and happy as you can, and they’ll go out there and run their eyeballs out for you.”

Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC and Harlow Stables LLC’s Mattingly, who had established himself as a turf-sprint stakes winner at 2, will return from a three-month layoff in the Warrior’s Pride following a rare off-the-board finish behind crack turf-sprinter Okiro and Extendo May 3. The 5-year-old son of Bucchero will return to action in Sunday’s overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up as a first-time gelding.

“Off that last race he got a little splint bone issue, which we fired and was very minor. Since he was going to have a little down time, we decided to geld him. He was never a bad horse, never a mean horse. We just thought gelding him was going to make a world of difference and make him perform at his best level,” Orseno said. “Mattingly has been training like the Mattingly of old.”

Mattingly, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, has been training so well while preparing for his return, Orseno changed his original plans for the Warrior’s Pride.

“I expect a huge effort from him. I was going to run Rezasrolex and Mattingly, but they were both doing so well, I decided to separate them. Nothing against Extendo. He belongs in the race. I decided to take Rezasrolex to the Troy at Saratoga instead,” said Orseno, who has entered Rezasrolex in Sunday’s Troy (G2), a five-furlong turf stakes at Saratoga.

Robert Cotran’s Extendo, an ultra-consistent turf and Tapeta sprinter, has been assigned highweight of 123 pounds, one more than Mattingly. The 6-year-old son of Handsome Mike Is coming off a pair of disappointing starts.

“Two races ago, after the race he wasn’t himself at all. He wanted to be sick. He didn’t look good. He had his head down on the ground. We did bloodwork on him, but we never found anything wrong. I have to draw a line through that race,” Orseno said.

“The last race, he hit the side of the gate and had a couple of deep cuts. He lost two shoes, the right front and right hind. I thought he would be on the lead. I wanted him on the lead. I had two horses in the race,” said Orseno, who saddled Rezasrolex for the victory. “I thought they’d finish 1-2. I have to draw a line through that one too. For this one, he’s ready. He’s cranked up. I’ve done gate work with him. Hopefully, all four of his shoes stay on. I think you’ll see the Extendo that’s supposed to show up.”

Edwin Gonzalez has the mount on Extendo, who is priced third at 4-1 on the morning line, while J. G. Torrealba will ride Mattingly for the first time.

Trainer Gerald Bennett is represented by not two but three in the field for the Warrior’s Pride – Rouki (121), Naughty Rascal (122) and Chrome Ghost (119.

Winning Stables Inc., JPG 2 LLC and Mr. Pug LLC’s Rouki, a turf-sprint stakes-winning son of Rogueish, returned to top form in a recent optional claiming allowance on turf in which he ran five furlongs in 54.22 seconds to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

Mr, Pug LLC and JPG 2 LLC’s Naughty Rascal, who finished off the board in the Smile Sprint last time out over Gulfstream’s main track, has won two of three career starts on turf, including the 2024 Armed Forces at Gulfstream.

J. J. Brevan Stable LLC’s Chrome Ghost, a sprint stakes winner on dirt, has never run on turf during his 25-race career.

Edgar Perez has the return mount on Rouki, while Miguel Vasquez is named to ride Naughty Rascal and Rasheed Hughes has the call on Chrome Ghost.

Mark Fletcher Taylor’s Cruzin Man brings a record of consistency on turf into the Warrior’s Pride, having finished in the money in nine of 14 starts. The Rohan Crichton-trained 6-year-old gelding, who is ranked second at 7-2 on the morning-line, is coming off a gutsy effort in a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf, in which he withstood race-long pressure while setting the pace along the inside to prevail by a neck.

Should rain force the Warrior’s Pride to be transferred from turf to Tapeta, Cruzin Man has been equally consistent on the all-weather surface, having finished in the money in eight of 13 starts. Anthony Thomas has the mount on the son of Chitu, who has been assigned to carry 119 pounds.

Clear Stars Stable’s turf sprint veteran Xy Speed will seek to return to winning form in the Warrior’s Pride. The Michael Lerman-trained 10-year-old gelding, who has won 15 races on turf while amassing nearly $650,000 in purse earnings, has gone winless in his last nine starts. The late-running son of First Samurai, who is coming off a third-place finish behind Rouki, will carry 120 pounds, including jockey Leonel Reyes.

Robert Wayne Jacobs and Makayla Owens’ Nick’s Bro, who has done his best running on Tapeta, will seek his first victory on turf in the Warrior’s Pride while carrying 118 pounds, including Jonathan Ocasio. The Andrea Puckett-trained Mshawish gelding has finished second twice in as many starts over the Gulfstream turf course.

Red Diamond Stable LLC’s Takecareofbusiness, who has finished 1-2-3 in 13 of 19 starts on Tapeta, will seek his first victory on turf in his sixth grass start. Heriberto Figueroa has the call on the Joel Santiano-trained Bucchero gelding, who has been assigned to carry 118 pounds.