Pop Rox Gives Trainer Michael DePaulo 1,000th Career Win

3YO Filly Breaks Maiden at 19-1 Odds for Milestone Victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Zilli Racing Stables’ Pop Rox collared longshot pacesetter Magala in mid-stretch and turned back a bid from 4-5 favorite R Wins Aren’t Luck to capture Friday’s Race 6 at Gulfstream Park and give trainer Michael DePaulo his 1,000th career victory.

Ridden by seven-pound apprentice Micah Husbands, Pop Rox ($40.60) covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.39 over a fast main track to win the claiming event for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length.

Primarily based in Canada with a winter base at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, DePaulo had three seconds and a third from his first 22 starters before registering his first win of the 2024-2025 Championship Meet.

“This last one has taken forever. It’s just nice to get it done,” said DePaulo, who has won three or more races from limited starters each of the past five winters. “This is a good owner, and I’m just happy to win anytime.”

Magala, breaking from the outside, opened up to an early lead and held it turning for home until Pop Rox, an Ontario-bred daughter of Munnings, and R Wins Aren’t Luck came calling and fought it out to the wire. In for a $12,500 tag, she was not claimed.

“She broke good and the jock gave her a good ride,” DePaulo said. “We were expecting to come from a little off of it, and that’s just what happened.”

DePaulo was born in Toronto and got his racetrack start as a hotwalker at age 19. Three years later, after working for such trainers as Jerry Meyer, Bill Marko and Joe Attard, he took out his trainer’s license. He ran third with his first horse, Lady Ange, May 17, 1986 at Woodbine, scoring his first win with Stunning Sable at Greenwood April 15, 1987.

Over his career DePaulo has trained two millionaires – Pender Harbour and Krz Ruckus. Seven-time graded-stakes placed Pender Harbour won 10 stakes including two-thirds of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes, earning the Sovereign Award as champion 3-year-old of 2011. Grade 3-placed Krz won 17 races, including eight stakes.

Other top horses include Caren, Canada’s 2016 3-year-old filly champion and Horse of the Year; 2006 Prince of Wales winner Shillelagh Slew; Grade 3 winner Noholdingbackbear, Canda’s champion sprinter of 2016; and Grade 2 winner Passion for Action.

“We’ve had some good horses along the way. We had a Horse of the Year and been fortunate to win some big races,” DePaulo said. “They all count. Everybody works hard. I’m just happy to get here.”