$1.3M Baby Jackson Hole Wins on Debut

Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $250,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Jackson Hole, WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and First Go Racing’s $1.3 million baby, won at first asking in a seven-furlong maiden special weight test Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The 2-year-old son of Nyquist, who brought the big dollars at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, defeated six rivals despite racing greenly through the stretch while graduating by a length in Race 4.

Jackson Hole, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, broke cleanly from his far outside Post 7 and settled in fourth behind pacesetter Ramajay along the backstretch and around the far turn. The long-striding colt advanced steadily on the turn into the homestretch to enter contention at the top of the stretch and took the lead leaving the eighth-pole under a drive to put away a game pacesetter.

“We felt like he was training well. We were sort of debating whether he was ready this week or whether he would wait until the 27th. His last gate work was good, so felt like we were ready to go,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We drew a favorable post. We feel like he’s a talented colt who’s still learning. Johnny said when he made the lead in the stretch, he kind of pricked his ears and idled a little bit. It was encouraging. Hopefully, there’s more in the tank.”

Jackson Hole, who had a series of six breezes at Pletcher’s winter base at Palm Beach Downs in preparation for his debut, ran seven furlongs in 1:25.10. Ramajay finished second by 1 ½ lengths over his Saffie Joseph Jr. stablemate Municipal.

“It was seven furlongs today or there was a six (furlongs) or a mile two weeks from now. We just felt seven would be a good distance for him,” Pletcher said. “We’ll see how he comes out of it and then maybe an allowance. If that goes well, then maybe onto bigger and better things.”

Pletcher and Velazquez weren’t done with 2-year-old winners. In the ninth race, Imperatrice, a $500,000 daughter of City of Light, won at a mile while covering the distance in 1:37.67. Owned by Woodland Way, Imperatrice is out of stakes winner Dolce Lili.

Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $250,000

Unsolved for the eighth consecutive racing day Saturday, the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated to $250,000 for Sunday’s nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

First race post time is 12:20 p.m. The carryover is $177,389.

Sunday’s sequence covers Races 4-9, kicked off by a $12,500 claiming event for fillies and mares going a one-turn mile on the main track. The even-money program favorite is Worth Considering, racing third off the claim for trainer Carlos David and will be back at a distance and surface where she owns a win and a second in two tries.

Race 8 is an optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares scheduled for 7 ½ furlongs on the grass led by Zo Zucchera, who had a three-race win streak snapped when fourth Nov. 30 in a mile-and-70-yard race moved to Tapeta after being rained off the turf. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sends out Turino and Basilea, each maiden winners this summer making their first starts for the Championship Meet leader.

The co-feature comes in the Race 9 finale, an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile on the main track. Beastly Speed, third or better in 14 of 18 lifetime starts, races second time off a five-month layoff after running second in a similar spot Nov. 16. Captain Danny, Group 1-placed in Chile, makes his first start since July 4 after back-to-back runner-up finishes.

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 John Velazquez won three races. The Hall of Famer won Saturday’s opener on Rebel With a Clue ($3), Race 4 with debuting 2-year-old Jackson Hole ($3.60), and Race 9 with Imperatrice ($5.60) … Jockey Miguel Vasquez won consecutive races, winning the sixth with Act a Fool ($8.60) and seventh aboard Back Em Up ($3.80) …