Well-Connected Boots Dominates First 2YO Race of Year

Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $250,000
Roger That Dana Popular ‘Single’ in Florida-Bred Feature

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Arindel homebred Boots, a gray granddaughter of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper and champion mare Wait a While, launched her career in grand style with a 3 ½-length victory Thursday in the first race of the season for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Samy Camacho for trainer Jorge Delgado, Boots ($7) ran 4 ½ furlongs over a fast main track in 52.09 seconds to follow in the footsteps of her stablemate Mythical, who successfully kicked off Gulfstream’s 2025 juvenile season for Arindel before going on to win five stakes in her next seven starts.

Breaking outside each of her four rivals, including another Arindel homebred Dorothy trained by Carlos David, Boots pressed 6-5 favorite Celtic Dispute through a quarter-mile in 21.93 seconds while racing in the two path. The half went in 45.55 with the two still engaged until leaving the far turn, when Camacho gave Boots her cue and she opened up once straightened for home.

“She just put me in a good position out of the break,” Camacho said. “After that, [Celtic Dispute] shakes loose a little bit, so I just tried to stay away from her, because they’re first-time horses. Before the three-eighths pole, I know we’re going to the first wire, so I asked my filly and she responded right away. She had enough kick to the end.”

Celtic Dispute, by Leinster, the sire of multiple stakes winner and Royal Ascot Group 2-placed Lennilu, was a decisive second by 5 ¾ lengths over 20-1 longshot Jost a Chance Yadi. It was another length back to Dorothy in fourth with Satira fifth. Dama Du Sucre was a late scratch.

Boots is by Arindel’s foundation sire Brethren out of the Ghostzapper mare Medusa whose only sibling, the 3-year-old colt Bowie, has one second in six starts. Ghostzapper won four Grade 1 races and nearly $3.5 million in purses and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Wait a While was a three-time Grade 1 winner of close to $2.2 million who was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2006.

“She won very easy,” Camacho said. “She’s not 100 percent there. She’s still learning and she’s going to be an even better horse. Thank God and the owners for putting me on this winner.”

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

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $250,000 Friday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the ninth racing day following a March 29 mandatory payout.

The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 4-9, featuring a $65,000 allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up in Race 8. Luis Ramirez-trained Roger That Dana is likely to prove to be a popular Rainbow 6 ‘single’ in the one-turn mile event. The 3-year-old son of Awesome Slew returns to state-bred competition following an off-the-board finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Friday’s 8-5 morning-line favorite had previously finished second behind Commandment at Gulfstream in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 3 at Gulfstream. Commandment went on to win the Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream and is among the leading Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders. Paco Lopez will ride Roger That Dana for the first time Friday.

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. On mandatory payout days, the entire pool is disbursed to the bettor or bettors holding tickets with the most winners in the six-race sequence.

NOTES: Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was represented by two horses in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle Thursday, Sing Sing ($5.60) in Race 3 and Ocala Gala ($4.40) in Race 4 … Jockey Paco Lopez, who was aboard Ocala Gala for her victory in the $65,000 maiden special weight for Florida-bred fillies and mares, also scored aboard In Timing ($2.80) in Race 1 … Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Micah Husbands teamed for victories with City Minute ($9) in Race 5 and Jestina ($4.60) in Race 7.