Total of 78 Nominations for Trio of Graded Stakes Jan. 9

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Led by Grade 1 winners Mshawish and Lochte, a total of 78 horses were nominated for a trio of graded stakes that will highlight the Jan. 9 program at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Al Shaqab Racing, Mshawish is among 32 nominees to the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf, and is also one of 17 nominations to the $150,000 Hal’s Hope (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going one mile on the main track.

Mshawish is the defending champion in the Fort Lauderdale, sandwiched between victories in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) and El Prado last winter. The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro was most recently fourth, beaten 1 ¼ lengths, in the Cigar Mile (G1) on dirt Nov. 28 at Aqueduct.

Lochte upset the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in 2014 and would figure prominently in the Fort Lauderdale. A winner of three straight, including the Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) Nov. 21 at Gulfstream Park West, the 5-year-old gelding is five-for-11 lifetime at Gulfstream Park, winning three of four starts over the course and six of 11 at the distance.

Canadian classic winner Ami’s Holiday, sixth in the Harlan’s Holiday on dirt Dec. 12 at Gulfstream; multiple graded stakes winners Heart to Heart, Lukes Alley, Madefromlucky and Takeover Target; Solemn Tribute, winner of the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Dec. 19; and Claiming Crown Emerald winner Key to Power are also nominated.

The Hal’s Hope, a local prep for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) Feb. 6, drew nominations from multiple graded stakes winner Valid, Grade 3 winners C. Zee, Clearly Now, Matrooh, most recently third by a half-length in the Cigar Mile; Midnight Cello and Florida-bred Mr. Jordan, third in the Harlan’s Holiday; as well as Saraguaro, a winner of back-to-back stakes at Gulfstream and Gulfstream Park West.

South American Group 1 winners Dacita and Sweetie Girl top a list of 29 nominees to the $150,000 Marshua’s River for fillies and mares 4 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Chilean-bred winner of the Ballston Spa (G2) this summer, Dacita is one of 10 horses nominated by trainer Chad Brown including French Group 3 winner Mexican Gold; multiple stakes winner Partisan Politics; and Tammy the Torpedo, winner of the Tropical Park Oaks Dec. 19 at Gulfstream.

Trained by Angel Quiroz, Sweetie Girl was a Group 1 and 2 winner on the turf in her native Argentina last spring. Devine Aida, a multiple stakes winner at Gulfstream Park; Sandiva, who captured a pair of stakes last winter at Gulfstream including the Suwannee River (G3); Grade 3 winner Strike Charmer; and local stakes winners Lori’s Store, Pink Poppy and Quiet Kitten are also nominated.