Jockey Elvis Trujillo Makes Return to Action at Gulfstream Park Charming Kitten Has Top Credentials for H. Allen Jerkens Stakes
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Veteran jockey Elvis Trujillo returned to action at Gulfstream Park Monday for the first time since the 2013-2014 Championship Meet.
“It’s my town; it’s my home; I’m happy to be back,” said Trujillo, who finished out of the money aboard longshot Set on Salsa in Monday’s 11th race and his 2015 riding debut. A mainstay on the East Coast for many years, the 42-year-old journeyman ventured to the West Coast in the spring of 2014, returning to the circuit where he scored his first U.S. win at Hollywood Park in 2001.
“I wanted to try California again. Everything was good; the trainers were good to me,” Trujillo said, ‘but I wanted to come back home.
After winning 32 races during the 2013-2014 meet at Gulfstream, Trujillo enjoyed immediate success in Southern California, finishing eighth in the Santa Anita standings with 19 wins from 106 mounts, including a Grade1 score aboard Parranda in the Royal Heroine. The Panama City, Panama native finished in the Top 5 at Los Alamitos and Del Mar before finishing tied for sixth with 27 victories during the 2014-2015 winter/spring meet at Santa Anita. Trujillo rode Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Sam’s Sister for Grade 1 victories in the La Brea and Santa Margarita.
“I won a lot of races and big stakes, but I wanted to come home. My wife and my kids are happy to be here,” said the father of three, who ventured east to ride in New York and New Jersey last summer. “I’m going to stay here the rest of my career.”
Trujillo, who won back-to-back Monmouth Park titles in 2011 and 2012, has ridden 2022 winners during his career.
Super Hi-5 Carryover of $32,555 for Thursday’s First Race
When live racing resumes at Gulfstream Park Thursday, there will be a $32,555.27 carryover for the first race. The $1 wager requires the bettor to correctly selected the first five finishers in a race in order.
There will also be a $70,409.36 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover for Thursday.
Charming Kitten Has Top Credentials for H. Allen Jerkens Stakes
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Charming Kitten tops a field of nine entered Monday for Saturday’s $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens, a two-mile turf test for 4-year-olds and up, at Gulfstream.
In addition to being the only entrant to have won at the two-mile distance, the 6-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy has shown a distinct fondness for the Gulfstream turf, over which he captured the $100,000 McKnight Handicap (G3) last time out.
The Todd Pletcher-trained multiple graded-stakes winner of $873,000 is slated to be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.
Roccia d’Oro, Morning Calm, Matuszak, Good and Proper, Neutronstar, St. Albans Boy, Mucho Mas Macho and Xaverian are also scheduled to compete in the stakes honoring the memory of the beloved Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens.
10-Cent Superfecta Wagers Return Huge Payoffs in Second Race
A parade of longshots in Monday’s second race yielded huge payoffs. Imperial Jack (20-1) captured the 7 ½-furlong turf race, followed by dead-heat second-place finishers Iphone Addiction (22-1) and Papa Freud (60-1), Kir Royale (45-1) and Charity Reins (35-1).
The 10-cent superfecta combination of 3-10-13-12 returned $12,231.72, while the 3-13-10-12 combo paid a whopping $24,463.38. The $1 trifecta combo of 3-10-13 paid $14,810.60, while the 3-13-10 combo paid $12,342.30.
WHO’S HOT: Rafael Hernandez rode two winners, winning aboard longshots Imperial Jack ($43.40) in the second and Rockin Ronda ($32.40) in the 11th, both on turf. Luis Saez rode back-to-back winners: Crowd Idol ($3.40) in the fourth and Golden Delicious ($9.20) in the fifth. Paco Lopez also made two trips to the winner’s circle aboard Frank’s Star ($2.40), and Smoke Signals ($15.60) in the 10th.
Trainer Christophe Clement scored with Smoke Signals and Quest ($9.80) in the seventh.
Rainbow 6 Carryover: $70,409.36 Super Hi-5 Carryover: $32,555.27 (Thursday’s first race)
