Moubarak Resumes Training at Gulfstream Park

A South Florida mainstay while training Mahmoud Fustok's Buckram Oak Stable during the 1990s and 2000s, Mohammed Moubarak is in the process of starting over at Gulfstream Park.

Moubarak, who enjoyed multiple graded stakes success in South Florida, is currently training three horses at Gulfstream Park while looking to grow his stable in the coming months. On Jan. 27, the Lebanese-born trainer saddled his first starter (third-place finisher Dimenna ) at Gulfstream since May 2007. On Feb. 10 he saddled Mr. Mac Quhae for a second-place finish in race 5, a maiden $35,000 claiming race.

"We've just been here a couple months. We're hoping to expand slowly with some 2-year-olds from the sales," Moubarak said. "It feels good to be back. I've missed the people here very much. I've missed the racing."

Among Moubarak's most pleasant memories at Gulfstream were a 2002 Appleton Handicap (G2T) victory with Pisces  and a 2000 Canadian Turf Handicap (G3T) score with Shamrock City.

The most painful memory was the sudden death of Fustok, who was killed by a motorist while jogging along A1A in 2006.

Moubarak had trained in England for the past few years before calling it quits there last July.

"When I left England in 1992, I left them arguing about the same thing—about the prize money. I went back 30 years later, and I found them arguing the same way," he said.