Maker-Trio Headlines $200,000 Pan American Stakes

Newly acquired eight-time stakes winner Therapist  and stablemates Wicked Fast  and Bay Street Money  give Mike Maker three chances to earn a second career win in the $200,000 Pan American Stakes (G2T) April 1, over 1 1/2-mile on the grass at Gulfstream Park.

"He's just an old, classy horse, real nice, does everything just the way you want him to do it," Maker's assistant trainer, Nolan Ramsey, said. "I think he's earned a shot."

Championship Meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call on Therapist from Post 5 in a field of eight.

"He's doing well and in great form," Ramsey said. "He ran a great race for us first time and we've had no complaints with him."

Jordan Wycoff's Wicked Fast will be making his fourth start of the winter at Gulfstream after running second in the two-mile H. Allen Jerkens Dec. 17.

"He ran great last time," Ramsey said. "He's a tough horse. It seems like every time he runs he has some sort of troubled trip and he still shows up. He's not a very big horse. When you look at him he definitely doesn't scream marathon turf horse, but he sure tries hard. I'd like to see him get a clean trip and punch his ticket."

Sanford Goldfarb's Bay Street Money will be making his second straight start against graded company after finishing fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Fair Grounds (G3T) Feb. 18, his stakes debut. 

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Alex Daigneault's Abaan  returns to Gulfstream, Michael and Jules Iavarone, Nicholas Zoumas, Vape-wh, Frank Argano, and Ten Twenty Racing's Master Piece  will add blinkers, stakes winner Ry's the Guy , and 2022 Virginia Derby (G3T) runner-up California Frolic  complete the field.

Personal Best Chasing Second Straight Win in $150,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T)

Joseph Allen's homebred filly Personal Best , who became a graded-stakes winner in her 4-year-old debut nine weeks earlier, returns with a chance to make it two straight in Saturday's 1 1/2 mile grass test in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T).

Personal Best, by Tapit  , has been working steadily for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey at Payson Park since rallying for a neck victory in the La Prevoyante (G3T) Jan. 28, also going 1 1/2 miles on the Gulfstream turf.

"She's done good since then," McGaughey said. "She worked on the turf (Saturday) morning very well, so we'll see what happens."

In the La Prevoyante, Personal Best settled in mid-pack before tipping out five wide for a steady run through the stretch to catch Transient , who also returns in the Orchid. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides back from Post 6 in a field of eight.

"I thought she ran a real good race the other day. She relaxed really good going long like that," McGaughey said. "Irad said when you're going short, he has to put her in the race a little bit and then she gets a little strong. But the other day she relaxed really well and we were pleased with that.

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Transient  will be partnered with Edgard Zayas from Post 3.

"Hopefully, she can knock through on one of these," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "She's grade 3-placed multiple times and to get a graded-stakes win with her it would make her very valuable."

Trainer Christophe Clement entered the pair of German-breds Amazing Grace  and Atomic Blonde  for their North American debuts. 

Completing the field are Viburnum , Miss Yearwood , Tamarindo , and Lady Arsinoe .

Entries: Pan American S. Presented by Rood & Riddle (G2T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 01, 2023, Race 5

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 1:26 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Wicked Fast (KY)	Edgard J. Zayas	118	Michael J. Maker	-
2	Novo Sol (BRZ)	Leonel Reyes	120	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
3	Master Piece (CHI)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
4	Ry's the Guy (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Ian R. Wilkes	-
5	Therapist (NY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	120	Michael J. Maker	-
6	California Frolic (KY)	Edgar Perez	120	Armando De la cerda	-
7	Abaan (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Todd A. Pletcher	-
8	Bay Street Money (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Michael J. Maker	-