Tequilita Aims for More Gulfstream Stakes Success
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Tequilita wins the Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park
With four wins or placings in as many starts at Gulfstream Park—all in graded stakes—Tequilita figures to be at home March 16 when she looks to improve that mark in the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2).
Tequilita, a homebred for Dorothy Alexander Matz, enters Saturday's seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares off a third-place finish in the Feb. 16 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream after closing 2018 there with a victory in the Rampart Stakes (G3) in mid-December. In 2017, the daughter of Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Union Rags won Gulfstream's Forward Gal Stakes (G2) and ran second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
Tequilita is trained by the owner's husband, Michael Matz, who conditioned Union Rags.
"She likes Florida. We'll see how she runs on Saturday and then make a decision if this is going to be her last race," Michael Matz said. "Maybe, if she runs well, we might come in the Madison—that's a grade 1 (at Keeneland April 6).
"We'll see. It depends on my wife and what she wants to do. She's been a good filly for us."
The trainer said it would be Dorothy Matz's decision on the mare's future.
"There's nothing wrong with her that says she can't run the rest of the year as a 5-year-old, but, again, it's my wife's decision, not mine," said Matz, noting his wife has a season to Street Sense .
The Inside Information's expected field of eight also includes the Royal Delta runner-up, Jala Jala. In December at Gulfstream, St. George Stable's Jala Jala won the $100,000 Copa Confraternidad del Caribe for horses bred in Caribbean nations before delivering a nice run in her first United States graded stakes start, finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths to Blamed in the Royal Delta.
The Mexican-bred mare first ventured to the U.S. and Gulfstream Park in December 2017 to win the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe at 1 1/8 miles. The 5-year-old daughter of Point Determined returned to Gulfstream in December. Both Clasico Internacional del Caribe victories were achieved against males at two-turn distances.
Cairenn is slated to make her first start at Gulfstream—and her 2019 debut—in the Inside Information after a productive 2018 campaign in which she won three races, including the Shine Again Stakes at Laurel Park. She also placed in four stakes, including the Bed o' Roses Invitational (G3) at Belmont Park.
"I certainly feel like her works have been good. She's worked well with everybody I've worked her with. She had a pretty nice work out of the gate the other day," trainer Graham Motion said. "Certainly, she's given indications that she's possibly improved, but you never know with these filly, especially when they've had time off."
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 16, 2019, Race 11Entries: Inside Information S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Jala Jala (MEX)
Emisael Jaramillo
122
Antonio Sano
6/1
2
2America's Tale (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
122
Bernard S. Flint
10/1
3
3Pacific Gale (KY)
Chris Landeros
118
John C. Kimmel
8/1
4
4Cairenn (FL)
Javier Castellano
122
H. Graham Motion
8/1
5
5Pink Sands (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Claude R. McGaughey III
4/1
6
6Tequilita (KY)
Luis Saez
124
Michael R. Matz
5/2
7
7Razorback Lady (AR)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Patrick L. Biancone
15/1
8
8Teresa Z (KY)
Joe Bravo
124
Anthony R. Margotta, Jr.
3/1
