Luis Saez named on nine mounts on Wednesday’s opening day card of the championship meet at Gulfstream Park
A 10-race card was drawn Friday for Wednesday’s opening day of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.
Luis Saez, who was edged out for the riding title by Irad Ortiz Jr. by one and two wins, respectively, the past two Championship Meets, will try to get off to a fast start for the 2020-2021 meet, accepting nine mounts on Wednesday’s opening-day card.
Saez, who won back-to-back titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, is scheduled to ride Ashaar for defending training titlist Todd Pletcher in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance Race 8.
Ashaar, formerly trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, hasn’t seen action since finishing seventh in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream. Ournationonparade, a stakes winner trained by Kathy Ritvo, is scheduled to make his first start since finishing fifth in the Sept. 5 Smile Sprint (G3).
In the co-featured Race 9, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf for fillies and mares, Mark Casse-trained Catch a Thrill will look to breakthrough with a victory after finishing second in all three 2020 starts, including a Belmont race between two Gulfstream races. The 4-year-old daughter of City Zip finished second in the Melody of Colors Stakes at Gulfstream last season.
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