The 2018-19 Gulfstream Park Championship Meet ended this past weekend with a bang.
The final Saturday card, which included the Gulfstream Park Oaks, The Florida Derby, and a $17 million Rainbow 6 mandatory pay out, helped boost the handle for the day to $47,520,600.
The statistical winners were also crowned, with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the riders’ crown by the slimmest of margins,135-134 over Luis Saez. Jorge Navarro chalked up 53 wins to outlast Todd Pletcher with 47 to take the training title. In the owners’ category, Joseph E. Besecker totaled 19 winners, 7 ahead of runner up Ron Paolucci Racing Stable’s 12. Of note in this category, Gary and Mary West dispatched 14 starters and saw 10 of them, an amazing 86%, having pictures taken in the winners circle.
This Thursday April 4, racing resumes with an 8-race card, kicking off the Spring/Summer racing schedule at Gulfstream Park.