BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (EDITED)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL–Last seen finishing second to Ain’t Nobody (Ire) in the US$97,417 Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19, Soldi Stable LLC’s Florida-bred Gabaldon is set for his highly anticipated 2025 debut in Saturday’s $115,000 Texas Glitter at Gulfstream Park. The Jose D’Angelo-trained 3-year-old son of Northwest Stud stallion Gone Astray is among the eight sophomores set to go five furlongs on the turf.

The Texas Glitter purse includes $15,000 in bonus money for Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. 

“He’s training well, so he’s ready. We have post position eight on the outside, so he’s going to be able to make his own pace,” D’Angelo said.

Gabaldon was forwardly placed in the 27-horse field in the Windsor Castle and led in the final stages before Ain’t Nobody won by a length.

“It was amazing for me. I feel grateful and thank God every day for the places these horses bring me. It was an amazing experience. I learned a lot and I met a lot of people and we almost won,” D’Angelo said. “We are fortunate to be able to go there and thankful to go and have a chance with a horse like that. I would like to go back and get the job done over there.”

 

Set as the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Texas Glitter, Gabaldon needed time to recover from his trans-Atlantic adventure.

“After Ascot we went to Saratoga and we decided to give him time off. And it was very helpful to him. Now, he is ready,” D’Angelo said. “He’s had some good workouts and he loves the track here. So I think he is going to be tough on Saturday.”

Gabaldon earned his journey to Great Britain with a debut victory in the $110,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, a five-furlong turf affair that offered the winner an automatic stakes berth during the Royal Ascot meet, as well as a $25,000 travel stipend. The Florida-bred colt led throughout in the Royal Palm on his way to a length-and-a-quarter score.

 

Out of Valuable Miss, by Value Plus, Gabaldon was bred in Florida by Carol Ann Reitman, Susan Gannon and Warren Miller. He was consigned to the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale by Get Away Farm and purchased by Soldi for $9,000. He has since earned $87,555 in his two starts.

D’Angelo is also represented in the Texas Glitter field by David Bernsen and Leon King Stable’s Incanto (Ire), a runner-up in a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on Tapeta last time out.

Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard for both of Gabaldon’s races last year, has the return mount. Samuel Marin has the mount on Incanto, who had graduated in his first start since being transferred to D’Angelo prior to his recent runner-up finish.

David Romanik and trainer Ron Spatz’s Most Handsome, a Florida-bred stakes winner last year in the off-the-turf Hallandale Beach, is slated to make his turf debut in his second start of 2025. The gelded son of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic finished third in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance on synthetic on March 7.

 

Edgard Zayas is scheduled to ride Most Handsome from post three Saturday.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, R A Hill Stable and Brandon Dalinka’s No Evidence and R A Hill Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds’ Turbulent Force will enter the Texas Glitter off victories. Making his first start since finishing second in his July 19 debut at Saratoga, Christophe Clement-trained No Evidence pressed a contentious pace in his Feb. 16 return at Gulfstream before drawing clear to win by a length-and-three quarters.

The George Weaver-trained Turbulent Force followed up a Dec. 5 debut victory at Gulfstream with a front-running triumph at five furlongs on turf Jan. 9.

Paco Lopez has the return call on No Evidence, while Dylan Davis is scheduled to ride Turbulent Force for the first time.

I’m Otter Here and jockey Junior Alvarado and Moon Factor with Miguel Vasquez aboard round out the field.

Return to the March 20 issue of Wire to Wire