David Joseph
Gulfstream Park

Casual Trick to Get Second Chance in Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Robert LaPenta’s 3-year-old Casual Trick was a big disappointment to his connections and fans when retiring to eighth of nine as the favorite in a very deep 1 1/16 miles allowance race at Gufstream Park on Jan. 29 won by El Padrino, but will get a chance to redeem himself in next Sunday’s $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) over the track and distance, according to trainer Nick Zito.

“He worked good this morning (1:00 2/5 Saturday morning) and we’re going to give him a chance,” said Zito Saturday afternoon. “I want to think he just didn’t like the off track (rated good) the last time and just throw that race out. He had shown enough to be favored, so we’ll take a shot. We know it’s a tough spot. (Corey) Nakatani will ride him.”

A son of Bernardini purchased for $425,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sales, Casual Trick built up an instant following after an impressive maiden score at Churchill Downs going a mile on Nov. 18 in his second start after a fifth-place debut at Saratoga.

Casual Trick came back with a big effort to finish a game second by a half-length in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year’s Day going 1 1/16 miles in his first try around two turns, a race won by the more seasoned Reveron before the disappointing performance last out.

Leparoux Makes Fruitful Trip to Golden Gate Saturday

Jockey Julien Leparoux made a successful day trip cross country Saturday to ride Cathy and Bob Zollars’ 3-year-old Daddy Nose Best to victory in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Steve Asmussen, but was back in action Sunday at GulfstreamPark.

Daddy Nose Best won by a nose over Team Valor International’s Lucky Chappy, an Irish-bred trained by Graham Motion, who was at Gulfstream Saturday to stable Team Valor’s 2011 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Animal Kingdom to win his 2012 season debut. Lucky Chappy shipped from Palm Meadows for the race and had finished second last out in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf at Gulfstream on Jan. 21.

Leparoux currently ranks in a tie for fifth with Paco Lopez in the Gulfstream standing with 32 victories apiece as Javier Castellano continues to hold a commanding lead over John Velazquez second at 65-52 going into Sunday’s card with Jose Lezcano and Rajiv Maragh tied for third with 33 apiece.

Union Rags, Grace Hall & Awesome Maria Lead Palm Meadows Tab

At least a half-dozen of the major stakes stars expected to run in one of the five Graded stakes to be run next weekend at Gulfstream Park posted final workouts for their engagements Sunday morning, led by Chadds Ford Stable’s 3-year-old Union Rags timed a half-mile from the gate in 48 4/5 at Palm Meadows for trainer Michael Matz in his final tune-up for the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).

Also on the Palm Meadows tab Sunday morning working for the $250,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday were Michael Dubb and partners’ Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Grace Hall a half-mile in 48 3/5 for trainer Anthony Dutrow and Mark Grier’s Nuffsaid Nuffsaid a half in 50 4/5 for trainer Mark Hennig.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a number of stable stars working at Palm Meadows led by E. Paul Robsham Stable’s 5-year-old homebred mare Awesome Maria timed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 as she prepares to face off against 2011 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Royal Delta in a highly-anticipated renewal of the $100,000 Sabin Stakes (G3) on Saturday.