After showing plenty of talent in his first three races as a 3-year-old last year, grade 2-placed Grande will try to secure his first stakes when he starts in the $175,000 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Repole Stable's Grande is undefeated in three starts at Gulfstream as the 4-year-old son of Curlin won his career debut in a maiden special weight race in January 2025 and an allowance-optional claiming race there a month later. Grande then delivered a strong effort in his stakes debut, chasing home front-running Rodriguez to finish second in the 2025 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2).
That effort generated some amount of buzz for Grande's Kentucky Derby (G1) chances, but he was scratched a day before the classic. Grande, who had been receiving treatment for a cracked heel, was scratched by regulatory veterinarians.
After not racing the rest of 2025, Grande made his 4-year-old debut at Gulfstream and continued his winning ways there, registering a narrow victory in a hard-fought allowance-optional claiming race on Valentine's Day. Since that effort, Grande has steadily worked for trainer Todd Pletcher.
"He's always run well," Pletcher said after the grand return in February. "All four starts now he's run well, and he's a competitive horse. You're always concerned with a 10-month layoff, but it was a great comeback.
"He was under pressure the whole way. I thought at the top of the stretch he was going to finish a good second. It's good to have him back. He was super game the last part. It surprised me, the last sixteenth, when you could see him resurge. It was fun to watch."
Speed Shopper Aims for Third Straight Stakes Win
After splitting rivals on his way to a clear victory in the 1 1/2-mile Christophe Clement Stakes (G3T) Jan. 24 on the Gulfstream turf, Speed Shopper will return to that same distance and surface Saturday for the $175,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T).
The 5-year-old Quality Road mare secured the first graded stakes win of her career in the Clement, which opened her 2026 season. Speed Shopper closed her 4-year-old campaign with a victory in the Florence Stakes in December on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park. That start followed a close runner-up finish in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T) in October at Santa Anita Park.
Campaigned by Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Speed Shopper will have Hall of Famer John Velazquez on board. He guided her to victory in the Clement, which was the first race the two were paired.
In her past two wins, Speed Shopper edged runner-up Ayra Stark who is scheduled to renew that rivalry Saturday when she breaks from the inside. The race also has attracted entry from last-out grade 3 winners Just Basking and Sultana.
Far Bridge Looks to Defend Pan American
One year after opening his 5-year-old season with a narrow victory in the Pan American Stakes (G3T), Far Bridge will try to defend that title when he begins his 6-year-old campaign in the 1 1/2-mile turf test for older runners that offers a $225,000 purse.
A multiple grade 1 winner for LSU Stables, Far Bridge is trained by Miguel Clement and for the first time will have reigning two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat aboard Saturday.
Last year Far Bridge followed his Pan American victory with scores in the Man o' War (G2T) and Bowling Green (G2T) stakes.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 28, 2026, Race 7Entries: Ghostzapper S. presented by FanDuel TV (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Forged Steel (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 2 Grande (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Todd A. Pletcher - 3 Timeout (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 120 William I. Mott - 4 Capital Idea (KY) Junior Alvarado 120 William I. Mott - 5 Racing Driver (KY) Micah J. Husbands 120 Gustavo Delgado - 6 Lightning Tones (FL) Jose E. Morelos 120 Jose M. Castro - 7 Freedom Principle (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 120 Gerard Ochoa - 8 Steal Sunshine (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Bobby S. Dibona - 9 Cadet Corps (KY) Javier Castellano 122 Kelly J. Breen -
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 28, 2026, Race 8Entries: Orchid S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Ayra Stark (ARG) Joel Rosario 122 Horacio De Paz - 2 Just Basking (KY) Javier Castellano 124 Ian R. Wilkes - 3 Sultana (KY) Junior Alvarado 122 Kevin Attard - 4 Dona Clota (CHI) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 5 Speed Shopper (KY) John R. Velazquez 124 William Walden - 6 Ramsey Pond (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 7 Bellezza (IRE) Flavien Prat 124 Miguel Clement -
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 28, 2026, Race 13Entries: Pan American S. presented by Rood & Riddle (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Corruption (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Mark E. Casse - 2 Junipero Serra (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 120 Martin Drexler - 3 Il Siciliano (KY) Javier Castellano 120 Antonio Sano - 4 Padiddle (KY) Jose E. Morelos 120 Elizabeth L. Dobles - 5 Brotha Keny (KY) Jorge Ruiz 120 Jose Francisco D'Angelo - 6 Dashman (KY) Joel Rosario 120 Brian A. Lynch - 7 Far Bridge (KY) Flavien Prat 120 Miguel Clement - 8 Echo Lane (FL) Edwin Gonzalez 120 Rohan G. Crichton - 9 Dancin in Da'nile (ON) Junior Alvarado 120 Gail Cox - 10 Soliway (FR) Marcos Meneses 120 Yvon Belsoeur -
