Canadian Connections Make Gulfstream Winter Home

Horse racing in South Florida will move from Calder to Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, and a number of Woodbine trainers have already settled at Palm Meadows Training Center preparing their horses for the meet. Mark Casse, Brian Lynch and Carolyn Costigan, just to name a few, are all set to send out runners over the next three months, before returning to Woodbine in April.

On Opening Day, Casse will attempt to notch his first stakes victory at Gulfstream in 2011, sending out undefeated three year old Roxy Gap in the Grade III Old Hat Stakes. Roxy Gap will not only face a stiff test from the likes of Quantum Miss and Final Mesa, but the 9-5 morning line favourite will also have to deal with a surface change. This will be the first attempt on dirt for Roxy Gap and it will be interesting to see how she handles the change. Roxy Gap was a winner in all three of her starts as a two year old. Casse also trains James Street in Wednesday's fifth race.

Brian Lynch will send out Strategic Hope in a $50,000 Claiming Race on Wednesday, his first runner of the meet. Why does that name sound so familiar to regular At The Post readers? Check out the post Curling Champions Enjoy Night Out At Woodbine from November 29th where you can see a picture of Strategic Hope in the Winner's Circle at Woodbine. At The Post will also be keeping our eye on Lynch trained, Gentle Angel, a four year old sprinter who nearly broke her maiden on the last day of the Woodbine meet.

At The Post will have regular coverage of Woodbine trainers and horses at the Gulfstream meet beginning on Wednesday. You can follow us on Twitter at @atthepostblog or visit us throughout the next three months.

Posted in: US Tracks