January 18, 2023 – Roaring Forties, a seven-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic, is set to take on six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile $75,000 Sunshine Turf Stakes, Saturday at Gulfstream.
Trained by Woodbine-based Katerina Vassilieva, Roaring Forties has made each of his 23 career starts at the Toronto oval, compiling a 5-3-1 mark to go along with $234,889 (U.S.) in purse earnings.
Bred in Florida by Stroud Lane Farm and owned by Borders Racing Stable Ltd., the chestnut gelding went 2-1-1 from seven starts in 2022. Three of his last four starts came in graded stakes events, including the curtain-closer on his campaign, the Grade 2 Kennedy Road on November 27 where he was sixth.
Roaring Forties posted a trio of 4-furlong works at Palm Meadows ahead of the Sunshine Turf, a race for Florida-breds, four-year-olds and up, including a :49.45 breeze over the grass on January 6.
“I was looking forward to bringing him here and had this race targeted from the beginning, because he is Florida- bred and loves the turf,” noted Vassilieva. “At Woodbine last season, we ran him in sprint races, but he’s won at 1 1/16 a couple of times earlier in his career. I think if he can get a good position early and just lope along comfortably, the distance shouldn’t be a problem for him. He’s always been a trier. We’re expecting a good effort from him.”
Shaun Bridgmohan gets the call.
FIELD FOR THE SUNSHINE TURF
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Me and Mr. C – Joel Rosario – Michael Maker
2 – Lure Him In – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Robert Hess
3 – Max K.O. – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr.
4 – Braccio Di Ferro – Miguel Vasquez – Ernesto Ochoa
5 – Hot Blooded – Junior Alvarado – Carlos David
6 – Indy Lyon – Jose Ortiz – Shamir Maragh
7 – Roaring Forties – Katerina Vassilieva – Shaun Bridgmohan
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms