Tackleberry Aims to Put Stamp on Gulfstream Turf Division

The Luis Olivares-owned and trained bay gelding made a major statement on January 29th at Gulfstream Park by upsetting a talented field to score at a massive 27/1 in the ungraded Sunshine Millions Classic. 

Once Tackleberry (Montbrook) got to the lead he never looked back, scoring by an impressive two and a quarter lengths over 7/1 shot Duke of Mischief (Graeme Hall). Dale Romans' First Dude (Stephen Got Even) was sent off as the odds-on favourite with a 9/10 price at the off only to come in a tame fourth. 

Javier Santiago is set to retain the mount once again as Tackleberry looks to grab his second victory in a two week span. His 2011 GUlfstream debut didn't go according to plan as Tackleberry finished fourth in a field of six in the Grade 3 Hall's Hope Stakes. 

Tackleberry's versatility has been demonstrated over his impressive career by scoring anywhere from 5f to 9f. He is set to make a first attempt over a 7f distance and lines up against a field of Florida and Kentucky-breds in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Championship. 

The Cam Gambolati-trained colt Soaring Empire (Empire Maker) is currently listed as the 8/5 morning line favourite for the Turf Sprint Championship and he enters the race with momentum based on a 1m score over Rule (Roman Ruler) in the aforementioned Hal's Hope Stakes. 

Tackleberry sits as the clear second favourite with a 3/1 morning line price.