Russian Greek Heads Field in GP West Feature

Even at age seven, Russian Greek has retained much of his speed and he will get a chance to show it in Sunday’s eighth and feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet.

It is part of a ten-race card with first post of 1:15 p.m. Scheduled post time for the eighth race is 4:06 p.m.

Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder under a lease agreement.

The main track is listed as fast and the turf is listed as firm. 

There are four turf races (1, 3, 5, 9), all with no rail.

The Weather Channel forecast is for a zero percent chance of rain during racing hours.

For the Rainbow 6 the carryover is $72,976.53, on races five through ten.

The eighth race is one mile on dirt for three-year-olds and  up. It is a $16,000 optional claimer with a $34,000 purse.

Russian Greek, trained by Efren Loza Jr., comes into it off a win at the same level at 1 1/16 miles on dirt at GP West on Nov. 2.

With five-pound apprentice Lane Luzzu riding, he wired the field and won in a fast 1:44.24.

Russian Greek, who is not gelded,  has four wins and a second place finish in his last five dirt races-all at Gulfstream Park or at GP West/Calder.

He began his career in California, where in 2012 he won the California Derby for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Luzzi has the return mount.     

Minute Madness and Chovanes, both with early speed. and Papa Pig, who will be closing, appear to be the biggest threats to Russian Greek.        

Racing Schedule

The GP West meet will be dark this coming Monday through Thursday,

It will resume on Friday, continue on Saturday and have its closing day on Sunday.

First post will be 12:35 p.m. each day.

On Saturday the GP West meet will have three stakes races:

*$100,000 Tropical Turf (Grade 3) – 1 1/16 miles turf,  3-YO and up

*$100,000  My Charmer  (Grade 3) – 1 1/16 miles turf, fillies and mares 3-YO and up

* $75,000 Gin Rummy Champ

The Gulfstream Park championship meet will open Saturday Dec 3., at the Hallandale Beach track.

 
On opening day Gulfstream for the fifth straight year will have the claiming crown national event with stakes races restricted to horses that raced at or below designated claiming prices during 2015 or 2016.
--Jim Freer