The speedy Bluegrass Singer and the late-running Rich Daddy will meet for the first time this afternoon in the fifth and feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder Casino & Race Course.
It is a $62,500 optional claimer, with a $40,000 purse, at one mile and 70 yards on dirt for 3-year-olds and up. Among the six entrants, only Percussion and I’m Steppin’ It Up are in for a tag. Scheduled post is 2:35 p.m.
There will be ten races today at GP West with first post at 12:35 p.m.
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Later today, we will recap the day’s GP West racing on this Web site.
Bluegrass Singer, a 3-year-old gelding, is the only horse in the feature with a U.S. stakes win.
This year he won the Mucho Macho Man at one mile at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3 and the Parx Derby at one mile and 70 yards at Parx Racing near Philadelphia on May 2.
Since then, Bluegrass Singer has finished no better than third in six starts–all in stakes with three on dirt and three on turf.
Trainer Marcus Vitali
Bluegrass Singer is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and trained by Marcus Vatali, who has given the mount to his go-to-jockey Matt Rispoli.
Bluegrass Singer will get class relief. But he will face two other horses with early speed–Percussion and I’m Steppin’ It Up.
Percussion is in post five, just outside of Bluegrass Singer. I’m Steppin’ It Up is in post two.
Percussion is trained by Jorge Navarro, who leads GP West trainers in wins with 13 in just 26 starts. Orlando Bocachica has the mount.
Percussion had two wins at Monmouth Park this summer, but is taking a step up in class.
I’m Steppin’ It Up also is rising in class. His summer record included a win at Belmont Park and a second place finish at Parx. Trainer Jane Cibelli has given the mount to Tyler Gaffalione
The consistent Rich Daddy has raced 15 times this year, all at Gulfstream. He has three wins, one second place finish and eight third place finishes.
Jose Garoffalo trains the 4-year-old gelding. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount.
Storming Inti is making his first dirt start of the year. During 2015, he has run in three turf stakes without hitting the board. Edgard Zayas, who leads GP West jockeys in wins with 31, will ride for trainer Jena Antonucci.
My Running Mate will make his first U.S. start, after racing 16 times with eight wins in Venezuela. Several of those victories were in stakes races. Luis Castillo will ride My Running Mate for trainer Hernan Parra.
It could shape up as a race where Rich Daddy has the pace advantage and the question could be whether Bluegrass Singer’s back class will ebable him to hold on for second place.
Friday at GP West: Bluegrass Singer, Rich Daddy Head Field in Feature
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HorseRacing FLA staff