Gulfstream: Thursday Racing Preview

 Conditions are listed as fast and firm at Gulfstream Park for an eleven-race card that has first post of 12:35 p.m.

The Weather Channel forecast has a rain chance between 35 percent and 60 percent between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The first, fourth, sixth, eighth, ninth and eleventh races are scheduled for turf.  So, fans on track and in simulcast land will be monitoring for a possible change in conditions.

There is a carryover of $79,451.37 on the Rainbow 6, on races six through eleven.

The featured ninth race is one mile on turf for 4-year-olds and up. It has a $30,000 purse and a $50,000 claiming price.

The field of eight horses has several that are dropping in class.

The most notable is Stockyard, who is racing for a claim for the first time.

He has raced six times on Gulfstream turf. In those races he has no wins, one second place finish and one third place finish.

Luis Saez will ride Stockyard for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Full Salute (Eddie Plesa Jr.-Paco Lopez) also is dropping in class. The 4-year-old colt has three stakes wins. One was on turf—the 5 ½ furlong Select Stakes at Monmouth Park last June with Lopez riding.

Stockyard can be expected to battle for the lead with Fire on Fire (Reid Nagle-Jose Lezcano) and Derby Champagne (Rusty Arnold-Julien Leparoux).

Full Salute and Artytype (Chad Brown-Joel Rosario) likely will be gaining in the stretch.

 --Jim Freer