by Jim Freer 3-Feb-14
Several days before Wildcat Red ran in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes his trainer Jose Garoffalo said "I think this distance suits him best." On Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Wildcat Red lived up to his trainer’s confidence.
The son of former sprint star D’Wildcat took the lead coming out of the final turn and coasted to a 4-¾ length win over C. Zee in the Grade 3 stakes for 3-year-olds.
Now Garoffalo is ready to test Wildcat Red at longer distances, starting with the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at 1-1/16 miles at Gulfstream on Feb. 22.
Garoffalo mentioned that plan in the winner’s circle after the Hutcheson and reiterated it on Sunday.
"He ate up everything last night and came out of the stall this morning very nicely," Garoffako said. "It’s all good. We’re planning on the Fountain of Youth."
C. Zee also could be headed to the Fountain of youth, his trainer Stan Gold said on Sunday morning. Gold said the alternative would be the Swale (Grade 3) at seven furlongs at Gulfstream on March 1.
Wildcat Red’s longest race was the Gulfstream Park Derby, a one-turn mile, on Jan.1. C. Zee’s longest race was the Hutcheson.
Gold and Garoffalo are making plans that are common each February for trainers of talented sprinters.
A trainer can give a horse a test at a longer distance, and if he does well keep putting him into stakes races that are preps for the Kentucky Derby. If a horse does not handle the stretch-out, the trainer can move him back to sprints--usually with a break of several months. In the Hutcheson, both horses showed they merit a shot at longer distances and glory.
Wildcat Red was the 2-1 favorite and C. Zee was the 6-1 fifth choice in the nine-horse field. Gambler’s Ghost led after a half mile in 44.87 seconds. Wildcat Red was second by a half length and C. Zee was another half length back In ton third place.
Wildcat Red then made his move on the outside and won with apparent ease under a hand ride by Javier Castellano.
C. Zee was among four horses battling for second place in mid-stretch. He edged ahead and beat Pablo Del Monte by a half length for second place.
Gambler’s Ghost faded to last, after not being able to match the pressure applied by Wildcat Red.
"Actually, I was very impressed," Garoffalo said. "I was expecting a tough race, but he handled the group very easily. He impressed me how easy he did it."
He said he was pleased that Wildcat Red appeared more relaxed than in previous races and that Castellano was able to keep him from an early lead.
"Jose’s horse has that burst, which our horse doesn’t have," Gold said. "Our horse has sustained speed. I think he can handle a longer distance and we might try the Fountain of Youth."
C. Zee’s grandsires are Elusive Quality and Distorted Humor. Both had their greatest racing success at a mile or shorter. Both also are sires and grandsires of numerous horses that have won stakes races at 1 1/16 miles or longer.
C. Zee has one win and three second place finishes in four career starts. Wildcat Red has three wins and two second place finishes in five starts.
The Fountain of Youth field will also probably include Top Billing, Commissioner, Conquest Titan and Intense Holiday.
As of Sunday, it appeared that three of the leading 3-year-olds stabled in South Florida will not run in the Fountain of Youth.
Cairo Prince, winner of the 1-1/16 mile Holy Bull, is healthy. But trainer Kiaran McLaughlin does not plan to race him again until the 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby (Grade 1) on March 29.
Honor Code has ankle injuries and will probably not race again until the Florida Derby.
Havana is tentatively scheduled to make his first 2014 start in the Swale.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Sprinters Take Spotlight at Gulfstream
31-Jan-14
by Jim Freer
Fans who like sprint stakes and large competitive fields will find that mix in Saturday’s two feature races at Gulfstream Park.
The 10th race is the $200,000 Hutcheson Stakes (Grade 2) at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year-olds, with Wildcat Red in the center of attention.
The ninth race is the $75,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint at five furlongs for 4-year-olds and up.
Because of rain, Gulfstream was not able to hold any races on turf on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The dirt track was listed as sloppy each day.
On Saturday morning, Gulfstream officials will decide whether to move the turf sprint stakes to dirt.
Following a dry Friday night and with sun in the Saturday forecast, it is likely that the race will stay on turf - probably listed as good rather than firm.
Last year's winner Varsity, Tightend Touchdown and Berlino Di Tiger head an 11-horse field.
In the Hutcheson, Wildcat Red is the 5-2 morning line favorite in a 10-horse field. Mighty Brown and C. Zee also should attract strong betting interest based on their recent form in stakes races.
Trainer Jose Garoffalo had planned to run Wildcat Red in the 1 1/16 mile Holy Bull (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Jan.25,
But he held Wildcat Red out of that race because of a cold, from which the colt has recovered.
Wildcat Red has finished first in three of his four starts.
On Jan, 1 in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Derby he lost by a head to General a Rod after a lengthy stretch duel.
Wildcat Red, a son of D'wildcat, has shown speed in each of his starts.
On Saturday he could face early challenges from Mighty Brown, Gambler's Ghost and Tashir.
The 2013 Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano will ride Wildcat Red for the first time in a race.
Mighty Brown, trained by Tim Ice, won the seven furlong Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Down on Jan. 4. He will be making his Gulfstream debut with Alan Garcia as his rider..
C. Zee, trained by Stanley Gold, finished second in the six-furlong Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 4. Edgard Zayas has the return mount.
The Hutcheson also has Trail Blaze, the fourth place finisher in the Spectacular Bid, and Pablo Del Monte, the fourth place finisher in the Gulfstream Park Derby.
Trail Blaze was the 6-5 favorite in the Spectacular Bid, six weeks after an impressive maiden win at Aqueduct on Nov, 20. But he started slowly, under Jose Lezcano, and was never in contention.
Last Sunday, Trail Blaze had a bullet five-furlong workout at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has Joel Rosario riding in the Hutcheson.
Tashir and Gambler’s Ghost are coming if front-running victories in fast times.
Tashir won a seven-furlong allowance by 9 ½ lengths at Calder on Jan. 17. Gambler's Ghost won a six-furlong maiden race by five lengths at Gulfstream on Jan. 1.
Scheduled post time for the Hutcheson is 5:03 p.m.
By then the track probably will have dried out, but might still be listed as good.
Long on Value and Tashir are the only horses in the Hutcheson with wins on tracks not listed as fast.
Long on Value won his first three races last summer, followed by a pair of sixth place finishes in Grade 1 stakes at tracks in New York--most recently the Champagne at Belmont Park on Oct. 5.
Trainer Bill Mott has John Velazquez riding Long on Value, a colt ending his four-month layoff in a race against several horses that have run in stakes this year.
Prediction: Wildcat Red, C. Zee, Trail Blaze, Gambler's Ghost
by Jim Freer
Fans who like sprint stakes and large competitive fields will find that mix in Saturday’s two feature races at Gulfstream Park.
The 10th race is the $200,000 Hutcheson Stakes (Grade 2) at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year-olds, with Wildcat Red in the center of attention.
The ninth race is the $75,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint at five furlongs for 4-year-olds and up.
Because of rain, Gulfstream was not able to hold any races on turf on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The dirt track was listed as sloppy each day.
On Saturday morning, Gulfstream officials will decide whether to move the turf sprint stakes to dirt.
Following a dry Friday night and with sun in the Saturday forecast, it is likely that the race will stay on turf - probably listed as good rather than firm.
Last year's winner Varsity, Tightend Touchdown and Berlino Di Tiger head an 11-horse field.
In the Hutcheson, Wildcat Red is the 5-2 morning line favorite in a 10-horse field. Mighty Brown and C. Zee also should attract strong betting interest based on their recent form in stakes races.
Trainer Jose Garoffalo had planned to run Wildcat Red in the 1 1/16 mile Holy Bull (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Jan.25,
But he held Wildcat Red out of that race because of a cold, from which the colt has recovered.
Wildcat Red has finished first in three of his four starts.
On Jan, 1 in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Derby he lost by a head to General a Rod after a lengthy stretch duel.
Wildcat Red, a son of D'wildcat, has shown speed in each of his starts.
On Saturday he could face early challenges from Mighty Brown, Gambler's Ghost and Tashir.
The 2013 Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano will ride Wildcat Red for the first time in a race.
Mighty Brown, trained by Tim Ice, won the seven furlong Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Down on Jan. 4. He will be making his Gulfstream debut with Alan Garcia as his rider..
C. Zee, trained by Stanley Gold, finished second in the six-furlong Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 4. Edgard Zayas has the return mount.
The Hutcheson also has Trail Blaze, the fourth place finisher in the Spectacular Bid, and Pablo Del Monte, the fourth place finisher in the Gulfstream Park Derby.
Trail Blaze was the 6-5 favorite in the Spectacular Bid, six weeks after an impressive maiden win at Aqueduct on Nov, 20. But he started slowly, under Jose Lezcano, and was never in contention.
Last Sunday, Trail Blaze had a bullet five-furlong workout at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has Joel Rosario riding in the Hutcheson.
Tashir and Gambler’s Ghost are coming if front-running victories in fast times.
Tashir won a seven-furlong allowance by 9 ½ lengths at Calder on Jan. 17. Gambler's Ghost won a six-furlong maiden race by five lengths at Gulfstream on Jan. 1.
Scheduled post time for the Hutcheson is 5:03 p.m.
By then the track probably will have dried out, but might still be listed as good.
Long on Value and Tashir are the only horses in the Hutcheson with wins on tracks not listed as fast.
Long on Value won his first three races last summer, followed by a pair of sixth place finishes in Grade 1 stakes at tracks in New York--most recently the Champagne at Belmont Park on Oct. 5.
Trainer Bill Mott has John Velazquez riding Long on Value, a colt ending his four-month layoff in a race against several horses that have run in stakes this year.
Prediction: Wildcat Red, C. Zee, Trail Blaze, Gambler's Ghost
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Gulfstream Looms as Glory Road
by Jim Freer 29-Jan-14
The fast and impressive wins by Cairo Prince and Top Billing last Saturday left many racing fans thinking that “the road to the Kentucky Derby will go through Gulfstream Park” this year.
Meanwhile, the road to glory for 3-year-old sprinters is forming and Gulfstream will have an important stop this Saturday with the $200,000 Hutcheson Stakes (Grade 2).
On Monday, trainer Jose Garoffalo said he will enter his speedy Wildcat Red in the seven-furlong Hutcheson. Garoffalo said that Wildcat Red has recovered from a cold that kept him out of last Saturday’s 1 1/16 mile Holy Bull Stakes (Grade 2) at Gulfstream.
Wildcat Red might have been the fourth or fifth betting choice in the $400,000 Holy Bull, which Cairo Prince won by 5 ¾ lengths over the late-running Conquest Titan.
Wildcat Red’s last race was the Gulfstream Park Derby, a one-turn mile on Jan. 1. He lost by a head to General a Rod after a lengthy stretch duel.
Entries for the $200,000 Hutcheson will be drawn late Wednesday afternoon. Corfu, Trail Blaze, Mighty Brown and Cool Cowboy are among probable starters in what looms as a strong and deep field. On Friday, Inside Florida Horse Racing will have a preview of the Hutcheson.
First, let’s review Cairo Prince’s dominant win in the Holy Bull and Top Billing’s come-from-behind victory in a 1 1/16 mile allowance. Cairo Prince might be the Kentucky Derby favorite if it were run today. He has won three of four starts. His only loss was by a nose to Honor Code last Nov. 30 in the 1 1/8 mile Remsen (Grade 2) at Aqueduct.
Cairo Prince is a son of Pioneer of the Isle. That horse finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, won by 50-1 shot Mine That Bird. Top Billing is less-experienced than most of the Holy Bull runners and his next race will be his first stakes. But some observers think he has talent, breeding and stamina that could get him to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs on May 3.
* Holy Bull -- Cairo Prince showed the ability to rate off a fast pace set by Coup de Grace and Almost Famous. They hit six furlongs in 1:10.30, with Almost Famous leading Mr. Speaker by a half length and Cairo Prince another 1 ½ lengths back in third place. Cairo Prince, ridden by Luis Saez, began accelerating. He took the lead at the top of the stretch and powered home unchallenged, with Saez making sure to give him some taps with the whip.
In the Remsen, Cairo Prince appeared to lose some interest when he took the lead. He wound up getting nipped at the wire by Honor Code.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin criticized Saez after the Remsen, but kept him on the horse.
Cairo Prince won the Holy Bull in 1:42.16, the third fastest time for 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Gulfstream since it resumed races at that distance in 2012. Cairo Prince “had a beautiful trip” and “made a statement,” McLaughlin said.
Conquest Titan and third place finisher Intense Holiday rallied from 11th and 10th place respectively after a half mile and could have big potential in upcoming stakes races of 1 1/8 miles or longer. But in the Holy Bull, it appeared that neither would catch Cairo Prince no matter the distance.
Almost Famous finished fourth. He led briefly coming out of the turn, and fought on until tiring in the final 50 yards. He could have a strong future as a miler.
* Top Billing’s win -- Top Billing came into Saturday’s race with a win in his debut at Laurel Park in Maryland on Dec. 6 and a second by a neck to the highly regarded Commissioner in a 1 1/8 mile allowance on Jan. 3 at Gulfstream. The son of two-time Eclipse Horse of the Year Curlin was last after a half mile in those races and on Saturday. In Saturday’s race, he made his move on the outside and beat early leader Surfing U.S.A. by 2 ¾ lengths.
Top Billing won under jockey Joel Rosario in 1:42.66--exactly one-half second slower than Cairo Prince.
Trainer Shug McGaughey said Top Billing’s next race will be a stakes.
It probably won’t be the 1 1/8 mile Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Feb. 22. McGaughey also trains Honor Code, and is pointing that horse toward the Fountain of Youth.
“Our plan is to keep them apart as long as possible,” McGaughey said following Top Billing’s win on Saturday. Top Billing was slow in growing and maturing last summer. Thus, McGaughey did not race him until December. He showed similar patience last year with Orb. That horse went on to win the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby.
One sure bet is that there will soon be more comparisons of Top Billing and Orb, who also was a closer. Later this week, Inside Florida Horse Racing will look at where Cairo Prince and Top billing might be headed next on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Follow us on twitter: JimFreer@HorseRacingFLA
The fast and impressive wins by Cairo Prince and Top Billing last Saturday left many racing fans thinking that “the road to the Kentucky Derby will go through Gulfstream Park” this year.
Meanwhile, the road to glory for 3-year-old sprinters is forming and Gulfstream will have an important stop this Saturday with the $200,000 Hutcheson Stakes (Grade 2).
On Monday, trainer Jose Garoffalo said he will enter his speedy Wildcat Red in the seven-furlong Hutcheson. Garoffalo said that Wildcat Red has recovered from a cold that kept him out of last Saturday’s 1 1/16 mile Holy Bull Stakes (Grade 2) at Gulfstream.
Wildcat Red might have been the fourth or fifth betting choice in the $400,000 Holy Bull, which Cairo Prince won by 5 ¾ lengths over the late-running Conquest Titan.
Wildcat Red’s last race was the Gulfstream Park Derby, a one-turn mile on Jan. 1. He lost by a head to General a Rod after a lengthy stretch duel.
Entries for the $200,000 Hutcheson will be drawn late Wednesday afternoon. Corfu, Trail Blaze, Mighty Brown and Cool Cowboy are among probable starters in what looms as a strong and deep field. On Friday, Inside Florida Horse Racing will have a preview of the Hutcheson.
First, let’s review Cairo Prince’s dominant win in the Holy Bull and Top Billing’s come-from-behind victory in a 1 1/16 mile allowance. Cairo Prince might be the Kentucky Derby favorite if it were run today. He has won three of four starts. His only loss was by a nose to Honor Code last Nov. 30 in the 1 1/8 mile Remsen (Grade 2) at Aqueduct.
Cairo Prince is a son of Pioneer of the Isle. That horse finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, won by 50-1 shot Mine That Bird. Top Billing is less-experienced than most of the Holy Bull runners and his next race will be his first stakes. But some observers think he has talent, breeding and stamina that could get him to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs on May 3.
* Holy Bull -- Cairo Prince showed the ability to rate off a fast pace set by Coup de Grace and Almost Famous. They hit six furlongs in 1:10.30, with Almost Famous leading Mr. Speaker by a half length and Cairo Prince another 1 ½ lengths back in third place. Cairo Prince, ridden by Luis Saez, began accelerating. He took the lead at the top of the stretch and powered home unchallenged, with Saez making sure to give him some taps with the whip.
In the Remsen, Cairo Prince appeared to lose some interest when he took the lead. He wound up getting nipped at the wire by Honor Code.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin criticized Saez after the Remsen, but kept him on the horse.
Cairo Prince won the Holy Bull in 1:42.16, the third fastest time for 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Gulfstream since it resumed races at that distance in 2012. Cairo Prince “had a beautiful trip” and “made a statement,” McLaughlin said.
Conquest Titan and third place finisher Intense Holiday rallied from 11th and 10th place respectively after a half mile and could have big potential in upcoming stakes races of 1 1/8 miles or longer. But in the Holy Bull, it appeared that neither would catch Cairo Prince no matter the distance.
Almost Famous finished fourth. He led briefly coming out of the turn, and fought on until tiring in the final 50 yards. He could have a strong future as a miler.
* Top Billing’s win -- Top Billing came into Saturday’s race with a win in his debut at Laurel Park in Maryland on Dec. 6 and a second by a neck to the highly regarded Commissioner in a 1 1/8 mile allowance on Jan. 3 at Gulfstream. The son of two-time Eclipse Horse of the Year Curlin was last after a half mile in those races and on Saturday. In Saturday’s race, he made his move on the outside and beat early leader Surfing U.S.A. by 2 ¾ lengths.
Top Billing won under jockey Joel Rosario in 1:42.66--exactly one-half second slower than Cairo Prince.
Trainer Shug McGaughey said Top Billing’s next race will be a stakes.
It probably won’t be the 1 1/8 mile Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Feb. 22. McGaughey also trains Honor Code, and is pointing that horse toward the Fountain of Youth.
“Our plan is to keep them apart as long as possible,” McGaughey said following Top Billing’s win on Saturday. Top Billing was slow in growing and maturing last summer. Thus, McGaughey did not race him until December. He showed similar patience last year with Orb. That horse went on to win the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby.
One sure bet is that there will soon be more comparisons of Top Billing and Orb, who also was a closer. Later this week, Inside Florida Horse Racing will look at where Cairo Prince and Top billing might be headed next on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Follow us on twitter: JimFreer@HorseRacingFLA
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Preview Week for 3-Year-Olds at Gulfstream Park
Preview Week for 3-Year-Olds at Gulfstream
by Jim Freer
31-Dec-2013
All Thoroughbred horses born in North America in 2011 will turn 3-years-old for racing New Year's Day, and nine of them are scheduled to run in what Gulfstream Park calls "the first Derby of the year."
That New Year’s Day race is the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby, a one-turn mile on the dirt.
It is the first of three much-anticipated races for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream during the first four days of 2014.
On Friday, Gulfstream will host a 1-1/8 mile dirt allowance with several highly touted horses that will be making just their second or third starts.
On Saturday, look for the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at six furlongs on dirt.
Best Plan Yet, Pablo Del Monte, Commissioner, Top Billing and Giancarlo are among horses with big chances in this week’s races.
Any horses that win or put in other strong showings could be pointed by their trainers toward Gulfstream’s graded stakes - capped by the $1 million Florida Derby on March 29 - and the trail toward the May 3rd Kentucky Derby.
*The Gulfstream Park Derby is Wednesday’s ninth race, with a scheduled 4:33 p.m. post time.
Best Plan Yet comes into the race with three stakes wins, all at one mile or longer, at Calder Casino & Race Course, and is the probable favorite.
He is trained by Stanley Gold and owned by Fred Brei. They are prominent for developing Awesome Feather, Jackson Bend and Fort Loudon - three horses that began their careers at Calder and became national stars.
Best Plan Yet has a late running style that could be a plus in a race with several speedsters.
Two speed horses that will attract some bettors are Pablo Del Monte, trained by Wesley Ward, and Aarons Orient, trained by Todd Pletcher. Both will be racing in Florida for the first time.
Wildcat Red and Gone as Wind had impressive recent races at Gulfstream, and it would not be a shock if either wins the Gulfstream Park Derby.
Itsmyluckyday won the race on Jan. 1, 2013 and went on to win the Holy Bull at Gulfstream and finish second in the Preakness Stakes.
*The Friday allowance has a $48,750 purse, a ninth race; post time 4:33 p.m.
Commissioner and Top Billing are part of an eight-horse field. Both have star-studded breeding and are attracting attention in Kentucky Derby futures betting pools.
Commissioner has a second place finish and a win in two career starts. The victory, in his most recent race, was at 1-1/8 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 23.
He is a son of A.P. Indy, the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. Jose Lezcano will ride for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Top Billing was an eye-popping winner in his first race - at six furlongs in the slop at Laurel Park on Dec. 6th. He rallied from far back, split through a pack of horses in mid stretch and won by 5 ¼ lengths.
Top Billing is a son of Curlin, the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. Trainer Shug McGaughey has tapped Joel Rosario to ride.
McGaughey trained Orb, last year’s Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby winner. Orb began his season by winning a 1-1/8 mile allowance at Gulfstream on Jan. 23rd.
*As of Tuesday morning, entries were not out for the Spectacular Bid.
Giancarlo, a recent impressive winner in a six-furlong maiden race at Calder, is probable and could be the betting favorite.
Later in January at Gulfstream, several early-line Kentucky Derby favorites will make their first 2014 starts.
Honor Code, trained by McGaughey, heads that list along with Havana and Cairo Prince. On Nov. 16th Honor Code won the Remsen Stakes (Grade 2) at Aqueduct at 1-1/8 miles.
Shared Belief, who is racing in California, is first on most analysts’ lists of Kentucky Derby contenders.
Four of the last eight Kentucky derby winners prepared with races at Gulfstream. They are Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Animal Kingdom (2011) and Orb (2013)
by Jim Freer
31-Dec-2013
All Thoroughbred horses born in North America in 2011 will turn 3-years-old for racing New Year's Day, and nine of them are scheduled to run in what Gulfstream Park calls "the first Derby of the year."
That New Year’s Day race is the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby, a one-turn mile on the dirt.
It is the first of three much-anticipated races for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream during the first four days of 2014.
On Friday, Gulfstream will host a 1-1/8 mile dirt allowance with several highly touted horses that will be making just their second or third starts.
On Saturday, look for the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at six furlongs on dirt.
Best Plan Yet, Pablo Del Monte, Commissioner, Top Billing and Giancarlo are among horses with big chances in this week’s races.
Any horses that win or put in other strong showings could be pointed by their trainers toward Gulfstream’s graded stakes - capped by the $1 million Florida Derby on March 29 - and the trail toward the May 3rd Kentucky Derby.
*The Gulfstream Park Derby is Wednesday’s ninth race, with a scheduled 4:33 p.m. post time.
Best Plan Yet comes into the race with three stakes wins, all at one mile or longer, at Calder Casino & Race Course, and is the probable favorite.
He is trained by Stanley Gold and owned by Fred Brei. They are prominent for developing Awesome Feather, Jackson Bend and Fort Loudon - three horses that began their careers at Calder and became national stars.
Best Plan Yet has a late running style that could be a plus in a race with several speedsters.
Two speed horses that will attract some bettors are Pablo Del Monte, trained by Wesley Ward, and Aarons Orient, trained by Todd Pletcher. Both will be racing in Florida for the first time.
Wildcat Red and Gone as Wind had impressive recent races at Gulfstream, and it would not be a shock if either wins the Gulfstream Park Derby.
Itsmyluckyday won the race on Jan. 1, 2013 and went on to win the Holy Bull at Gulfstream and finish second in the Preakness Stakes.
*The Friday allowance has a $48,750 purse, a ninth race; post time 4:33 p.m.
Commissioner and Top Billing are part of an eight-horse field. Both have star-studded breeding and are attracting attention in Kentucky Derby futures betting pools.
Commissioner has a second place finish and a win in two career starts. The victory, in his most recent race, was at 1-1/8 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 23.
He is a son of A.P. Indy, the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. Jose Lezcano will ride for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Top Billing was an eye-popping winner in his first race - at six furlongs in the slop at Laurel Park on Dec. 6th. He rallied from far back, split through a pack of horses in mid stretch and won by 5 ¼ lengths.
Top Billing is a son of Curlin, the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. Trainer Shug McGaughey has tapped Joel Rosario to ride.
McGaughey trained Orb, last year’s Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby winner. Orb began his season by winning a 1-1/8 mile allowance at Gulfstream on Jan. 23rd.
*As of Tuesday morning, entries were not out for the Spectacular Bid.
Giancarlo, a recent impressive winner in a six-furlong maiden race at Calder, is probable and could be the betting favorite.
Later in January at Gulfstream, several early-line Kentucky Derby favorites will make their first 2014 starts.
Honor Code, trained by McGaughey, heads that list along with Havana and Cairo Prince. On Nov. 16th Honor Code won the Remsen Stakes (Grade 2) at Aqueduct at 1-1/8 miles.
Shared Belief, who is racing in California, is first on most analysts’ lists of Kentucky Derby contenders.
Four of the last eight Kentucky derby winners prepared with races at Gulfstream. They are Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Animal Kingdom (2011) and Orb (2013)
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