Another good Saturday card awaits for all bettors at Hallandale Beach, where the feature is the Grade III Mr. Prospector, for three year olds and upward traveling seven furlongs on the main track. The card looks extremely challenging for all handicappers, let’s get to it right away.
1st race: 6Furlongs. MC 50000 FOR STATE BRED MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Quizzical Cajun (2), Lucky Runs North (3), Souper Courage (7)
Some problems at the start for Quizzical Cajun, goes by the same price on the quick turn around and will be a tough beat on the opener. Lucky Runs North drops from MSW to run for a tag for the first time, second race for trainer Antonio Sano. Souper Courage cuts back from a mile and I think this trip will be better for him.
2nd race: 1 1/16 Mile.(Turf) OC 75000n1x FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
A Thread of Blue (6), Dull Knife (7), English Bee (1)
A Thread of Blue seems to be the main speed of the race, and Saez is a specialist in these kind of horses. Should be prominent from the start. Dull Knife is a French import that won his only start on the All Weather. Shipped to the Pletcher barn, who’s trying to run away with the trainers title and he gives the mount to his main guy, Johnny V. English Bee has the best figures, but little pace to run at.
3rd race: 5½Furlongs. ™Mdn 60k FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
Orra Moor (3), Big Tina (2), Cory Gal (5)
Orra Moor is a first time starter for Todd Pletcher, whose works indicate she is ready to fire first time out. Johnny V on the saddle once again. Big Tina goes from turf to dirt, with three races already under her belt and De La Cerda hits at a 26% clip when switching to the grass. Cory Gal ran very creditably at large odds, should be sent to the front and let’s see how long she stays.
4th race: 5Furlongs.(Turf) Mdn 60k FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Grenadier (7), Lady Worthington (9), Olympic Runner (4)
My favorite was trained for the turf last time out. Race came off and she stayed, got into a burning speed duel and held on well for third. Now gets the grass she wanted on the first place. Lady Worthington had all her own way on her debut, and still could not win as the favorite. If she doesn’t received any pressure can be tough, but there are some skepticism. Olympic Runner is a debut runner for Mark Casse, her works imply she will be sent hard to the lead. Watch out!
5th race: 1 1/16 Mile. Clm 6250 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Unexplained (6), Browns Gap (2), King Power (5)
De La Cerda trainee should get a nice set up for his late push, and Sanchez has been aboard his last two wins. Browns Gap is very consistent and gets a nice inside post, always a plus in these trips. Last time these top two faced each other, he had some bumping trouble. King Power is the speediest of this bunch, can be long gone if no one takes him seriously.
6th race: 5½ Furlongs. MC 12500 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Why Trust (8), My People Sing (10), Mondaymorningmemo (11)
Not much hope for these horses so early in their career. Why Trust gets an enormous jockey upgrade to Irad Ortiz Jr. and is showing improvement with each new race. His speed figures already rank near the top. My People Sing has drawn inside in his last two starts, now gets a much better post and should sit a nice garden spot trip. Mondaymorningmemo is quick, and although he has not run on the dirt yet, Saez gets on and that means he will be prominent from the start.
7th race: 7½Furlongs.(Turf) Alw 47000n1x FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Colonel Moorhead (4), Ghost Giant (6), Cometin (5)
Colonel Moorhead had his share of trouble last time out, now returns from a five month stay on the shelf for veteran trainer Jonathan Shepperd working very nicely. Only three races lifetime, so there is still upside potential here. Ghost Giant is returning to the lawn, which I think is his better surface. Furthermore, don’t see much speed signed in so Sanchez should have a pretty clean trip from when they sprung the latch. Cometin likes Gulfstream a lot, three out of his four wins have come here and will be passing horses in the stretch.
8th race: 5 Furlongs.(Turf) ™ FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Lenamarie (7), Curluck (8), A Bit of Mischief (5)
Maybe the most difficult race to handicap in this card. Lenamarie raced in October for the first time in almost ten months and was part of the early pace and then faded badly. But that was at eight and a half furlongs. Drops to a much shorter distance now, in which Jose Ortiz can sit a garden spot trip, watching the speed duel develop. Working lights out for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Curluck starts for the first time for trainer Jason Servis, and he hits at a 34% clip when this happens. Gets a sizable upgrade in jockey to Eclipse Award favorite Irad Ortiz. A Bit of Mischief won her only start to this date and went to the bench for almost four months. Now gets a group hike after being claimed for 40,000. Probably needs this one.
9th race: 1Mile.(Turf) OC 75000b FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Bricks and Mortar (10), Mr. Cub (5), Irish Strait (7)
The very talented Bricks and Mortar returns from a prolonged stay on the farm, exactly fourteen months. In August of last year, he beat Grade I winner Yoshida, so you know he is a Grade I Talent. Question is how fit and ready he is for his return. Maybe the mile is shorter than what he prefers. Irad on the saddle for Chad Brown. Mr. Cub is tough as nails and this is his preferred distance. He had a rough start in his most recent, he is much better than that and here, not much speed is signed in. Irish Strait has been running against graded quality horses and not doing bad in the process. Jose Ortiz gets the call for Graham Motion.
10th race: 7Furlongs. MrProsp-G3Mr.ProspectorS.PROSPECTOR S.. Grade III. Purse $100,000 THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Uno Mas Modelo (8), Heartwood (6), Coal Front (11)
My top choice had a disastrous start in his last race, and was good enough to win despite all that trouble. This race is filled with speed, so he should get an ideal setup, and now gets a much more favorable post. Jimenez is 2 for 2 with him. Heartwood was well beaten by my favorite two starts back, but that was in an off track, and he prefers it dry. He just missed last time out in the Grade III Fallweight and Irad will get him two or three lengths behind the pace and look for him to be right there in the late stages. Coal Front returned from a year plus layoff and understandingly folded late. Now has that one under his belt and if Johnny V can make him rate, he is dangerous.
11th race: 1 1/8 Mile.(Turf) OClm 25000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Who’s your Drama (4), Son of Oahu (8), All Go (10), Franklin Towers (12)
Another puzzle to close out the card. Who’s Your Drama just ran in the emerald on the Claiming Crown Card. If he repeats that one will be a tough beat, and his numbers are improving from race to race. Gaffalione takes over from Brian Hernandez. Son of Oahu has done his best work at Gulfstream, with six on the board finishes in nine starts. Gets the services of Paco Lopez, a jockey known to put his horses on the lead or near to, so he fits like a glove with him. All Go is maybe the quickest of this bunch and Saez is riding extremely confidently lately. In a race in which speed is scarce, he will be looking to take this field wire to wire.