Another Saturday and another puzzling card at Gulfstream Park, in which the feature is the Grade II Holy Bull, for three year olds at a mile and one sixteenth. Let’s cut to the chase immediately.
1st race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ™MC 20000 Purse $25,000 (includes $3,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Lillie’s Heat (#14), Gracie’s Dream (#1), Not Interested (#2)
Lillie’s Heat comes from the far outside post, which is a big disadvantage. But I don’t see speed in here, and her debut was at five furlongs, drew the rail that day, and didn’t run bad at all. She was bet heavily that day, maybe that experience will help her stretching out. Gracie’s Dream made a good run at the leaders second time out, now gets the rail again and Albarado sticks with her. Has two solid works since her last race. Not Interested is a first time start out of Kitten’s Joy, who’s service stands at $75,000. She debuts for $20,000, not a good sign, but in this very suspect field, anything is possible.
2nd race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 6250n3L Purse $18,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Jacks a Warrior (#2), French Accent (#3), Diamond Majesty (#1)
Top pick just missed last time out in this same condition, now gets a cutback in distance and Irad Ortiz Jr. replaces Maragh on the saddle. Looms large in here, as he figures to be the controlling speed. French Accent has the more upside in this group, with just six races lifetime. He should be following the leader from close range and has a legitimate chance to score, as Gaffalione stays on him. Diamond Majesty is the best of the rest, he needs a hot pace in front of him for his late run to be effective, and it is not clear that he will get it.
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ™Clm 16000n3L Purse $24,000 (includes $3,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES.
Lovely Sunset (#6), Bogulator (#1), Sapphire Jubilee (#4)
Lovely Sunset moved to the barn of trainer Michael Trombetta, and has four works in preparation for this race. Jaramillo is a master at stretching speed on the grass and Trombetta hits at a 23% clip giving the horses 31 to 60 days rest, with a $2.33 ROI. Bogulator is the filly to beat in here, drops from 25 to 16, draws the rail and Irad stays on. She will take the majority of the money in here, and with good reason. Sapphire Jubilee hasn’t raced against such a weak group, if Ortiz can work a trip while being close by, she can do it late in the stretch.
4th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Clm 16000 Purse $28,000 (includes $5,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Montclair (#6), Nileator (#9), Give to U.K. Cats (#2)
My favorite could have won the Emerald in the Claiming Crown card with some luck, now drops sharply to this $16,000 claimer against horses that have lost continuously in this same level. He will be a very tough cookie to chew. Nileator is also dropping in class after not showing any life in his return. Now gets into an easier spot and not that long ago, he won for more than twice of this price tag. Brian Hernandez repeats for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Give to U.K. Cats will come vying for the lead from that number two slot, and if he gets a clear advantage, he can take them wire to wire. Irad is a nice upgrade.
5th race: 6 Furlongs. ™Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Sweeter than Wine (#5), Palomita (#9), Sweet Addison (#1)
Don’t like what any of the experienced runners have shown, so I’ll take my chances with the first time starters. Sweeter than Wine debuts for a trainer who hits at a 25% rate with debut runners, and note that Johnny V. lands here instead than on the Pletcher filly. Dam was a stakes winner, so she should have something under the hood. Chad Brown sends out Palomita for his bow run. Works have been average, but Brown have been hitting on all cylinders, so you need to pay attention. Sweet Addison’s works have been fast and constant, and the Shackleford’s generally come out running from their very first race. 10-1 looks like a promising price on her.
6th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 51000b Purse $51,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Too Much Data (#8), Exprompt (#7), Passport to Chaos (#2)
In a race in which Irad had options to ride, he choose this colt, who won last time out after getting off slowly. With only five races so far, he still should have some upside on him, and he will be forwardly placed in a race in which speed is scarce. Exprompt won his debut in impressive form, in a race in which the pace scenario didn’t help him. Now gets more distance to work with and Gaffalione looks for two in a row with him. Passport to Chaos will wear blinkers again after two sub par efforts. Not much of a winner but generally gives a good account of himself, and will be on that first flight from the latch.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Haunt (#8), Where Paradise Lay (#3), Final Say (#2)
This is a fun race to watch, as there appears to be talent in these three year olds. It is very rare to see the kind of works we see of this colt out of a Bill Mott trainee first time out. This colt is a half brother to multiple Grade I winner Elate, so the blood is more than proven. Jose Ortiz takes the call here. Where Paradise Lays has four bullet works in preparation and make his debut for Stanley Hough, who is known to have them ready first time out. Final Say’s works indicate he can be the fastest of this bunch, and Saez is a specialist in these type of horses. But again, no Johnny V. for Pletcher?
8th race: 1 Mile. Clm 6250n2L Purse $18,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES.
Candy Max (#7), Aghost to the Post (#12), Interlaken (#6)
This is a slow group of runners, in which someone with some speed can take them wire to wire, because, in the majority of the cases, they are not good enough to sustain a rally. This is why I like Candy Max. He was eased just three weeks ago in a race in which he was the favorite. I expect Manoel Cruz to grab the lead and see how far he will take them. Aghost to the Post has had five tries in this same conditions, but now his trainer takes the blinkers off, looking to have him rate behind the main speed. A definite threat to take home the win. Interlaken flunked his first try at non winners of two, now drops to the bottom of the well, and Landeros sticks with him.
9th race: 7 Furlongs. ™FrwrdGal-G3 Forward Gal S. Grade III. Purse $150,000 FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD.
Feedback (#4), Bye Bye J (#7), Fashion Faux Pas (#3)
The debut run for Feedback left us speechless. She just toyed with a group that included a later stakes performer and two MSW winners. That was way back in August. Now returns against good fillies, but nothing out of the ordinary. If she repeats her debut all will be running for the place. Irad sticks with her and big things seem ahead of her if she can clear this hurdle. Bye Bye J looked very nice in her most recent win, and now receives an important jockey upgrade. She should be parked in the garden spot and that seven hole will work wonders for her. Fashion Faux Pas is probably the fastest of this bunch, she will have company up front, but if she somehow can overcome that speed duel, she has an outside chance.
10th race: 7 Furlongs. Swale-G3 Swale S. Grade III. Purse $150,000 THREE YEAR OLDS.
Seismic Jolt (#8), Call Paul (#5), Zenden (#9)
Seismic Jolt’s last race lands him in the favorite spot in here. He came up firing from the start, in a track that was not favoring speed at all. Tyler Gaffalione looks for a three peat with him and that eight slot on the gate will allow him to watch a probable speed duel develop, and attack from the half mile pole on. Call Paul is the most seasoned of this group, with a Grade II win and a Grade I placing on his resume. He is another that will benefit from all the speed signed in, and Irad returns to the saddle. The seven furlongs can be his best trip. Zenden is undefeated in two starts. He lacks the experience of others, but definitely is a talented colt and we can not rule out a win, as improvement on a two-races-lifetime colt is not only not out of the question, is expected.
11th race: 1 1/16 Mile. HolyBull-G2 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. Grade II. Purse $350,000 THREE YEAR OLDS.
Maximus Mischief (#8), Mihos (#6), Garter and Tie (#1)
The longer he has traveled, the better Maximus Mischief has looked. And he has shown the ability to come from just off the pace, so these are bad news for his rivals. Furthermore, Jose Ortiz took off solid second choice Mihos, with whom he just won a stakes race, to ride him. The cutback should have no effect on him, and his works leading up to this race have been superb. Mihos is a talented and improving colt. Jury is still out on whether he can negotiate the two turns well enough, but so far he has done nothing wrong, and Johnny V. takes the call for Jimmy Jerkens. Garter and Tie has the most experience behind Gladiator King, and he has not disgraced himself while facing top quality horses.
12th race: 6 Furlongs. Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Island Song (#11), Honest Mischief (#1), Uncle Jamo (#3)
Another good race to close out the card, with horses that have shown talent during the morning. Island Song comes from the Eddie Kenneally barn, who scores at 19% on MSWs, and is a son of Breeders Cup Sprint winner Speighstown. Entices Johnny V. to take his reins and works at Palm Meadows suggest he is ready to fire first time out. Honest Mischief is by mega sire and Grade I winner Into Mischief, whose progeny is extremely precocious, and the dam is also a Grade I winner. To cement his case, his work leading up to his bow run has been very solid, and is Chad Brown and Jose Ortiz. Uncle Jamo is by Uncle Mo, and his works are fine, but being trained by Bill Mott, probably needs one or two to show his true ability. Not all horses are Hidden Scroll.