Another puzzling card at Gulfstream, with five stakes races in agenda, including the feature, the Mucho Macho Man for three year olds going a mile on the dirt track. Let’s go to the comments:
1st race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 6250 Purse $19,000 (includes $2,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Song of Melody (#8) – Just missed last time out at this same group, and now receives a substantial jockey upgrade. Five of his six wins have come at Hallandale, so she feels right at home here. This filly was a fixture all year long at the claim box, changing barns five times. New trainer Antonio Sano hits at a 26% clip when racing first after the claim.
Super Witch (#9) – Had some problems around the half mile pole in her most recent start, in which she was climbing up the ladder for almost twice against her last win. Now she returns to a group in which she fits much better. Should be part of the first flight and Vazquez retains the mount.
Princess Knoll (#6) – She definitely prefers this oval instead of Calder’s, it is true she has burn some money lately, but with some improvement, she can light up the toteboard in the opener. Gets a much better post now than on his last race, and Reyes keeps going to the pond.
2nd race: 6 Furlongs. LimehouseB75K Limehouse S. Purse $75,000 THREE YEAR OLDS WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A SWEEPSTAKES.
Splicethemainbrace (#7) – I like what I saw from him in that most recent effort, in which he dictated a hot pace against a very nice colt like Call Paul. Now gets an outside post and Jose Ortiz takes over the reins. Furthermore, he takes a good cutback in distance, which should help his chances.
Seismic Jolt (#5) – Impressive run from that inside post, in which was his first try on the dirt. Gaffalione put him on the lead and was much the best against an overmatched field. Stakes are higher now, but he comes from a more favorable post now and Tyler G. retains the ride.
Combination (#2) – Had a bit of a stumble at the start of his last one, which was a solid effort behind two good colts. Paco Lopez will have to persevere with him again from that two hole, but if the race develops at his favor, he can over take them close to the wire.
3rd race: 7 Furlongs. Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Global Campaign (#6) – Works have been brilliant for this first time starter sired by two time Horse of the Year Curlin. Meet leader Luis Saez takes the call for trainer Stanley Hough, which tells me he will be on the engine from the start. Horses that have run already haven’t shown much, so I’ll go with the fresh face.
Growth Engine (#5) – It’s Chad Brown and Castellano in a first time starter for Klaravich Stables. That is all you need to know. Works are not as good as my favorite’s, but Chad Brown is known for now working his colts hard on the mornings.
Throw Down (#3) – This one has the right to improve of that first race, in which he didn’t lift a hoof. Switches to the dirt and gets Lasix for the first time, and in both, Mc Gaughey gets solid numbers. Jose Ortiz, a Shug favorite, gets the mount now.
4th race: 7 Furlongs. ™MC 50000 Purse $39,000 (includes $5,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Marina View (#5) – Have been working great for this race, and now will start from a much more favorable slot in the gate. Tyler Gaffalione should place her right in the thick of things from the gitgo, and I don’t see that much speed in here, so she can take them wire to wire.
Caroline Lois (#6) – Albarado rode her at Churchill in November, in what it seemed to be a tougher spot than this one. Robbie reunites with her here at Gulfstream, and with some improvement, she can be right there when all is done.
She Loves It (#7) – She will get all the money at the windows because of her connections. But Pletcher does not send that much stock into maiden claimers, so seems like an iffy proposition for a single or a win bet.
5th race: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) ™GngrBrewL100K Ginger Brew S. Purse $100,000 FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD.
Boxwood (#2) – Returns to the grass, which I think is her preferred surface and in which she won at the very demanding Kentucky Downs track. She has three breezes in preparation for this race and if she doesn’t encounter problems in the hedge from that inside post, she will be a tough beat.
Pivottina (#1) – She has been facing much tougher fillies than these she will be dealing with on Saturday. Just by replicating those last two races, her chances of scoring are more than obvious. Castellano gets on board for trainer Graham Motion.
Beechwood Ella (#8) – Shipper from England, she was racing in tracks that are not top class in Britain, but this is not a graded quality field, so I think she can be dangerous with some improvement. Gets Lasix and blinkers for the first time.
6th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 16000 Purse $28,000 (includes $5,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Bird Humor (#7) – Shipped to Tampa last time out and didn’t fire at all, now he returns to Hallandale and its surroundings, in which he has performed better. That last work signals readiness and his trainer scores big with jockey Jonathan Gonzalez.
Erasmo’s Dream (#2) – A winner last time out and now changes barns, going to the Saffie Joseph contingent. Three of his four lifetime scores have come here at Gulfstream and will come flying in the stretch under Luis Saez, who retains responsibility.
Wake Me Up at Noon (#3) – Coming from four months on the shelf, he returns to the same level that he was sent to rest, in a race that came off the grass and in which he was the favorite. Paco Lopez now takes the call, and before that race he won twice at this same turf course.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. ™GlittrWmnB75K Glitter Woman S. Purse $75,000 FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD, WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A SWEEPSTAKES.
Midtown Rose (#7) – Has the experience edge over this field, winning two straight, the last one coming from the one hole. Now she starts from the outside, much favorable at this six-furlong trip. Has faced colts like Bulletin, so she is definitely the one to beat.
Fancy Dress Party (#3) – Undefeated in two career starts at Kentucky, now ships south for trainer Ben Colebrook. Interesting fact; she worked twice at Tampa, maybe there was a change of tactics with this filly.
Brunette Princess (#1) – Johnny V takes the call, who prefers to go with the number 3 filly. She won her most recent race, after battling all thru the race and carving up good fractions. She still has some upside for improvement.
8th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 30000n2L Purse $31,000 (includes $5,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Andronikos (#10) – His early zip in a race with has a scarcity of that gives him the advantage over this group. Has faced the condition only once and just missed after setting up hot early fractions. Jaramillo rides back and just fired a bullet on Christmas Eve in preparation.
Themanbehindtheman (#3) – Castellano will take over from Leonel Reyes, a sizable jockey upgrade. He also should be part of that first flight and that number three hole in the gate will allow him to save some ground for the latter part of the race.
Storm Peak (#8) – Returns to the lawn, which I think he relishes more than the dirt. The last time he ran in a group similar to this one, missed the win only by a length, so you know at this condition, he will be competitive.
9th race: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) KittnsJoyL100K Kitten’s Joy S. Purse $100,000 THREE YEAR OLDS.
Henley’s Joy (#9) – Solid win last month in the Pulpit Stakes, now returns in a race with seems to have more or less the same scenario as that last one; he will be watching the speed from the garden spot and from the three sixteenths pole on, should rally and will be a tough cookie to chew.
Bourbon in May (#6) – Looks to be a very talented grass runner for Todd Pletcher, but will need a hot enough pace for his late push to be effective, just as in his maiden win. Saez rides back and the colt showed some immaturity in that last race. If he corrects that drifting out habit, will be very dangerous.
Dakota’s Dude (#8) – He can be the speed of the speed of this bunch, and he returns to the turf, in which he is already a stakes winner. Underrated Nik Juarez takes the call for trainer Jason Servis, who continues to hit at a very high percentage.
10th race: 1 Mile. MuchoMManL100K Mucho Macho Man S. Purse $100,000 THREE YEAR OLDS.
Code of Honor (#4) – He was going to be one of the favorites in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, unfortunately had to miss the race because of a fever. Has seven works in preparation for his return, including three bullets fired at the morning. She should have plenty of pace to run against, as there is good speed signed in. Johnny V. already win with him and rides him for Shug.
Mihos (#6) – Looks like a very promising sophomore for Jimmy Jerkens. In his debut lost to then stakes winner Vekoma, and then won his maiden easily. Jose Ortiz climbs to his saddle and will have first turn on the leaders, to then try to withstand the favorite’s late run.
Trophy Chaser (#3) – He ran against Improbable in his most recent, and understandably lost clearly, but he was part of a hot early pace. Code of Honor is not an easy task either, but that last race was better than it looked on paper.
11th race: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) Mdn 50k Purse $50,000 (includes $7,000 FHBPA-FOA – FHBPA Florida Owners Awards) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD.
Secret Path (#7) – He was lethargic out of the gate in his debut at Woodbine and ran very well late to grab a fourth place finish. Now gets a much-needed upgrade to Paco Lopez, who will put him much closer to the pace. I expect a better effort from this colt.
Skychief (#3) – The veteran of this group, with six lifetime races. He was gelded after his last effort, and comes back fairly quickly from that procedure. Blinkers off will allow him to settle behind the early speedsters and Gaffalione stays up for trainer Mike Maker.
Valid Point (#12) – Chad Brown sends another first time starts on the green stuff, and that will generally mean he is ready to score in his vow run. Castellano rides for one of his main clients, but the outside post does him no favors.