Mr. Prospector Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Officiating Graduates To Graded Stakes Winner In Mr. Prospector

Over a fast track at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Officiating stalked the pace set by Wind of Change, went three-wide into the stretch, and took the lead in the last furlong to win the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector over Endorsed and Dennis' Moment.

At the break in the seven-furlong G3 stakes, Wind of Change showed his head in front first, taking a one-length lead inside the first furlong. Into the first turn, Wind of Change maintained that advantage over Doc Amster and Officiating, setting fractions of :22.18 for the first quarter and :44.75 for the half mile. Into the far turn, Officiating went three-wide, going to the outside of Wind of Change and Doc Amster as they hit the top of the stretch.

In the Gulfstream straight, Officiating and Doc Amster passed Wind of Change, with Dennis' Moment and Endorsed on the outside challenging. Officiating pulled clear with a furlong to go and held off a late surging Endorsed to win the Mr. Prospector by three-quarters of a length. Endorsed was second, with Dennis' Moment holding on for third. Doc Amster, Wind of Change, Flap Jack, and Poppy's Pride rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.28. Find this race's chart here.

Officiating paid $16.80, $6.00, and $3.60. Endorsed paid $3.20 and $2.40. Dennis' Moment paid $2.60.

Bred in Florida by owner Vegso Racing Stable, Officiating is by Blame out of the Dixie Union mare Come a Callin. He is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. The 3-year-old colt was a $100,000 RNA consigned by Eaton Sales at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With his win in the G3 Mr. Prospector, Officiating has three wins in 10 starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 14-3-4-2 and career earnings of $206,547.

The post Officiating Graduates To Graded Stakes Winner In Mr. Prospector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Equibase Analysis: 12-1 On The Morning Line, Officiating Looks Very Tough In Mr. Prospector Stakes

This Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park drew a field of seven sprinters running seven furlongs in an intriguing race: not one of the group has finished in the top three in a graded stakes in 2021. That being said, three horses enter the race having either won their most recent race or the one just prior to that.

Dennis' Moment is one of the two in the former group, having won at the seven furlong distance in his most recent race and with a previous graded stakes win in his career as he captured the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes in the fall of 2019.
Officiating won at this distance one race before last, the win coming in the non-graded Bear's Den Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Doc Amster won last month at Gulfstream Park at the shorter distance of six furlongs and is trying this seven furlong trip for the first time.
Then there's Endorsed, with the highest career earnings in the field at $455,375. His best effort at this level came when second in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes in June of last year, and he enters the Mr. Prospector Stakes off a fast closing third place effort in his most recent start.
Poppy's Pride won four in a row between September and December of last year but has run poorly in two starts since returning from an eight month layoff in September.
Wind of Change (BRZ) finished fourth in last year's Mr. Prospector and enters this year's race off a runner-up finish two months ago.
Flap Jack rounds out the field, not having won in nine races since June, 2020 and still eligible to run in a second level allowance race.

Main win contenders:

Officiating took seven tries to earn his first win, doing so on turf this past March. Following his maiden win and after missing by a neck in a non-graded stakes race on turf and a mediocre third place effort on dirt, he was privately transferred to the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Then, after fourth and third place finishes on turf, Officiating was entered in the Bear's Den Stakes, scheduled for turf, but stayed in the race which was moved to dirt due to weather, earning a career best 110 ™ Equibase® Speed Figure and winning authoritatively by three and one-half lengths.

In his most recent race and following the Bear's Den, Officiating tried the Tapeta all-weather surface and two-turns in the Showing Up Stakes last month and ran poorly, demonstrating only he did not like the surface nor the distance. Cutting back to the distance of the Bear's Den while moving back to the surface of that race, it can be assumed Officiating can duplicate his effort in that race which is good enough to win. There is also little doubt about his being able to run as well considering his last two workouts on dirt coming into the race have been excellent.

Dennis' Moment was thought to be a top 2-year-old in the summer of 2019 following his 19 length win in July with a 106 ™ figure, virtually unheard of for a young two year old. He won the Iroquois Stakes two months later but after finishing last of eight in that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes he was given time off to mature. When returning in the Fountain of Youth Stakes last February, 2020, Dennis' Moment was sent to post as the heavy favorite but finished 10th and last.

Rested another nine months, he ran poorly one year ago and was again given time off. This time the rest helped greatly as Dennis' Moment missed by a head in a six furlong sprint. Two races later in October, Dennis' Moment earned his first win in 25 months in a highly rated race at Keeneland at the distance of the Mr. Prospector, duplicating the 106 figure earned in the summer of 2019. With logical improvement off that effort in his fourth start off the rest and at the same distance of his last effort, Dennis' Moment has every right to earn a graded stakes win for the second time in his career.

The rest of the field, with their best ™ Equibase Speed Figures, is Doc Amster (103), Endorsed (110), Flap Jack (101), Poppy's Pride (97) and Wind of Change (BRZ) (114).

Win Contenders, in preference order:

Officiating
Dennis' Moment

Mr. Prospector Stakes – Grade 3
Race 10 at Gulfstream Park
Saturday, December 11 – Post Time 4:32 PM E.T.
Seven Furlongs
Three Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $100,000

The post Equibase Analysis: 12-1 On The Morning Line, Officiating Looks Very Tough In Mr. Prospector Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Wind Of Change Gives J.C. Diaz Jr. First Stateside Stakes Win In Mr. Prospector

Ever since Saffie Joseph Jr. took over the training for Wind of Change two starts ago he was convinced the 6-year-old was better sprinting six furlongs than going longer, as the horse had been doing.

Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., validated that belief.

Wind of Change, with jockey J. C. Diaz Jr. making his Monmouth Park debut, splashed to an easy 6¼-length victory in the 16th running of the Mr. Prospector Stakes, covering the six furlongs over a sloppy track in a sharp 1:09.60.

It marked the first stakes victory in the United States for Wind of Change, who started his career in Brazil.

“It looked like he made the lead within a few jumps and once he made the lead I wasn't worried because he's not the fastest horse from the gate,” said Joseph. “So I felt pretty comfortable once he made the lead. By the quarter pole he had a little pressure but he's the kind of horse that is going to stay the six furlongs strongly. I felt he would finish strongly and he did.”

A winner of eight of 21 career starts, Wind of Change has seven wins and two seconds in 10 starts over wet tracks – numbers that gave Diaz some pre-race confidence. The 20-year-old native of Puerto Rico is the son of legendary Puerto Rican jockey Juan C. Diaz, who has captured the past 20 riding titles at Camarero Racetrack.

“I wasn't too worried about the sloppy track because I know this horse is good in the slop,” Diaz said. “That gives you confidence when you see that form. He (Joseph) told me the horse has some early speed but he isn't always quick away from the gate. But he got into stride easily and made the lead on his own. He stayed strong the whole race.”

Sent off at 2-1 in the field of six, Wind of Change had few anxious moments, tripping the timer at :22.34 for the opening quarter and :45.14 to the half. Jersey-bred Golden Brown rallied for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Always Sunshine.

Joseph tried Wind of Change at six furlongs for his first start in his care, with the second-place finish in an optional $62,000 claimer at Gulfstream Park on April 24 serving as more proof that the distance was more the horse's strength. He was beaten just three-quarters of a length that day – and had been 0-for-4 at six furlongs until this victory.

The off going proved to be an added advantage for a horse that relishes a wet track.

“You always want a fast track but if a horse can handle an off track the way this one does you don't worry about it as much,” said Joseph, who is stabled at Monmouth Park for the first time. “I'm just thankful the horse showed up. He has been training like a really good horse. He's a deserving stakes winner.

“We're off to a good start at Monmouth. Fingers crossed it will continue.”

The post Wind Of Change Gives J.C. Diaz Jr. First Stateside Stakes Win In Mr. Prospector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Monmouth’s Mr. Prospector Downgraded for ’21

Monmouth Park's Listed Mr. Prospector S., traditionally contested in late September, was downgraded to a non-Listed Black-Type after moving to May 29 for the 2021 season. The substantial change on the calendar prompted a review by the American Graded Stakes Committee. The Committee's policy states, should a graded or eligible race be altered materially in age, sex, eligibility, racetrack location, or purse, or is substantially changed on the calendar (30 or more days), a review may result in a change in grade. If it is regarded as a new race, it must be run two years before it can be considered for grading.

The post Monmouth’s Mr. Prospector Downgraded for ’21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post