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

‘Total Rock Star’ Tune In Ready To Roll In Claiming Crown Jewel

Very much the 'poster horse' for what the annual Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park represents, Mastic Beach Racing's Tune In will seek his seventh win in his last 10 starts in Saturday's $75,000 Jewel.

The Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who have run for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2020-2021, will headline an 11-race program offering nine starter stakes worth $810,000 in purses for the celebration of the blue-collar horses that support day-to-day programs at racetracks across the country.

Post time for Saturday's 11-race program is noon.

Tune In, who opened his career with a 3 ½-length win in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Keeneland in April 2019, has developed into a tough-as-nails competitor with a resolute will to win. The Diane Morici-trained gelding has notched a record of six wins, two places and one third in his last nine races.

“He's a cool dude,” Morici said. “He's a rock star; he's a total rock star.”

The son of Country Day, who is coming off a dominating victory in a one-turn mile starter allowance at Gulfstream, will attempt to win for the first time around two turns on dirt in the Jewel. His most recent attempt at two turns on dirt came Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs, where he held the lead in the stretch before settling for second behind multiple graded stakes-placed Major Fed.

“He went two turns at Churchill and got beat by a very nice horse,” Morici said. “At this level I think he should be fine.”

Tune In, who kicked off his impressive 9-race run with back-to-back two-turn victories over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream last winter, came back from his Churchill race six weeks later to return to winning form at Gulfstream. He will return in the Jewel off only three weeks between races.

“This is the first time I'm running him back this quick. I usually give him a little bit more time between races, but he did come out of his last race really well,” Morici said. “He shipped to Kentucky twice and ran his eyeballs out. He never missed an oat. He's a good eater. He's a class act. He's just a class act.”

Leonel Reyes as the return mount aboard Tune In.

John Fanelli, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch's Girolamo's Attack will also attempt to win for the first time around two turns in the Jewel. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding is coming off a victory in the one-turn mile Hollywood Lakes at Gulfstream.

“His best race seems to be a one-turn mile. He's 3-for-3 at Gulfstream at a one-turn mile,” Joseph said. “We're experimenting going two turns for the first time at a mile-and-an-eighth. We're going to give it a shot. It's a question mark if he wants to go two turns.”

Privately purchased after breaking his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream in April 2020, the son of Girolamo is usually forwardly placed while sprinting.

“Going longer, it allows him to get into an easier rhythm than when we were sprinting him earlier. I think that was the mistake we were making,” Joseph said. “It's a slower tempo [around two turns].”

Edgard Zayas has the return call aboard the son of Girolamo.

Joseph will also be represented by Magic Cap Stables' Twelve Volt Man, who became eligible for the Jewel two races back when he won an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while running for a $35,000 tag. The 3-year-old Violence colt finished fourth in the Showing Up Nov. 6 in next start.

Edwin Gonzalez has the mount on STwelve Volt Man.

Glenn Fagan's Glory of Florida enters the Jewel off a close second-pace finish behind Girolamo's Attack in the Hollywood Lakes, in which he rallied from mid-pack but was unable to sustain his drive in deep stretch. The Laura Cazares-trained 5-year-old son of Dialed In will be ridden back by Miguel Vasquez.

Michel Winters' Strike Appeal has ventured from West Virginia to Gulfstream Park with an impressive two-turn record. The Odin Londono Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding has won eight of his last 10 starts, all around two turns, at Thistledown and Mountaineer Park. The son of Tonalist was claimed two starts back for $25,000 out of an optional claiming allowance. Jockey Erik Barbaran has accompanied Strike Appeal from Mountaineer for the Jewel.

Trainer Michael Maker, who has saddled a record 18 winners of Claiming Crown races, will be represented in the Jewel by Ten Strike Racing and Thorough Crowd's Hanalei's Houdini. The 5-year-old Jersey Town gelding, who has raced for a claiming price as low as $16,000, will make his first start for his new connections Friday after being claimed for $50,000 out of a fifth-place finish at Keeneland. Paco Lopez has the call.

J. Richard Perkins' Ludington, a back-to-back optional claiming allowance winner; Bianco Stable's Braccio Di Ferro, who captured a $20,000 claiming race by 3 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Nov. 19; GU Racing Stable's Mo Hawk, who finished second in the 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance on Tapeta last time out; and Partner Stable LLC's Hard Lighting, who ran in the 2020 Blue Grass (G2); round out the field.

The post ‘Total Rock Star’ Tune In Ready To Roll In Claiming Crown Jewel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Max K. O. Goes For The Green In Saturday’s Claiming Crown Emerald

Ten Twenty Racing's Max K. O. earned a berth in Saturday's $95,000 Emerald by winning a Sept. 8 qualifying race at Kentucky Downs, which paid the $100 nominating fee and would have paid a shipping fee up to $1000 had the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee been stabled anywhere other than Gulfstream Park.

The Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up who have raced for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-2021, is one of nine starter stakes at Gulfstream in Saturday's $810,000 Claiming Crown – an annual event that celebrates the blue-collar horses that support the day-to-day racing programs at racetracks across the country.

Created by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Claiming Crown rewards and pays tribute to the horses and horsemen that provide the foundation for day-to-day racing programs at tracks around the country.

Saturday's 11-race program drew 128 total entries.

Max K. O. was claimed by his connections for $25,000 out of an impressive optional claiming allowance victory at Gulfstream May 16 after being claimed by his former connections for $16,000 out of a winning effort two weeks earlier.

In his first start for Joseph, the 5-year-old son of J P's Gusto stepped up in a big way to miss winning the Mr. Steele Stakes by a nose to stablemate Renaisance Frolic, a graded stakes-placed multiple stakes winner.

“We claimed him for $25,000 because he was always in good form,” Joseph said. “We ran him in a stake. We were a bit ambitious, and he just got beat. After that we took him to Kentucky Downs for a Claiming Crown prep and he won that quite well.”

Max K. O. stalked the pace before kicking in through the long Kentucky Downs stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. Back at Gulfstream, where the turf course was undergoing renovation, the Florida-bred turf runner held a clear lead in the stretch before coming up just a neck short of holding off Louder Than Bombs in a starter allowance on Tapeta Oct. 28.

“Last time on Tapeta, he looked like he was home free and he just got nailed at the wire,” Joseph said. “My primary thought was: it was on Tapeta, and it was still early and it didn't play to speed as much. I think that was against him. I know it's an excuse, but I honestly believe it was valid excuse. The horse that beat him had more stamina. I hope back on the turf, he will run a big race.”

Trainer Mike Maker will seek his record-extending 19th Claiming Crown success with Paradise Farms Corp.'s Attentive and Jordan Wycoff's The Last Zip in the Emerald.

Maker has saddled a record seven Emerald winners.

Attentive, a 5-year-old son of Power Broker was claimed for $40,000 out of his most recent start, a close-up third Nov. 7 at Belmont Park. The Last Zip finished four lengths behind Max K.O. in Kentucky Downs' Emerald qualifier two starts back. Chantal Sutherland has the mount on Attentive, while Jorge Vargas Jr. has been named to ride The Last Zip.

Sandra New's Louder Than Bombs will clash again with Max K.O. in the Emerald. The David Fawkes-trained 5-year-old had rallied to win a $20,000 claiming race on turf prior to his victory over the Joseph trainer on Tapeta. Emisael Jaramillo will once again be aboard the son of Violence.

Monarch Stable Inc.'s Light Fury, who has won starter allowances on turf and Tapeta while finishing in the money in his last six starts; Bruno Schickedanz's Mandate, who captured the Artie Schiller takes at Aqueduct at 44-1 last time out; Dotson Stable LLC's Benelux, who won back-to-back optional claiming allowances at Arlington prior to an off-the-board finish at Keeneland; Mob Stables LLC's Clear Vision, claimed for $25,000 out of a dominating victory at Belmont last time out; Patricia Generazio's Mid Day Image, who is coming off back-to-back starter handicap wins at Monmouth; and David Melin, Laurie Plesa and Leon Ellman's Vow Me Now, a stakes-winning son of Broken Vow trained by Eddie Plesa Jr.; are also entered in the Emerald.

Call Curt, Go Mike, Kitten's Spa, Surf and Turf and Viski Jones round out the 14-horse field.

The post Max K. O. Goes For The Green In Saturday’s Claiming Crown Emerald appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Gulfstream: Eldon’s Prince Chases Third Stakes In A Row In Friday’s Pulpit Stakes

Gentry Farms' Eldon's Prince is scheduled to seek his third-straight stakes victory on Friday's opening day program of the 2021-2022 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park, where the son of Cairo Prince figures as the horse to beat in the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes.

The Pulpit, a mile turf race for 2-year-olds which drew a field of 12, will co-headline an 11-race program with the $75,000 Wait a While, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies. The Pulpit and Wait a While will kick off a $14.26 million stakes schedule for the Championship Meet that will run through April 3.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Eldon's Prince has shown versatility in his three-race career, having won the Proud Man at a mile on turf and the off-the-turf Armed Forces while sprinting on dirt.

“He finds a way to win,” Joseph said. “He's a horse, as the distances get longer, he'll want to go further. I think he's going to be a horse that will go a mile-and-an-eighth, a mile-and-a-quarter, a mile-and-a-half on the grass, but this is a good race to get him started. Hopefully, he'll run as well as he's run before.”

A $280,000 purchase at the OBS April 2-year-olds-in-training sale, Eldon's Prince debuted on turf at Gulfstream Sept. 18, rallying from off the pace to finish second in a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight race. He came right back to graduate in the Proud Man, overcoming a rough start and drawing away to a six-length victory. Cutting back to seven furlongs on the main track, the Ontario-bred colt rallied from seventh to prevail by a head in the Armed Forces.

“He's not super flashy as far as speed in the morning, but he's super steady. He'll gallop out super strong in all of his works,” Joseph said. “On the dirt, you can see that he's even. I think his preferred surface is going to be turf. I know he won on dirt, but I think he just won on ability. He's a horse that can overcome things.”

Edgard Zayas has the return mount aboard Eldon's Prince.

[Story Continues Below]

Silverton Hill LLC's Red Danger also brings stakes experience on both turf and dirt into the Pulpit. The son of 2013 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb captured the $500,000 Juvenile Sprint over Kentucky Downs turf Sept. 29. After finishing fourth in the Bourbon (G2) on turf at Keeneland, the Brendan Walsh-trained colt finished second behind Howling Time in the Oct. 31 Street Sense at 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard in the Street Sense, has been awarded the return call.

Cammarota Racing LLC's Baron Cesco is slated to stretch out to a mile after showing considerable promising sprinting both on turf and Tapeta. The Antonio Sano-trained son of Klimt debuted with a front-running victory Aug. 6 at Saratoga. After finishing far back in the off-the-turf Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga, Baron Cesco finished a late-closing third in the Hollywood Beach over Gulfstream's turf after being held up in traffic on the backstretch. The Kentucky-bred colt enters the Pulpit off a second-place optional claiming allowance over Gulfstream's Tapeta course.

Wendall Yates, Troy Johnson, Carroll Boys Racing and Marita Weston's C My Meister enters the Pulpit off a pair of third-place stakes finishes. The Kelsey Danner trainee, who broke his maiden at Gulfstream in his turf debut, finished third in the Aug. 21 Kitten's Joy at Colonial before checking in behind a pair of next-out-winners while finishing third in the Oct. 23 Juvenile for Florida-breds at Gulfstream.

Live Oak Plantation's Biz Biz Buzz, a Michael Trombetta-trained son of Fed Biz who finished third in the Futurity (G3) on turf at Belmont two starts back; Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speaking Scout, a Graham Motion-trained son of Mr. Speaker who finished second in a Keeneland allowance last time out; and My Racehorse.com's Duke of Love, a Josie Carroll-trained son of Cupid who is coming off an impressive debut victory over Woodbine's Tapeta; are promising Pulpit entrants.

Peacock Stable's Sport Pepper, Carl Hess Jr.'s Concrete Glory, Joker Racing LLC's Kitodan, John Minchello's Fast N Ready, and GU Racing Stable LLC's Always Gambling, round out the field.

The post Gulfstream: Eldon’s Prince Chases Third Stakes In A Row In Friday’s Pulpit Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights