Today’s Gulfstream Park feature for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 furlongs on turf is a very interesting, fascinating puzzle. Fast and classy first-time turfers, with and without appropriated pedigree are sprinkled among proven grass performers, all at varying stages of development.

Skylander (5-2), making his first start since winning by a pole when odds-on at the Keeneland spring meet is a worthy early line favorite, complicated by the fact that Wesley Ward has entered the uncoupled Rip Roarin Ritchie (4-1) with Julio Garcia, whose ridden four of Ward’s winners at the still young meet.

In the face of this, and all the good turf form signed on, we find Party Lad (10-1), making turf debut, to be the most interesting. Exiting a key race, he goes first-turf for a barn that’s very effective in that scenario, is working strongly at Palm Meadows and, coming off a New Pace Top, earned an excellent Equiform figure at the trip over the Woodbine Poly surface. Turf ace Joe Bravo gets the call.

Taking Party Lad to win at 7-1 or greater, and key boxing him in the multiples with both Ward horses, Bernie the Jet (8-1), a good-figure turnback with Castellano, and Sayaad (5-1) who’s never regressed in three lifetime starts.

Running Totals: May, 2007-Present

Number of Selections: 1218

Number of Win-Place-Show Finishers: 373-238-184

Amount Wagered: $2,438 [to win only]

Total Dollar Return on Investment: $2,550.50

Profit to Date: $112.50