Gulfstream Park’s G3 Harlan’s Holiday has drawn a field of six, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in competitiveness.
No reasonable handicapper would argue that millionaire Mighty Heart (9-5) is the most accomplished and his participation in next month’s Pegasus World Cup would be welcome, even with a clash of titans expected; presumed Horse of the Year Knicks Go vs. freakishly talented Life Is Good.
The Ontario-bred earned his money the old fashioned way, competing in a series of stakes throughout his career before celebrating his fifth birthday. But despite the short stretch of today’s 1-1/16 miles, the pole and the switch to Johnny, he has nothing to prove and rates to be less than 100% for this.
Conversely, Fearless may have little to prove on the talent scale, but owns but one graded win as opposed to his main rival. He needs to show that he classes up with the saltiest group he has met since the spring, What should help the Pletcher trainee overcome his outside draw is his affinity for both the course (4) 3-1-0, and the trip, (3) 2-1-0.
Fearless rates to benefit from his recent mile placing here, his first start since Preakness Day at Pimlico. Check the foort for yourself: Gulfstream, NOV 21, Race 3 on the Going Gulfstream Video on the HRIU homepage.
With his main rival inside, Luis Saez will need to put some pressure on Mighty Heart and keep applying it, lest he walk away. Count on the fact that Pletcher and Saez will huddle on this before settling on how best their gelded 5-year-old might defeat his younger rival.
Check the betting grid in the featured Saturday Handicapper section as to the best approach to attack this puzzle
