Saturday’s feature race at Gulfstream, the Miami Beach, has attracted a gateful of classy hard hitters and there are two issues: The mix of in-form miler types on a timely schedule vs. some classy, fresh returnees.
Further, the $60,000 handicap event has “prep” written all over it. What to do? With King Guillermo, for instance.
Do we get the 3-year-old Tampa Derby Derby winner/Arkansas Derby runnerup as a 3-year-old, or the 4-year-old Big ‘Cap pacesetter that tailed off to last and hasn’t been seen since. He’s been working fast, every seven days, and gets Lasix and Camacho back.
And what about 8-time GP winner–six at this trip–Noble Drama? He’s cycling back to his best effort which would be good enough to win here and take a ;look at his recent LAY-2 effort in which he was third. He raced wide, wider and widest off moderate fractions, finishing gamely.
Check out that effort in the HRI ‘Going Gulfstream’ Video on the homepage. See if you think he had reasons to be beaten as the 7-10 favorite: Gulfstream Park, SEP 25, Race 7. We think he did, yet we must take Eye of a Jedi (7-2) straight.
This 5-time GP winner (1-for-11 anywhere else) was too fresh returning from a March 27 layup on SEP 17. He set a hot pace before understandably tiring late as the 125-pound highweight.
The Steve Budhoo runner has worked thrice since on a weekly schedule, and reunites with patient Marcos Meneses, who better suits the gelded 6-year-old’s preferred finishing style. Well posted and spotted to make amends and he handles any footing.
Taking Eye of a Jedi to win, preferably at 5-2 or greater and a quinella with Noble Drama (3-1).
