Any horseplayer with a working knowledge of Handicapping 101 will have no problem identifying the favorite for Thursday’s finale and will know that Max K.O. (9-5) is a worthy favorite and will be a very tough out.
Fastest on the Thoro-Graph scale, going turf the synth, the five year old goes well fresh, found his proper level with a blowout win at today’s grade last out and the Saffie Joseph barn has been resurgent of late. Further, the barn is 26% effective with its repeaters.
Edgard Zayaz wins with one of every three rides for this barn according to BRIS and exiting a win over the demanding Kentucky Downs turf indicates the the nine-time winner should have more than enough conditioning for his switch to Tapeta.
But the thing is that, this far anyway, the J.P’s Gusto’s aren’t making a consistent transition to All-Weather surfaces but one sire who has is Palace Malice, a fact borne out by Go Mike’s (5-1) recent Tapeta debut, a strong late-rally runnerup to Light Fury at this grade last out.
Not only did the gelded three year old move forward slightly on the surface switch but needed . to overcome a tough trip to do so. So for yourself on video: Gulfstream Park, SEP 30, Race 7. Angel Arroyo, who is taking a return call, really gets along with the young, improving gelding. No reason why he can’t continue to improve.
Taking the value offered on Go Mike straight at 4-1 or greater and keying him in quinellas with the aforementioned favorite and Louder Than Bombs (9-2) who has been competitive on Tapeta and goes turf to synth for David Fawkes, three for his last seven in that role.
