GULFSTREAM PARK NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 28, 2005
by
Dick Powell
There’s an old joke about two elderly women who go to visit a
resort in the Catskills. When they get back, they compare notes about
what they didn’t like. The first one says, “The food was
terrible.” And the second one says, “Yeah, and such small
portions.”
Gulfstream 2005 continues to struggle along while a new facility is
being constructed. I have no doubt that when it opens in 2006 it will be
spectacular. But for now, the racing has been weak and there’s hasn’t been enough of it.
It was only a few years ago that Gulfstream ran six days a week with
most race days having at least 10 races and usually at least 11 on
weekends. Now, they are running four days a week in January with 10 races a day. In February and March, Gulfstream is scheduled to run
six days a week, but you would think that they would have beefed up
the racing in January and try to gain some momentum while they
worked out the issues due to the reconstruction.
Any concerns that the horsemen in South Florida had about the new
main track and turf course were answered the first week with glowing
reviews. Yet, we have been dished up more cheap races than
expected and even with good weather, week 3 left me flat.
Week 3 saw fast and firm every day, but the main track played
much slower than it did in week 1. The turf course still yields some
unbelievably fast times but has been playing fair with all running styles
seeming to have an equal chance.
One source of frustration is the lack of information on where the
temporary rail has been set up on the turf course. None of the charts I
have seen indicate where the rail has been placed and even the
Gulfstream Park overnight does not list it. The only way is to watch the
simulcast broadcast when they announce the day’s changes or
various web sites that have changes listed.
For the record, the rail was set at 60 feet during the first week,
for week 2 the rail was set at 48 feet and
for week 3 the rail was set at 72 feet.
The only graded stake of week three was the First Lady H. (G3), a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. The betting public
sent off SAVORTHETIME (Gilded Time) as the 17-10 favorite despite
coming off a 57-day layoff and no success in graded stakes company.
Behind her in the wagering was Ebony Breeze (Belong to Me) who
won the Endine H. (G3) last summer at Delaware Park for
owner/breeder Kinsman Stable (George Steinbrenner III).
Cologny (Go for Gin) gunned to the front and opened up a two-length lead through a quarter of
:22.38 and a half in :44.87. John
Velazquez had Savorthetime chasing the early pace while down
on the inside then pulled out to take dead aim at Cologny. The two
hard-knocking mares dueled to the sixteenth pole where Cologny
gave way and Savorthetime went on to a 2 1/2-length victory. Her
final time of 1:09.21 was terrific considering how slow the Gulfstream
Park main track has been playing.
The maiden star of the week was ARCH ENEMY (Arch) who made her
career debut in Saturday’s 4TH race. A $230,000 two-year-old in-training
purchase last February and the most expensive of eight juveniles by
her sire, she was touted as the international good thing after a
sensational :58 1/5 five-furlong workout at Gulfstream on January 10
for trainer Steve Klesaris.
The public made her the 7-10 odds-on favorite and she didn’t
disappoint when Edgar Prado gunned her to the front and she
outsprinted her 10 rivals going into the turn with a first quarter of
:22.41. She maintained that margin to the top of the stretch and held all
her rivals at bay winning by just under two lengths over a fast-closing
Golden Locket (Storm Creek) who got up for second at 56-1. For
people who like to wheel favorites, the exacta came back $89.80.
Arch Enemy’s final time of 1:11.03 was very good and we’ll see if the race
office can get a first-level allowance sprint to fill for three-year-old
fillies.
Todd Pletcher had three winners for the week giving him nine for the
first three weeks. Amazingly, two of the three were ridden by Chris
DeCarlo.
Edgar Prado had four winners and has 12 wins after three weeks – two
more than John Velazquez and three more than Eibar Coa. Prado has
been riding just about everything – cheap claimers and all, but I think
that is a positive. With Jerry Bailey talking about retirement in the near
future, Prado and agent Bob Frieze look like they are going to make a
major effort to try to fill the void but rather than just ride the Rolls
Royces of the world, they are also going to pile up wins.
Horses to Watch
Thursday (1/20)
1ST — KUTENAI (Quiet American) dropped down to maiden claimers
for the first time but wound up being used hard trying to stay ahead of
the horses to his outside. Watch for him against this class level going
two turns.
5TH — MYSTICAL TIME (Count the Time) was away slowly and then
was forced to rally out on the worst part of the racetrack.
7TH — KEG TAP (Pleasant Tap) made his career debut going two
turns on the turf from post 11 and ran well to be third.
Friday (1/21)
1ST — SPIDER JOE (Yes It’s True) pressed the pace on the
outside and faltered late behind others who saved ground.
4TH — T V HUNTER (Hunting Hard) had a sneaky bad trip when the
two outside of him broke well and he was forced to duel between
horses.
6TH — SILVER MOOSE (Concorde’s Tune) showed high speed
in his turf debut before weakening late and should be fit for a return to
the main track.
Saturday (1/22)
2ND — PRIVAT GOLD (Arg) (Rudy’s Fantasy) lost all chance when he
broke in the air at the start then was rushed up to try to press the pace
for his entry-mate.
4TH — WILLFUL ABANDON (Unbridled’s Song) was tightened
up going into the turn by the eventual winner and lost all chance.
Graham Motion debut runners always improve with a race under their
belt so she should be tough next time out.
5TH — VECCHIA CITA (Chi) (Winning) dropped back to last early then
rallied hard to get third. He should love the one-turn mile races here
against high-level claimers.
8TH — MOGADOR (Danzig) flew home for second going nine
furlongs despite being stuck behind very slow fractions.
Sunday (1/23)
2ND — LAKES TUNE (Concorde’s Tune) held well for second in
her career debut for Linda Rice who only wins 9 percent first out, but
she’ll have to come back against maiden claimers.
3RD — GOLDEN MAN (Suave Prospect) loomed boldly at the top of
the stretch but was no match for the odds-on favorite. He still held on
for second and has won going two turns so watch for him to stretch
out.
6RD — BLUEGRASS BREEZE (Artax) broke a step slow from post
1 and was forced to rush up to the lead. He battled on gamely for
second and was much better than the rest of the field.