Mac Diarmida H. (G3) winner HOST (Tabasco Cat) highlights a field of 11 turf
horses entered for Sunday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup H. (G1). The
John Kimmel-trained five-year-old made his seasonal bow a winning one last time
over the Gulfstream Park turf, taking the Mac Diarmida at the same 1 3/8-mile
distance as Sunday’s race, but he faces a couple of new faces this time in MUSTANFAR (Unbridled)
and PRINCE ARCH (Arch).
Mustanfar, who captured the Sycamore Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) prior to a fifth
in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) last fall, returned to the races this year with a
sharp 2 3/4-length triumph over a strong optional-claiming field last month, but
he will have to overcome the far outside post. Prince Arch won two Grade 3
events in 2004, including a season-ending victory going 1 3/16 miles, but he
will be making his first start since September.
Queen’s Plate victor NIIGON (Unbridled), who turned in a commendable
runner-up placing when making his turf debut last out, will lead the post parade
under a 111-pound impost that includes Robert Landry. Next comes Prince Arch,
Brice Blanc, 119; SWAGGER STICK (Cozzene), Cornelio Velasquez, 114; RIO GUAPORE
(Brz) (Cigano-Road), Rajiv Maragh, 112; Host, Javier Castellano, 115; NAVESINK
RIVER (Unbridled), John Velazquez, 113; GIGLI (Brz) (Clackson), Jerry Bailey,
113; MACAW (Ire) (Bluebird), Joe Bravo, 114; DEMETEOR (Dehere), Jorge Chavez,
112; QUEST STAR (Broad Brush), Edgar Prado, 113; and Mustanfar, Jose Santos,
118.