AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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GULFSTREAM PARK TURF H. (G1), 9TH-GP, $300,000, 4YO/UP, 1 1/8MT, 5:02 P.M. EST, 2-6 |
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| 1 |
LE GRAND CRU, 5, h, by DynaformerIce the Champagne, by El Gran Senor O-Judson L Streicher; B-Mack Earle I. (Ky) |
| 2 |
YATE’S BLACK CAT, 7, h, by Black MinnalousheDazzle, by Slewacide O-Crawford Wachtel Brous and RobinettE; B-Gallagher James P. (Ky) |
| 3 |
COURT VISION, 5, h, by GulchWeekend Storm, by Storm Bird O-Ieah Stables, Resolute Group Stables; B-W. S. Farish & Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership. (Ky) |
| 4 |
NEVER ON SUNDAY (FR), 5, h, by Sunday Break (Jpn)Hexane (Fr), by Kendor O-Daniel-Yves Treves; B-Scea des Prairies (Fr) |
| 5 |
TAKE THE POINTS, 4, c, by Even the ScoreGinger Ginger, by Fred Astaire O-Starlight Partners; B-Phoenix Farm (Ky) |
| 6 |
ADAGIO (GB), 6, h, by Grand LodgeLalindi, by Cadeaux Genereux O-Ieah Stables, Golden Goose LLC, Steve Cohen; B-New England Stud, Myriad and Elite Bloodstock (GB) |
A trio of accomplished turf stars headlines the six-horse contingent in
Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1). Multiple Grade 1 hero COURT
VISION (Gulch) responded to the trainer switch to Richard Dutrow last fall,
taking the Shadwell turf Mile (G1) and finishing a close fourth in the Breeders’
Cup Mile (G1) in two outings. The classy five-year-old was a strong third in
this race last year and earned terrific BRIS Speed and Late Pace ratings all
season. He’s trained forwardly leading up to this, and we’ll give
him the nod. Robby Albarado will be closing late aboard the
Kentucky-bred.
YATE’S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) posted a big 104 BRIS Speed number for a
recent allowance win over this course and shouldn’t be automatically tossed in
this turf event for Dale Romans. The peaking seven-year-old has never proven
that he’s of Grade 1 quality, yet he fired big in five of his last six starts
and obviously likes this venue. We’ll include the Kentucky-bred in our gimmicks
with Kent Desormeaux in charge.
The wildcard in here is Group 1-winning import NEVER ON SUNDAY (Fr) (Sunday
Break [Jpn]), who was a strong third in the prestigious Prince of Wales S.
(Eng-G1) last summer. A seven-time winner in 13 career outings, the gray has
excelled at distances ranging from eight to 10 furlongs and hails from a barn
that can strike off the shelf with imports (Pat Biancone wins at a 30 percent
clip), so we will
include this one in multi-race plays with Joe Bravo riding.
Two-time Grade 1 victor TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) quietly had a
fantastic 2009 for trainer Todd Pletcher, bagging the Jamaica H. (G1) and
Secretariat S. (G1) while placing in the Virginia Derby (G2) and Sham S. (G3) on
the way. The gray colt might need one off the shelf and could require a little
more ground for his one-paced style, but we can’t ignore what he’s done and his
conditioner’s ability to fire fresh. Edgar Prado has the assignment.
Dual Grade 3 victor LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer) should lead this field early
from the inside post for conditioner Allen Jerkens, but it’s hard for us to
imagine this one taking this field the whole way, even on this turf course which
is kind to speed types. The five-year-old had a breakout year in 2009, closing
out his four-year-old campaign with back-to-back Grade 3 tallies, but he gives
every impression that he’s a miler and doesn’t look as good as the top
three. Group 1-placed ADAGIO (GB) (Grand Lodge) has won four of his last five and
has never been in better form since arriving in the United States, but to make the rise
from claiming to Grade 1 winner is too much for us to look past. The Richard
Dutrow pupil is likely to insure a reasonable pace.