Little Mike returns to Gulfstream turf

Little Mike has been sidelined since his wire job in the April 3 Appleton (Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos) Little Mike, who really took to the Gulfstream Park turf course last season while scoring three graded stakes victories, returns to racing action in Thursday’s 7TH race at Gulfstream. The Dale Romans trainee became a fan favorite during the 2011 meeting, during which he captured a trio of Grade 3 events — the Fort Lauderdale, the Canadian Turf and the Appleton when last seen on April 3. “I think the break did him some good,” Romans said of the four-year-old gelding, who was shelved by injury this spring. “It looks like he’s grown up and filled in a little bit. He’s ready for a good campaign.” Little Mike geared up for his comeback by skipping five furlongs over the firm Gulfstream turf in a bullet :58 4/5 last Sunday. Jockey Joe Bravo was aboard for the move, which ranked as the fastest of six at the distance.

“He looked like he worked well. It looked like he did it the right way,”
Romans said. “It looked like Joe had plenty of horse, and he galloped out
strong.”

Bravo was suitably impressed with Little Mike’s work.

“It was almost like déjà vu of last year,” Bravo said. “He was so happy. He
worked great. He’s a happy horse. I’ll tell you what; he really opened my eyes
as to how good of a horse he was last year.”

On Tuesday, Romans wasn’t quite ready to confirm Little Mike for Thursday’s
race, where the front-runner rates as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

“We’ll study it,” Romans said. “We’ve got a few days to worry about it, but
unless Joe tells us something different, we’re a go.”

The one-mile optional claimer on turf has attracted a few other quality
rivals. Multiple Grade 3 winner Yankee Fourtune, third to Little Mike in the
Canadian Turf back in February, will be making his second start off a layoff.

Multiple Grade 1 veteran Telling, out of action since April, returns for new
trainer David Fawkes, while Grade 2-placed Guys Reward, recent Grade 3 River
City runner-up Allie’s Event and Todd Pletcher’s multiple stakes scorer Clement
Rock all add depth to the field.

Little Mike, named after the nine-year-old son of owners Priscilla and Carlo
Vaccarezza, is expected to follow a familiar itinerary during this upcoming
meet.

“He’ll have the same program as last (season),” Romans said. “That worked out
well.”

The Fort Lauderdale will be run on January 14. The Florida Sunshine Millions
Turf on January 28 was also mentioned as a possibility for Little Mike.