Gulfstream Park: Harlan's Holiday a Sunshine Millions prep for Cash Rules, Duke of Mischief

Barbara D. Livingston

Duke of Mischief will make his first start since April in next Sunday's Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A small field appears to be shaping up for next Sunday’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park but trainer Dave Fawkes is doing his part to help fill the starting gate with both the red-hot Cash Rules and the near multi-millionaire Duke of Mischief both being pointed for the race.

Cash Rules will bring a four-race winning streak into the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday, with all four victories coming at Calder in stakes, including the Grade 3 Spend a Buck Handicap on Oct. 13. Duke of Mischief has not started since finishing second behind Caixa Eletronica in defense of his title in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic this past April.

“I’m looking at the Sunshine Millions Classic with both horses and this should be a perfect prep for the two of them,” said Fawkes. “Cash Rules has continued to train well since he won the Carl Rose Classic and I expect him to run his usual good race. Duke of Mischief needs a race to get started but the way he’s been working, I think he can get a piece.”

Fawkes’s major objective with Duke of Mischief, who has banked more than $1.9 million in his career, is another trip back to West Virginia for the Charles Town Classic, a race he won in 2010.

“The Classic has been our goal since he went back into training after the layoff and now it’s even a richer goal with the purse having been raised from $1 million to $1.5 million,” said Fawkes.

Only three other horses are confirmed for the Harlan’s Holiday – Csaba, Ducduc, and Delegation. Csaba and Ducduc will renew their rivalry after finishing in a dead heat for first in Calder’s Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap on Nov. 24. Delegation is coming off the best race of his career, a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Delegation turned in the bullet work for five furlongs Saturday morning at Palm Meadows, completing the distance in 59.44 seconds for trainer Mark Casse.

Politicallycorrect points to Malibu

Politicallycorrect, among the 23 horses nominated for the Harlan’s Holiday, will pass the race to await the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Politicallycorrect, a son of Kitten’s Joy, has won his last two starts, including the seven-furlong Damascus at Santa Anita on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.

“He ran so big at Santa Anita, it just makes sense to bring him back there and try to win the last Grade  1 for 3-year-olds,” said Wesley Ward, who trains Politicallycorrect for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. “He’s trained great since winning the Damascus, the distance is perfect and it would be great for the Ramseys and for Kitten’s Joy’s reputation as a stallion if one of his progeny can win a Grade 1 on the dirt.”

Ward said Politicallycorrect would have one more local work before shipping to California on Friday. Joel Rosario, who rode Politicallycorrect to victory in the Damascus, will return to Santa Anita to retain the mount in the Malibu.