Abaan's class might pull him through in prep for longer races

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Despite being idle since early June and running at a distance perhaps a bit shorter than his best, Abaan figures to go postward the heavy favorite to defeat 10 rivals in Sunday’s $72,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park. The main event is carded at 1 1/16 miles on the grass and is the second of four allowance races on the program, three of which are scheduled to be run over the newly renovated turf course.

Abaan returns locally for the first time since finishing second behind Gufo in the Grade 2 Pan American on April 2. Earlier in the winter meet, Abaan won the two-mile Allen Jerkens and the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight going 1 1/2 miles. He was given a break after finishing a tiring fifth in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup, also at two miles, on June 10 at Belmont Park.

“He got into a little bit of a speed duel and was kind of a tired horse after that, so we decided to give him some time off,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “This race is probably a little short of his best, but we need to get going. He’s put on some weight, done well with the time off, and hopefully this will be the start of a solid campaign.”

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

Abaan, who does his best either on or just off the lead, will have plenty of other speed to contend with, considering the presence of Calibrator, Grand Journey, and Brazillionaire. Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. trains both Calibrator, who returns to the turf off a 44 1/2-length loss over a sloppy track in the Claiming Crown Jewel three weeks ago at Churchill Downs, and Grand Journey, idle since being claimed for $32,000 on Aug. 21 at Saratoga.

A hot pace would play to the advantage of late-running types Yes This Time, Eyes on Target, and perhaps the lightly raced but promising Marwad.

Yes This Time has been away since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes nearly six months ago. Yes This Time, a Grade 3 winner last year at 3, returns to his favorite course, having won 4 of 6 starts over the Gulfstram turf. He also finished second in the 2021 Tropical Park Derby over the course.

The stretch-running Marwad is the only 3-year-old in the lineup. He has won two of his four starts, both against lesser competition on the Tapeta surface here. Marwad finished a troubled fifth in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in his only turf appearance.

◗ Pletcher also will send out likely favorite Insatiable in the $71,000 fifth race, an allowance for fillies and mares going a mile on the grass. She’ll likely have to catch the speedy Blue Times, who figures to receive early pressure from stretch-out sprinter Fawning.

◗ A well-matched field of 2-year-old Florida-breds will go six furlongs under allowance conditions in the eighth event. Gran Slash and Rolling On, first and second against open company in their previous outing, top a lineup that also includes key contenders Zydeceaux, Carabinero, and Hard to Handle.

◗ In the $71,000 ninth race, Wonka drops into allowance company following three stakes tries since winning her maiden here in March. Kentucky invader Toeris and the Pletcher-trained Sister Nell also figure to draw plenty of mutuel support in the one mile turf test, which drew 10 fillies and mares.

– additional reporting by David Grening

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.