Abounding Legacy likes distance of Trinniberg Stakes

As far as Ralph Nicks is concerned, perhaps the most important variable in the $75,000 Trinniberg Stakes is the distance of the Saturday feature at Gulfstream Park.

Abounding Legacy, one of the top contenders in a well-matched field of 10 3-year-olds and up, shows two wins and a second from three tries at seven furlongs – which happens to be the distance of the Trinniberg.

“He loves it,” Nicks said. “He’s training well, and I expect a big effort from him Saturday.”

Abounding Legacy, with Luca Panici to ride, enters in sharp form for Nicks, who continues to rank among the top trainers at the south Florida track. The 4-year-old gelding most recently was third in the Sea of Grass Stakes on June 26 after romping to victory in a May 22 allowance.

The chief opposition probably will come from the top three finishers in a key allowance run July 8: Hy Kodiak Warrior, Piloting, and Weekend Wish.

Hy Kodiak Warrior, trained by Antonio Sano, has achieved real consistency in recent months by earning Beyer Speed Figures between 80 and 87 in each of his last five starts when getting through his first two allowance conditions.

Piloting, trained by Mark Casse, has run three creditable races since shipping south from the New York circuit in the spring. Leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione has the mount.

Weekend Wish, the lone 3-year-old in the field, formerly was trained by the now-retired Bill Kaplan and has been a contender in all four tries for Stanley Gold.

The Trinniberg, named for the south Florida-based colt who won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita for trainer Bisnath Parboo, is carded as the 10th of 12 Saturday races. First post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:30.

The four-day week at Gulfstream began Thursday with a jackpot carryover of nearly $200,000 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which runs Saturday from races 7-12.

A five-week drought in six-figure stakes at Gulfstream will end next Saturday with the Florida Sires series.