Ajaaweed, Tiz Rye Time each return from long layoff in Sunday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The effects of a lengthy layoff will come under close scrutiny from Gulfstream Park horseplayers in Sunday’s ninth race. Four of the nine older horses will be returning from long breaks, including the 4-year-olds Ajaaweed and Tiz Rye Time, both of whom happen to exit the same race, the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis nearly a year ago.

The 2021 renewal of the Sam Davis is set for next Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

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Ajaaweed could be favored in the $47,000 first-level allowance when he makes his first start under the care of Todd Pletcher. The Shadwell Stable homebred competed in three straight graded stakes when still trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in December 2019 preceding his only race at 3, a distant third-place finish behind Sole Volante in the Sam Davis last February.

Ajaaweed will have Luis Saez aboard when he breaks from post 9 in the one-mile race. McLaughlin has worked as Saez’s agent since last April.

Tiz Rye Time (post 6, Corey Lanerie) was fourth in the 2020 Sam Davis before trainer Ian Wilkes had to stop on him because of a slight tendon strain. The Tiznow colt was a sharp maiden winner here in December 2019 when going this same one-turn mile. Among his recent tune-ups at the Palm Meadows training center was a five-furlong bullet in 59.60 seconds on Jan. 13.

“I’m happy with the horse and the way he’s trained,” Wilkes said. “I’d say he’s probably going to need this race, being how he’s been away so long, but it’s time to get started. I expect him to run well and for the race to benefit him.”

The other layoff horses facing Ajaaweed and Tiz Rye Time are Kid Bourbon (post 8, John Velazquez), a 5-year-old who has been gelded since last having raced seven months ago, and longshot Lavery (post 7, Robby Albarado).

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Race 10 on Sunday is a $52,000 second-level allowance for older horses going the two-turn distance of 1 1/16 miles. Pletcher steps in with a major player in War Stopper, a sharp last-out winner who will have Irad Ortiz Jr. back aboard when he breaks from the outside post in a field of eight. Ortiz, who was honored Thursday night with his third straight Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey, continues with a hot hand here, having ridden four more winners Thursday to extend his lead over Saez and Paco Lopez atop the local standings.

Both co-features are part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 6-11) that was expected to have a pool guarantee of about $400,000, assuming the jackpot wasn’t swept by a solo winning ticket Friday or Saturday. The Rainbow 6 pool began anew this week after being subject to a forceout last Sunday.

First post Sunday is 12:05 p.m. Eastern, with the local forecast calling for cloudy skies but no rain and a high near 80. Five of the 11 races are scheduled for the turf course, which should once again be rated firm amid a prolonged dry period.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before another five-day week starts Wednesday. The highlights of next weekend are a pair of $100,000 filly-mare turf stakes, the Grade 3 Suwannee River and the Ladies Turf Sprint, both on Saturday.