Alien Invasion seeks third straight win

Alien Invasion goes for the hat trick, and should get it, when he runs in a first-level allowance race with a $35,000 claiming option at Gulfstream Park West on Thursday. If the New York-bred 4-year-old is successful it would be the fifth win in his last six starts. The mile and a sixteenth race drew eight horses for turf with Union’s Destiny entered for the main track only.

Alien Invasion took a year off after finishing eighth in a $50,000 starter with a $50,000 claiming option in his final start as a sophomore in March 2018. He did not fire in his first start back, finishing seventh in a $16,000 claimer for nonwinners of two for trainer Michael Maker.

He started to gain confidence when he won a $12,500 claimer going 7 1/2 furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf course on April 27, and came right back to win a $12,500 conditioned claimer by a neck.

After losing by a neck in a $10,000 claimer on May 16, again going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, he went on a two-month break. He ran a big race as a fresh horse, rallying to win a $12,500 claimer on Sept. 8.

He was claimed out of the race by trainer Enrique Landaeta, who brought him back in a $16,000 starter with a $25,000 claiming option at Gulfstream Park West.

Breaking from the rail with Leonel Reyes aboard, he led every step of the way in a decisive three-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race on turf. The 90 Beyer he received is a career best and is easily the best last-race figure in the field.

He is stepping up in class, but couldn’t be doing any better. Once again, he will break from the rail with Reyes up.

Max K. O., trained by Robert Falcone Jr., won’t mind the added distance after finishing fourth going 7 1/2 furlongs in a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 10.

Runners clear quarantine

Gran Omero heads the list of three horses that cleared quarantine and arrived at Gulfstream Park to prepare for the $690,000 Clasico Internacional del Caribe, which will be held at Gulfstream on Dec. 8.

A winner of nine of 10 starts, the 3-year-old Venezuelan-bred is coming off a win over Tap Daddy in the Grade 1 Clasico Propietarios La Rinconada on Sept. 1.

Trained by Ray Yanez, Gran Omero will be among the favorites in the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe. Last year the Mexican Triple Crown winner Kukulkan won the 1 1/8-mile race by 10 1/4 lengths. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, he went into the race undefeated in 13 starts.

The festival is one of the highlights of the year at Gulfstream.