Arindel has favorites in 2-year-old stakes with Turbo, Lynx

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With their recent nemeses Awesome Strong and Atomically bound for the Breeders’ Cup next week, Arindel homebreds Turbo and Lynx figure to be heavily favored in $60,000 stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Turbo goes in the Juvenile Sprint for 2-year-olds, and Lynx in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint. Both races are restricted to Florida-breds and run at seven furlongs.

Turbo was second to Awesome Strong in the first two legs of the male division of the Florida Sire Stakes, the Dr. Fager and Affirmed, before finishing a tiring eighth in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, also won by Awesome Strong. Turbo forced the early pace after being slammed around between horses into the first turn, then was trapped wide before beginning to drop back after the opening six furlongs of the In Reality.

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Turbo’s most impressive effort came at the seven-furlong distance of the Juvenile Sprint in the Affirmed. He registered a career-best 74 Beyer Speed Figure, despite a wide trip and his rider losing his stick nearing midstretch.

The late-running Turbo will need some help with the pace and should get a lively one to run at considering the presence of Diamond Cool, Zydeceaux, and No Name Dude in the lineup.

The Juvenile Sprint will be the third meeting between Turbo and Diamond Cool. Turbo came out on top in their opening meeting when he won his maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs here June 18. In the In Reality, Diamond Cool finished better than three lengths ahead of Turbo in seventh after prompting the early running.

Zydeceaux ran off the screen winning his only start by nine lengths in wire-to-wire fashion under a $16,000 claiming tag here Aug. 13. His 76 Beyer is the highest in the Juvenile Sprint lineup. He figures to have his hand forced early after drawing the rail.

No Name Dude is the only stakes winner in the lineup, having captured the five-furlong Hollywood Beach over the Tapeta course here earlier this month. He also owns a victory on dirt, which came against statebred maidens in September.

In the Juvenile Filly Sprint, Lynx also makes her first start since running in all three legs of the Florida Sire Series. Lynx opened her career with three straight impressive victories, including the opening two divisions of the Sire Series, the six-furlong Desert Vixen and seven-furlong Susan’s Girl. She ran afoul of Atomically when she tried to stretch around two turns in the My Dear Girl. Lynx was easily second best that day, albeit nearly seven lengths behind the winner, who was purchased privately after the race and sent to trainer Todd Pletcher to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies next Friday.

The seven-horse lineup for the Juvenile Fillies Sprint also includes the last-out maiden winners Esoteric, Charlie’s Wish, and the Pletcher-trained Hoax. Also in the field is Dorth Vader, who finished a troubled third in the My Dear Girl.

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