Bahamian Squall gets in work for Housebuster

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Bahamian Squall, who has started just once since finishing a troubled sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, worked a sharp half-mile in 47.42 at Gulfstream Park on Monday in preparation for the $75,000 Housebuster Stakes here on July 5.

Working over a racetrack rated good after having been inundated by rain this past week, Bahamian Squall went an opening quarter in 23.92 then picked up the pace without being asked to the wire, coming home in 23.49 before galloping out a very strong five-eighths in 59.73 and pulling up six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“I was really, really happy with the work,” said trainer David Fawkes on Monday. “I had planned to breeze him yesterday, but decided to wait another day due to the track condition. Although there was still moisture in the track this morning, I thought it was fine and this horse just couldn’t be doing better than he is at the present time.”

The Housebuster will be Bahamian Squall’s first start since closing out his 2013 campaign with a third-place finish in the restricted Sunshine State Stakes here on Dec. 8. Fawkes said his original plan had been to bring Bahamian Squall back to defend his title in Calder’s Grade 2 Smile Stakes, but that race was canceled last week by Calder management along with the rest of the Summit of Speed program due to the ongoing dates negotiations between Calder and Gulfstream Park. Bahamian Squall also finished second last summer in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Alfred Vanderbilt Handicap.

The Housebuster is one of five sprint stakes Gulfstream will run on July 5 that mirror the Summit of Speed. The race drew 22 nominations, a list that also includes defending champion Black Diamond Cat and last year’s runner-up Close It Out. Close It Out also worked here Monday, going four furlongs in 47.02 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.04 immediately after the renovation break.

The Housebuster will be joined on the July 5 program by the Paseana for older fillies and mares, the Cherokee Run for 3-year-olds, the Cash Run for 3-year-old fillies, and the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint. All four dirt stakes will be decided at 6 1/2 furlongs, while the Bob Umphrey is carded at five-eighths on the grass.