Be Gone Daddy finds softer spot

When he dropped Be Gone Daddy back into allowance company after a graded stakes try in in the Gulfstream Park Mile, trainer Marcus Vitali probably wasn’t counting on running into a graded stakes winner like Strike Power.

In that race, on April 25 at Gulfstream Park, Be Gone Daddy tried to rally eight wide from last while Strike Power went gate to wire to win by five lengths. Be Gone Daddy was second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Friday at Belmont Park, Be Gone Daddy is back in the second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claiming race going a one-turn mile. This time, there doesn’t appear to be any horse the caliber of Strike Power in this field.

Vitali is based at Gulfstream Park and Delaware Park. But in scouring the condition books, he landed on what he feels is a good spot for Be Gone Daddy who had two wins prior to running fourth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile.

Against Strike Power, Vitali said, “I thought my horse ran awesome for what he is. I thought he ran a great race. I’m pretty confident he’ll show up on Friday. He’s got one big kick.”

Be Gone Daddy is a one-run closer who would benefit from pace. He may get it with Its All Relevant and Roaming Union in the field.

“Any pace up front will definitely help us,” said Vitali, who has Kendrick Carmouche to ride.

Its All Relevant has won four consecutive races and seven of his last nine. He has been claimed three times in his last four starts, most recently for $32,000 by owner/trainer Linda Rice. He has been competing mostly in the lower- to mid-level claiming ranks.

Roaming Union was claimed for $62,500 by Rob Atras out of a third-place finish in the slop at Aqueduct on April 13. Prior to that, he won a $50,000 claiming race going two turns at Aqueduct during the winter.

Candygram, beaten three lengths when seventh behind Be Gone Daddy at Gulfstream in March, is coming off a front-running allowance win at Aqueduct on April 20.

Supreme Aura, who finished 10th of 12 in the Grade 3 Commonwealth, and Giuseppe the Great complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Be Gone Daddy, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 90-80-91

◗ Won three of four races at Gulfstream Park before stepping into the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile where he was a well-beaten fourth by Prince Lucky.

“It was worth taking a chance there, unfortunately we came up a little short,” Vitali said. “He’s getting better as he goes along.”

Candygram, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-86

◗ Got away with soft early fractions while cruising to front-running victory going two turns at Aqueduct.

◗ Put in a very strong workout on May 11, going five furlongs in 1:00.68 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.90 and seven-eighths in 1:28.37.

Its All Relevant, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-92

◗ In career-best form but steps way up in class for this spot.

◗ Is a six-time winner at a mile.