Belgrano fits race conditions perfectly
Belgrano, a two-time stakes winner with $354,161 in earnings, will take advantage of the conditions offered in the feature race Thursday at Gulfstream Park. The five-furlong turf dash has second-level allowance conditions but also is open to horses that have not won a race since Oct. 28, 2021. There is a $62,500 claiming option for horses not eligible for either condition.
The race drew 10 horses and goes as the last race on an eight-race card that gets under way at 1:05 p.m. Eastern.
Trained by Frank Russo, Belgrano is looking for his first victory since he was an easy 3 1/2-length winner of a $25,000 starter race going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf Oct. 10 at Laurel Park. He went into the race off a win at the same distance in the $106,000 Rainbow Heir on Aug. 28 at Monmouth Park. His other stakes score came at Monmouth in the $73,500 Virgil Buddy Raines on Oct. 3, 2020.
Despite not having won a race in more than five months, the 8-year-old son of War Front is a sharp horse right now. He is coming off a neck loss going five furlongs on turf to Yes I Am Free in the $100,000 Silks Run on March 19. In his previous start, he was third to Yes I Am Free in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on Feb. 12. Prior to that, he dueled through honest fractions before settling for third going a mile in the Grade 3 Tropical Park Turf.
The 94 Beyer Speed Figure that Belgrano received for his narrow loss in the Silks Run is the best last-race figure in the field and just one below the career-best 95 Beyer he received for his win in the Rainbow Heir.
Belgrano is versatile and with a clean break figures to get a nice trip from a stalking position. He will break from post 9 with Isaac Castillo up.
The Mark Casse-trained Old Chestnut could take a step forward in his second start this year. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown made a belated rally to finish fifth in the Silks Run. He only lost by two lengths while never coming near the rail after breaking from the outside post with Luis Saez aboard in the 10-horse field. The three-time turf winner was good enough to finish second in the Grade 3 Quick Call at Saratoga as a 3-year-old. He does his best running late, and the pace should be an honest enough.
Junior Alvarado will be up when he breaks from post 7.
Warrior’s Pride, who set the pace in the Silks Run and Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, could be sitting on a big effort in this third start this year for trainer Antonio Cioffi.
A 4-year-old colt by Poseidon’s Warrior, Warrior’s Pride took them all the way in the $75,000 Texas Glitter and $100,000 Turf Sprint at Gulfstream last year. Catch him if you can.