Benny the Bull shapes up as solid betting race

Horseplayers in simulcast land who are looking for an opportunity to recoup their losses – or parlay their winnings – following the Travers on Saturday need look no further than the Gulfstream Park feature.

The $100,000 Benny the Bull came up a solid little race, with no clear-cut favorite amid a field of nine older Florida-breds. It will be run at seven furlongs and goes at 6:03 p.m. Eastern, about 20 minutes after the Travers, and bettors might have a difficult time separating the top contenders.

Mo Cash, who returned to form last month when making a rare dip into the allowance ranks, is listed as a 5-2 morning-line choice. The 4-year-old gelding will break from post 3 with Miguel Vasquez aboard for trainer Ricko Maragh, who has taken over the stable for his suspended father, Aubrey, in the wake of the controversial Musical Heart case that erupted this week.

Closely following on the program odds list are Splash Rules (post 9, Emisael Jaramillo) and Front Loaded (post 6, Nik Juarez), although it’s not too hard to make a sensible case for a few others, including Sweetontheladies (post 2, Marcos Meneses), Hy Riverside (post 4, Leonel Reyes), and Zipping (post 7, Tyler Gaffalione).

The Benny the Bull, named for the standout Florida-bred sprinter who earned more than $2.35 million in a 20-race career that ended in 2009, goes as the 11th of 12 races on a card that starts at 12:45 p.m. The feature is part of a Rainbow 6 sequence that spans races 7-12 and figures to offer a six-figure jackpot Saturday, assuming there wasn’t a solo-ticket sweep Thursday or Friday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mo Cash, by Adios Charlie
Last 3 Beyers: 94-83-76

◗ Seems like this multiple stakes-winning earner of more than $300,000 got a confidence-builder in his July 13 triumph.

Splash Rules, by Pomeroy
Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-83

◗ Very consistent 5-year-old comes well drawn in the outer post and figures to appreciate the slightly longer distance.

Front Loaded, by Kantharos
Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-77

◗ Handy 4-year-old was an eye-catching winner two back and has rounded back to form for Jose Pinchin.

Sweetontheladies, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 93-88-82

◗ Overmatched against X Y Jet and Imperial Hint in his last two, this deep closer should appreciate the return to the statebred ranks.

Hy Riverside, by Macho Uno
Last 3 Beyers: 89-88-86

◗ After going off form last fall, this 6-year-old is back to his reliable self and should match up with his typical effort.

Zipping, by Adios Charlie
Last 3 Beyers: 91-79-87

◗ Runner-up to Deland in the Coast Is Clear nearly five weeks ago, he’ll be ridden by the meet’s leading jockey, Gaffalione.