Big Data, Time Passage getting well earned vacations

Big Data and Time Passage, a pair of 3-year-old stakes winners who came to hand over the summer at Gulfstream Park, are now getting some downtime and will return to action next year at 4.

Big Data won a first-level allowance in July at Gulfstream and the effort catapulted him to a win in the Super Derby in September at Louisiana Downs. Trainer Michael Lerman said Thursday he had looked at a few recent stakes options for the horse, but the decision was made to put Big Data away and focus on 2024.

“We decided to freshen him up,” he said. “He’s been in training a year and a half, doesn’t owe anybody anything. He’s earned a freshening. As he continues his development, I think he’ll be an awesome older horse. He’s a very exciting prospect for next year.”

Lerman said there’s no targeted return date or race for Big Data, a Palm Meadows-based runner owned by Petal Power Racing Stable.

“I’ll let him tell me,” he said. “He’s been walking for two weeks now. I thought long and hard about a race in November, but now seems like the time for a little breather.

“If you’ve got a stakes caliber, two-turn older horse, there’s a ton of money to run at against relatively short fields – if you can be in that position. It’s the ideal time to give him a break.”

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Big Data is a son of Cloud Computing. In his last start, he was second by a neck in the $300,000 Bourbon Trail on Sept. 22 at Churchill Downs.

Time Passage won her fourth straight race last weekend at Gulfstream in the $65,000 Cellars Shiraz. Her streak began in August at Gulfstream, and includes a win in the track’s $100,000 Miss Gracie. Time Passage is now being freshened, trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said Thursday.

“I sent her out to the farm for 30 days, give her a little break,” he said. “She’s been running. She’s had some tough races and I just figured I’d give her a break. We’ll see her next year. That’s the plan.”

Time Passage set the pace in the Cellars Shiraz and held off a late bid from Coco.

“She showed a lot of grit and determination,” Plesa said. “It looked like the filly that came at her at the end was going to overhaul her but her class came out and she held. It was a gutsy race.”

Time Passage remained unbeaten at two turns on Tapeta with the neck win. She’s also a main track winner at Gulfstream. Time Passage races for Laurie Plesa and Glassman Racing.

Feature race draws 11

Gulfstream Park has drawn a field of 11 runners for Sunday’s featured eighth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in Florida. It will be run over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.

Starship Wizard is one of several leading contenders in the large field. He was second at this level Sept. 15, then returned to run third Oct. 15.

“He’s been knocking on the door,” said trainer Jose Garoffalo. “The last race, he got in some trouble in the stretch. He had to check a couple of times the last part and that cost him the race. He should have won that race, I think. He had a lot of traffic in the stretch.”

Starship Wizard will break from post 9 under Leonel Reyes.

“He runs from behind,” Garoffalo said. “We need some pace in front of him. He’s a very consistent horse. He’s running steady. I think he’s due to win anytime.”

My Destiny to Mahoning Valley

My Destiny is being pointed for the $100,000 Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff on Nov. 20 at Mahoning Valley, owner Sam Wilensky said Thursday. The six-furlong race is for fillies and mares.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

My Destiny won the Flashy Lady Stakes at Remington Park in her last start Sept. 24. She worked a bullet half-mile in 47.40 seconds Oct. 30 at Gulfstream as part of her prep work for the Mahoning Distaff.

“She’s a trooper,” Wilensky said. “She’s only got two or three more races and she’ll go be a broodmare. I’m appreciating these last few months.”

Wilensky said breeding plans are to be finalized for My Destiny, but the owner added he long has been looking at Cody’s Wish.

My Destiny is a 6-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection trained by Wilensky’s father, Herman Wilensky. She is 11 for 26 with earnings of $297,893.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.