Chalky Pursuitneversleeps makes first start for Pletcher
?q=100)
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Pursuitneversleeps, whose only poor effort in six starts came in his lone try around two turns, figures to be a strong favorite when returning locally to face six rivals in Sunday’s $87,000 allowance at Gulfstream Park. Race 10 will be contested at seven furlongs over the main track.
Pursuitneversleeps capped off his 3-year-old campaign with a one-length, entry-level allowance win at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27, earning a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. A son of Ghostzapper, Pursuitneversleeps began his career at Gulfstream Park, finishing a game second behind the highly regarded first-time starter Here Comes Francis, who flattered the race when returning to defeat allowance company by 5 1/4 lengths five weeks later at Tampa Bay Downs.
Pursuitneversleeps made his first six career starts for trainer Dale Romans before being transferred by owners Jim Bakker and Gerry Isbister to Todd Pletcher, for whom he’ll run for the first time on Sunday.
“We haven’t had him long, but he’s been training very well,” said Pletcher. “He’s a quality horse on the improve. His breezes have been very good. The ownership group has emphasized that he’s a sprinter, so we’ll concentrate on six- to seven-furlong races for now.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., who guided Pursuitneversleeps to victory in his 2025 finale, will have the call again.
Billal also figures to draw considerable support coming into the race off a second-place finish behind the red-hot Tour Player at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30, the winner registering his third consecutive victory in the seven-furlong dash. Billal showed considerable improvement that day while racing in blinkers for the first time in 15 career starts. Billal, who finished off the board in his only two previous local outings, was graded stakes-placed at 3, having finished a tiring third after setting the early pace in the Grade 3 Dwyer.
Grade 1 winner Nutella Fella makes his local bow on Sunday while coming off a disappointing seventh-place finish against allowance foes at Tampa Bay Downs in his most recent try. Nutella Fella, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga in his second career start, is still seeking his first victory since proving a popular winner of Tampa’s Pelican Stakes last February.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. entered two in the race, Souper Tuscan and Practically Dark, although he said he plans to scratch the latter.
Souper Tuscan scored three consecutive wins at three different racetracks last summer and fall before having his streak come to an end with a third-place finish in the Steel Valley Sprint Stakes on Nov. 24 at Mahoning Valley. Souper Tuscan prepped for his local debut in sharp fashion, posting a bullet half-mile in 46.60 seconds on Jan. 16 at Palm Meadows.
“In his last start, he uncharacteristically missed the break, made a big move, then flattened out,” said Joseph. “He’s training very well. His last work was super. Seven-eighths is a bit of a question mark, but he should run well.”
Flying Liam, third behind 2025 Florida Derby winner Tappan Street under optional claiming and allowance conditions here last month, and Life Is Precious complete the field.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.