Classic matchup in Groomstick Stakes

A couple of old pros with markedly contrasting styles will clash as the favorites in the Saturday feature at Gulfstream Park, the $75,000 Groomstick.

Mr. Baker will flaunt his speed, and Yourdreamsormine will try to run him down when the Groomstick is run at seven furlongs midway through a 12-race card at the south Florida track.

Mr. Baker, a 7-year-old trained by Ralph Ziadie, recently returned from a 22-month layoff with a flashy triumph in an optional-claiming race at Gulfstream, confirming his back class.

Yourdreamsormine, a 4-year-old with 26 career starts, has been first or second in all four races since Milt Wolfson bought him privately on behalf of N.T.S. Stable following the retirement of trainer Bill Kaplan in April.

Yourdreamsormine may have a slight edge Saturday, given the seven-furlong distance and assuming the similarly quick El Deal accompanies Mr. Baker on the front end.

“This is his best distance, really,” Wolfson told Gulfstream publicity this week. “The horse has a real big heart.”

The other starters in a field of just six are Master Blender, Bullet Gone Astray, and Hy Kodiak Warrior.

The Groomstick, named for the Luis Olivares-trained sprinter who retired in December 1993 with earnings of $668,510, goes as the sixth race on a card that starts at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Into Thursday’s action at Gulfstream, the carryover in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 stood at $95,482. The Rainbow 6 sequence Saturday is on races 7-12.

◗ There was an early betting frenzy Wednesday at Gulfstream when a multirace carryover from Sunday resulted in $552,717 being wagered into the super high five in the first race. Bettors were chasing a carryover of $78,838 into the $1 minimum wager.

The results mostly chalked out, with Brittania’s Moat narrowly winning as the 8-5 favorite and Favorite Heir finishing third at 11-10 in a field of seven. The winning combination of 4-3-1-8-7 paid $160.20 for $1.

◗ Jockey Gary Bain ended a lengthy drought when he guided Double Judge ($12) to a gate-to-wire victory in the second race Wednesday.

It was the first win in the last 50 mounts for Bain, whose most recent triumph had come Aug. 7, 2015, aboard Pom Pom Power at Gulfstream. Bain, a 63-year-old native of the Bahamas, has ridden at least two winners every year since becoming a regular on the south Florida circuit in 1981. His opportunities to ride have decreased substantially in recent years.

◗ Defying Gravity, under Cornelio Velasquez, notched her fifth straight victory in the seventh race Wednesday, a $24,000 starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The 5-year-old chestnut mare is owned by Kenneth Doyen and trainer Jose Pinchin.