Clement looks ready to wake up in Wednesday allowances
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Christophe Clement stable has been rather quiet through the first two months of the Gulfstream Park championship meet, going 3 for 26 with a few unlucky seconds, but a slow start isn’t wholly unexpected. Clement typically gives his better horses some leisure time at Payson Park at this time of year before gearing them back up for richer races in New York.
Clement, whose $9.2 million in stable earnings in 2015 were the highest of his 25-year U.S. career, does have a potential star show up every now and then at Gulfstream. They’re invariably older grass horses with overseas experience, and a trio fitting that prototype – Montclair, Summer Surprice, and Carnevale – are entered in two allowance events that anchor an 11-race Wednesday card. Both are $46,000 second-level allowances carded for 1 3/16 miles on turf.
Montclair, with Julien Leparoux to ride, will be making his first start in nearly six months in race 5, which drew a field of eight older males. After 13 starts in France, Montclair made a favorable impression in his North American debut when he barely missed in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park in July.
Carnevale and Summer Surprice will break alongside each other among a field of 10 fillies and mares in race 10, with Carnevale likely to attract stronger play following an encouraging U.S. debut.
A third allowance (race 4) also is part of an excellent Wednesday program that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern. It’s a $44,000 first-level race for older fillies and mares going a mile on the main track.
The jackpot carryover in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 6-11) is $359,359 for Wednesday.
KEY CONTENDERS (race 10)
Carnevale, by New Approach
(Beyer: 87)
◗ British-bred and -raced mare closed stoutly in her lone American start, finishing second by a neck in a 1 1/2-mile allowance on the Keeneland turf.
◗ She has eight works at Payson in preparation for her return.
Kitzys Rocket, by Parading
(Last 3 Beyers: 85-77-90)
◗ Barclay Tagg-trained filly had a very useful race over the Gulfstream course on Jan. 7, finishing third in an allowance at 1 1/8 miles, and stands to improve enough to prevail in what shapes up as a very competitive race.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Summer Surprice. Trainer Christophe Clement is 26-9-4-4 with a $3.78 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with foreign shippers following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Five Hearts. Trainer Bill Mott is 51-15-5-6 with a $2.82 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with John Velazquez aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
KEY CONTENDERS (race 5)
Montclair, by Montjeu
(Beyers: 89-93)
◗ His strong effort in the Cape Henlopen was followed by a fourth-place finish in a Saratoga allowance in which he was jumping a condition and lost to the stakes performer Messi.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Montclair. Trainer Christophe Clement is 24-2-5-4 with a $0.56 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with domestic shippers following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Belisarius, by Montjeu
(Last 3 Beyers: 90-86-90)
◗ Bill Mott-trained Irish-bred finished in the top three in 7 of 8 starts last year.
◗ She hasn’t raced since November but comes well prepped off a series of Payson Park drills.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Captain Dixie. Trainer Chad Brown is 30-14-1-3 with a $3.82 ROI over the past five years in turf routes in the first start following a trainer switch with Javier Castellano aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan