Collaborate returns from layoff after throat procedure

Gulfstream Park leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will attempt to add to his strong meet Sunday when he sends out leading contenders Collaborate and Wind of Change in the track’s featured sixth race.

The conditioned allowance is for 3-year-olds and up and carries a claiming option of $62,500. It will be run over seven furlongs. The field of eight includes stakes winners Shivaree and Gatsby.

Collaborate has been second or third in two stakes, including a second last out in the $100,000 Sir Shackleton on April 2 at Gulfstream. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 for the seven-furlong race.

“He ran first time with blinkers and ran a career-best number,” Joseph said. “If he runs back anywhere near that, he should be very tough.”

Collaborate’s Beyer is from 9 to 32 points higher than each of the last-race numbers put up by his rivals. No Que No has the closest last-race Beyer, an 88.

Collaborate shows some strong works for what will be his first out in five months Sunday.

“We did a throat procedure on him,” Joseph said. “I think he’s fit enough. When you do a throat procedure, you always want to see a horse come back to their ability. As far as fitness, he’s come back very, very good.”

Collaborate, who has tactical speed, will break from post 4 under Edgard Zayas.

Collaborate races for Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing. He is a son of Into Mischief and the Grade 2-winning mare Quiet Temper, who earned more than $600,000.

Wind of Change was favored at this level here in his last start July 24, but dueled through quick fractions and finished sixth. The six-furlong race was his first out since December.

“He should improve,” Joseph said. “Seven-eighths is stretching him a bit. I don’t think it’s his best distance. We really don’t have much choice. We’d rather run him than stay in the stall.”

Leonel Reyes has the mount from post 3.

Wind of Change is a Group 3 winner in his native Brazil who races for Daniel Alonso.

No Que No was a closing third in the same race as Wind of Change. He might make good use of the added ground he gets Sunday, having won at seven furlongs. Miguel Vasquez has the mount for St. George Stable and trainer Fausto Gutierrez.

◗ The 2022-23 Gulfstream Park Championship meet will not begin until Dec. 26, to coincide with the opening of Santa Anita’s winter session. The current three-day-a-week live racing schedule at Gulfstream switches to five days on Dec. 1, coinciding with the opening of the new turf course. Gulfstream and Santa Anita both are owned by 1/ST Racing.

◗ Twelve Volt Man, who won the $55,000 Miami Shores last Sunday at Gulfstream with a career-high Beyer of 92, has a long range goal of the Claiming Crown, said Joseph. He won last year’s Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream. This year’s Claiming Crown is on Nov. 12 at Churchill Downs.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch