Combination would benefit if Sunday feature comes off turf

MIAMI – Sunday’s main event at Gulfstream Park West, like so many others here over the past several weeks, could be at the mercy of the weather and condition of the turf course. The race is scheduled to be run at five furlongs under allowance conditions for a $43,000 purse and drew 11 3-year-olds and up, two of which, Combination and Deckology, have been entered main-track only.

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Should the race come off the grass, Combination would likely be heavily favored, having won seven of nine starts this year, all on dirt, including a $25,000 optional-claiming and allowance dash going six furlongs two starts back for trainer Mike Maker. A popular item at the claim box all season long, Combination is now under the tutelage of Saffie Joseph Jr., who claimed the 4-year-old for owner Frank Calabrese out of that win on June 22. This is the second time Combination has passed through Joseph’s barn. He has been claimed six times this year, for prices ranging from $8,000 to $25,000.

Combination has been idle, however, since finishing fifth following an unlucky start as a 1-2 favorite on July 31.

The Northern invaders Long Blade and Quarky will be among the horses to beat if the feature goes as scheduled on grass. Both are come off big efforts at Monmouth Park. Long Blade dead-heated for first under optional-claiming and allowance conditions going 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 22, and Quarky missed by a head under similar conditions following a race-long pace duel five weeks ago.

Harry’s Ontheloose and Citrus Burst top the local turf contingent. Harry’s Ontheloose won a statebred optional claimer here in his last start, and Citrus Burst shipped to Keeneland and finished eighth behind a trio of Breeders’ Cup Sprint starters in the Grade 2 Woodford on Oct. 3.