Competitive field for dozen president-themed starter stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s clever and resourceful, not to mention completely harmless. The concept of carding 12 horse races to honor the Presidents Day holiday was first used last year at Gulfstream Park, a quirky twist to be appreciated by history buffs and horseplayers alike.

Race conditions largely mimic those of the Claiming Crown, which attracted a record $11.1 million in handle with its 18th running here in early December. Restricted to horses who have competed for a claiming tag at some point in their careers, the Monday races are subdivided according to age, gender, surface, and distance, with either a $60,000 or $50,000 purse assigned to each one. First post is noon Eastern, with the 12th race set for 5:35.

All-sources handle for the first such Presidents Day format here last year was $10,479,583.

Only one of the scripted races for this renewal failed to fill – and it’s somewhat ironic considering that the purpose of Presidents Day becoming a uniform holiday (the third Monday in February) in 1971 was to consolidate birthday celebrations for George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Alas, the Rail Splitter, named for Lincoln, did not attract a sufficient number of horses when entries were taken Friday, leading the Gulfstream racing office to split the Sage of Monticello into two divisions (races 6 and 10).

Here is a quick rundown of the card, tagged with the U.S. president or first lady for whom the races are named:

Race 1 – Rough and Ready (Zachary Taylor): Six of the seven older routers in here also competed in the Claiming Crown Iron Horse, which was won by the speedy Chepstow, who will reunite with jockey Edgard Zayas when making his first start since then. Goodtimehadbyall, an earner of nearly $600,000, looks to rebound off a poor effort Jan. 15.

Race 2 – Old Man Eloquent (John Quincy Adams): Cammack, favorably drawn toward the hedge with Julien Leparoux to ride, figures as the one to beat in this 1 1/16-mile turf race for older horses after reeling off a six-race win streak last year. The 2016 winner, With Exultation, is among the top challengers.

Race 3 – Queen Mother (Dolley Madison): With the 2016 winner, Miss Wilby, having gone off form, it looks like Bon Heir and R Kinsley Doll are the deserving favorites in this seven-furlong race for fillies and mares.

Race 4 – Trust Buster (Teddy Roosevelt): Trainer Jorge Navarro might well have a monopoly in this seven-furlong race for older horses with the uncoupled duo of Shaft of Light, who exits the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector, and the recently claimed Fire Mission.

Race 5 – American Fabius (George Washington): Mo Cash was an eye-catching winner of his Jan. 27 debut for Ron Spatz and figures to vie for favoritism with Insum Money and Epic Drama in what shapes up as a well-matched seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

Race 6 – Sage of Monticello, Division 1 (Thomas Jefferson): Gray Dude was a narrow winner at 6-1 over three of these same 3-year-olds when a key $35,000 turf claimer was run here Jan. 19. Nassau Talent, fourth at odds-on that day, looks for redemption for new connections.

Race 7 – Mary Todd (Mary Todd Lincoln): The start of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 coincides with one of the day’s larger fields, with Marabea and Seeking Treasure ranking among the top contenders in a pretty deep 1 1/16-mile turf race that drew 11 fillies and mares.

Race 8 – Mrs. Presidentress (Julia Tyler): Best of luck in getting a perfect line on this 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, as more than half of the 12-horse field looks live, including A Square to Spare, Lady Lt., Queen Del Valle, and Clyde’s Queen.

Race 9 – Lady Bird (Lady Bird Johnson): Concealedwithakiss blew away the favored Too Clever by Half when they met in a seven-furlong starter here Jan. 22, and their rematch will be a focal point as they’re joined by eight other fillies and mares.

Race 10 – Sage of Monticello, Division 2: Get a Valentine adds Lasix after being narrowly beaten in the Jan. 19 race won by Gray Dude and figures among a core of favorites in a field of nine, along with Sir Sebastian, Erasmo’s Dream, and General McGooby.

Race 11 – Old Hickory (Andrew Jackson): Flashy Jewel gets Javier Castellano and the inside post and could take plenty of catching in this 1 1/16-mile dirt race. As such, he’ll be closely eyeballed as a potential single by many multirace bettors.

Race 12 – Little Magician (Martin Van Buren): Forall the Marbles, claimed from a Jan. 12 victory by Navarro, figures to take early pressure in this one-mile turf race from Weeza Gone Gray and Jojo’s Dream, and thus a real scramble could unfold in a fitting finale to an interesting day of racing.