Competitive group in starter spot

Competition runs deep in Sunday’s 10th race at Gulfstream Park, a starter race with a $25,000 optional claiming price. The one-mile race on turf drew seven horses and cases could be made for just about every horse in the field.

Montclair and Uno Emayo raceed in graded stakes last out and will appreciate class relief.

Montclair, trained by Yvon Belsoeur, is coming off a seventh-place finish going 1 3/8 miles on turf in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream on March 2.

Uno Emayo looked good beating Dexter Road and Montclair in the $50,000 Little Magician prior to finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream in his latest start on March 29.

Trained by Lilli Kurtinecz, Uno Emayo does his best running late, as does Montclair. They could have a hard time running down Chief Exchanger, who is coming off a win at this level going 7 1/2 furlongs for trainer Elizabeth Dobles on April 12.

A 10-time winner with $358,700 in earnings, Chief Exchanger will break from the outside post with Edgard Zayas aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Montclair, by Montjeu
Last 3 Beyers: 92-83-85

◗ With $428,471 in the bank he is the top money earner in the field, and considering he was overmatched in the Mac Diarmida, he ran a pretty good race. He wants a bit more distance than the mile of Sunday’s race, but if Samy Camacho can keep him within range early he could wear them down late.

Uno Emayo, by D’ Funnybone
Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-81

◗ The 6-year-old New York-bred has won half of his starts at the distance, and if he can post another 88 Beyer he’s probably the winner.

◗ He needs an honest pace to work with, and he could get it from Just the Facts.

Chief Exchanger, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-72

◗ The classy 9-year-old is a 10-time winner and he has tactical speed that could give him an edge over Montclair and Uno Emayo.

◗ He is also trending in the right direction, having won his last three starts at this level, including his latest race.

Son of Oahu, by Pioneerof the Nile

Last 3 Beyers: 77-85-87

◗ He will need to improve off of his third-place finish in a $16,000 claimer March 30, but that is possible as he will be making his first start for trainer Robert Falcone Jr. Over the past five years, Falcone has a 21 percent strike rate and $2.07 ROI with claimed horses running back the first time.

Toughest ‘Ombre, by Tale of the Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 85-73-76

◗ He seems a cut below some of these, but he ran an improved race to just miss in a $25,000 claimer, and he could be sitting on a peak performance in his third start since being claimed by trainer Michael Maker.