Completely Bonkers should run well

It is easy to imagine Completely Bonkers being in the mix at the finish when he runs in a first-level optional $16,000 claiming race for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park West on Sunday. After all, the only time he wasn’t competitive in 11 previous races was in his first start this year, which came in a maiden special weight race on the inner track at Aqueduct.

He looks like a major player in a 7 1/2-furlong dash on turf Sunday, which drew nine horses for grass plus Wild Good, who will run only if the race gets moved to the main track.

Completely Bonkers will be making his first start for trainer Robert Dibona. He is coming off a third-place finish in a first-level allowance on the inner turf course at Belmont Park, where he was making his second start for trainer Phillip Serpe, who claimed him for $50,000 out of a race for nonwinners of three at Saratoga on Sept. 2. In his first race for Serpe, Completely Bonkers rallied to win a $50,000 starter race going six furlongs over the inner turf course at Belmont on Oct. 6.

In his last race, Completely Bonkers was bogged down on the rail over yielding turf for most of the race, and he had to steady midstretch.

The 3-year-old Completely Bonkers drew post 8 on Sunday, and jockey Jonathan Gonzales should be able to put him into a stalking position early.

Total Joint, trained by Jason Servis, just missed when he ran on grass for the first time in a first-level allowance at Monmouth Park on Sept. 17. With Gonzalez aboard, he lost the one-mile race by a nose and might have won if he didn’t have to steady at the eighth pole when he was making his move along the rail.

Paco Lopez picks up the mount, and the last couple of years he has won at a 47 percent clip riding for Servis.

Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Completely Bonkers, by Giacomo

Last 3 Beyers: 84-83-84

◗ His Beyer Speed Figures are on the rise, and being a 3-year-old he might not have reached his peak. He could also fire a big shot making his first start for Dibona, who has won with 26 percent of his starters this year.

Total Joint, by Tiz Wonderful

Last 3 Beyers: 84-65-86

◗ That was a huge effort in his first try on turf, and the horse who finished third, Lucky Balladier, earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure when he won a an optional $16,000 claiming race at the Meadowlands in his next start.

Very Very Stella, by High Cotton

Last 3 Beyers: 77-80-74

◗ This Ralph Ziadie-trained 4-year-old will appreciate the cut-back in distance after finishing fourth as the favorite going 1 1/16 miles in an optional $16,000 starter claiming race at Gulfstream on Aug. 21. He went into his last race with four straight first-place finishes. In the first race in the streak he was disqualified to second for causing interference in the stretch.