Con On the Run won't look back
Con On the Run will try to take them all the way when he makes his Gulfstream Park debut in the featured seventh race Friday.
The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds who have started for a $35,000 claiming price and have never won a race other than maiden or claiming drew eight horses. There also is a $35,000 claiming option available, and Con On the Run is in for the price.
Trained by Southern California horseman Jeff Mullins, Con On the Run has not run a bad race on dirt. After finishing fifth going five furlongs on turf in a maiden special weight race on Aug. 21 at Del Mar, he was freshened and resurfaced in a $50,000 maiden claimer on the main track on Oct. 31 at Santa Anita. He set the pace before settling for third.
A Florida-bred colt by Uncaptured, Con On the Run came back with a 4 1/2-length romp at the same level Nov. 25 at Del Mar. Again, he used his good speed, and after dueling through quick interior fractions, he drew off to win decisively.
He also finished first in a $50,000 starter/optional claimer on Jan 14 at Santa Anita, but he broke outward and interfered with Tizlightning, who rallied late to finish second by a neck. The stewards ruled the interference was enough to reverse the order of finish.
No mistakes were made when Con On the Run broke on top and never looked back when he won at the same level at Santa Anita in his last start Feb. 19.
Beginning with a half-mile move in 50.80 seconds on March 13, Con On the Run has worked four times over the main track at Gulfstream. He will break from post 6 with Franklin Calles up.
Paco’s Pico is the main threat, and the Rohan Crichton-trainee could be favored. After all, he owns the home-track advantage and was the runner-up at the same level March 27.
He also has never been worse than third in five sprints, and the only time he finished out of the top three he had a rough trip going 1 1/16 miles in his second start in a maiden special weight race Dec. 26.
Paco’s Pico came back to finish second in a $35,000 maiden claimer Jan. 13, where Rohan claimed him on behalf of Daniel Walters.
Racing for owner Anthony Smith Jr., Paco’s Pico came back to win a $50,000 optional maiden claimer on Feb. 19. He improved his Beyer Speed Figure dramatically when he was the runner-up in his race March 27, going from a 67 to an 82, which is the best in the field.
He will break from post 3 with Miguel Vasquez retaining the mount.
A longshot with a chance may be Poseidon’s Son who is coming off an easy eight-length romp in a $16,000 maiden claimer for trainer Mauricio Fuentes on March 20.
What makes Poseidon’s Son intriguing is he was haltered by trainer Elizabeth Dobles, who the past five years has a 25 percent strike rate and $2.12 return on investment with claimed horses running back the first time.