To Dare sharp but faces new challenges

If To Dare takes to the Gulfstream Park West surface and configuration, he will be tough to handle in a $10,000 starter race with a $16,000 claiming option Friday. The one-mile race drew six horses and goes as race 6 on a nine-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, To Dare is coming off back-to-back wins in $6,250 starter races that carried a $10,000 claiming option at Gulfstream Park on Aug. 16 and Sept. 25.

In both one-mile races, To Dare rallied late to win decisively with Emisael Jaramillo riding. Of course, they were one-turn races whereas he will be going around two turns Friday and running over a surface he has not tried in his 46-race career.

The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred has won going around two turns at 1 1/16 miles, twice at Gulfstream and once at Laurel Park. His last four wins have been in one-turn miles, though, and seven of his 10 wins were going around one turn.

Nonetheless, he does his best running late and there should be ample speed to set up his good late kick. He will break from the outside post with Jaramillo up.

KEY CONTENDERS

To Dare, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 83-82

◗ He is razor sharp, has worked nicely in the interim, and the race could not set up any better for him.

Donji, by Big Brown

Last 3 Beyers: 76-72-76

◗ The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred will be making his first start for trainer Elizabeth Dobles, who the past couple of years has a 23 percent strike rate and $1.87 ROI with new faces.

◗ He should be full of confidence following his front-running victory in a $10,000 starter race at Delaware Park for trainer Jorge Navarro on Sept. 7. He faced just three horses in the mile and 70-yard race, originally scheduled for turf.

◗ He is versatile, and the last time he ran in Florida he received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his runner-up finish in the $50,000 Rough and Ready at Gulfstream on Feb. 16.

Dizzy Gillespie, by Greatness

Last 3 Beyers: 73-81-74

◗ The 5-year-old South Carolina-bred could be dangerous breaking from the inside post with apprentice Cristian Torres aboard.

◗ Trained by Peter Walder, he took them all the way in a $6,250 starter race with a $10,000 claiming option at Gulfstream on Sept. 7 before finishing fourth as the favorite in To Dare’s victory on Sept. 25.

◗ He will be carrying seven pounds less than he did in his latest race. With a win and a third-place finish from three starts at Gulfstream Park West, he also likes the local surface.