Dark Cove finally makes it back to races
It’s not very often a horse with three straight victories in graded stakes makes his next start for a claiming tag, but that will be the case Sunday at Gulfstream Park when Dark Cove resurfaces in a $38,000 turf allowance.
Dark Cove, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, suffered a tendon injury that forced him to be scratched from the American St. Leger on the Arlington Million undercard in August 2013. He was the second choice on the program that day after having swept the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Louisville at Churchill Downs, and Grade 3 Stars and Stripes at Arlington.
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So it has been more than 16 months since the now-7-year-old horse last raced. Having been sent through 12 workouts for trainer Mike Maker since Sept. 20, Dark Cove is part of a large field in the eighth race and is one of four horses entered for a $62,500 claiming option. Javier Castellano has the call in the 1 1/16-mile race.
Another Ramsey layoff horse, Amen Kitten, is in the lineup, with Joel Rosario riding for trainer Wesley Ward.
First post Sunday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 3:58. Two other allowances (races 6 and 9) also are on tap.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before a normal five-day schedule resumes Wednesday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Dark Cove (Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-97)
◗ Claimed by the Ramseys for $50,000 in April 2012, this son of Medaglia d’Oro was given more than eight months off before resuming a career that led to his winning spree in those 2013 turf marathons.
◗ Clearly the questions here not only concern his soundness and fitness, but also whether this 1 1/16-mile distance is long enough for him.
◗ Maker, the former longtime D. Wayne Lukas assistant who went public in 2003, entered this weekend with nearly $9.5 million in stable earnings in 2014, a career high that placed him ninth among all North American trainers.
Which Market (Last 3 Beyers: 84-89-89)
◗ Stretch-running gelding is about as steady as they come, although he typically is dependent on a fast pace to facilitate his kick.
◗ Like Dark Cove, he comes strategically spotted for the $62,500 tag.
Shock Leader (Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-87)
◗ Another highly consistent gelding in for the tag, he has shown himself quite competitive at this level and would seem a must-use in the vertical gimmicks.
Amen Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 80-97-89)
◗ Returning from an eight-month layoff, this Ramsey homebred probably prefers more ground, too, although Ward’s above-average numbers in the relevant categories are worth noting.