Delta Bluesman switches back to dirt for sprint feature
With just three wins from 29 starts, Delta Bluesman seems to lack the killer instinct, plus his lone win on dirt came over a sloppy track. Nonetheless, he looks like a serious player in a $12,500 optional-claiming race for Florida-breds that will serve as Gulfstream Park’s feature Thursday.
The six-furlong sprint, which drew eight horses and goes as race 7, appears to be a wide-open event.
Delta Bluesman might be a bit win-shy, but he is consistent, and in four starts this year, he finished second three times and third once. His third came March 18 in a $25,000 optional-claiming race on the main track, where, as usual, he was involved right from the start.
In his latest start April 11, Delta Bluesman was very game while losing by a head in a $25,000 optional-claiming race on turf with Edgard Zayas aboard.
Trained by Jorge Navarro, Delta Bluesman may have more wins on turf, but his career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88 came on dirt when he finished second to next-out winner Pomeroy’s Package in a race at today’s level and distance Jan. 9.
Delta Bluesman will break from post 3 with Jonathan Gonzales aboard.
Niche set fast fractions before drawing off to win a one-mile, $25,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two by 15 3/4 lengths in his first start for trainer Larry Pilotti, who has a 41 percent strike rate at the meet. He is facing a tougher group Thursday, but nobody should be surprised if he moves forward following his confidence-boosting win.
KEY CONTENDERS
Delta Bluesman (Last 3 Beyers: 85-82-80)
◗ He has the best Beyers, shows up just about every time, and according to Daily Racing Form’s Formulator, Navarro has a 26 percent strike rate with horses going from turf to dirt over the past five years.
Niche (Last 3 Beyers: 78-70-75)
◗ He was a very impressive winner of his latest, and the only concern is that he has never won at less than 7 1/2 furlongs. Interestingly, he is the first horse claimed by Pilotti whom he has run back since 2011.
Springmeier (Beyers: 54-74)
◗ Trained by John Vinson, he ran off and hid in his second start as a 2-year-old and makes his return as a first-time gelding. The last first-time gelding Vinson ran, Bold Distinction, won and paid $77.80.
Hectors Pride (Last 3 Beyers: 76-72-78)
◗ He was off for almost two months when he just missed in a similar race April 16 and could improve in his second start back.