Do the Roar at home on local turf in Canterbury

Do the Roar and Officer Griffin will start as leading contenders Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Canterbury, but that’s where their similarities end. Do the Roar has registered all four of his wins over the local turf course, while Officer Griffin has made limited starts on the grass and never has raced in south Florida.

The Canterbury is one of two stakes for turf sprinters on Saturday’s Claiming Crown card. Its companion for fillies and mares is the $110,000 Claiming Crown Distaff Dash. Both races are at five furlongs on the grass.

Do the Roar was among 16 entered in the Canterbury, which is for 3-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014. The maximum gate will be 14. The Distaff Dash, restricted to fillies and mares who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2014, drew 14, including stakes winners Aquinnah and Silver Sashay.

:: Gulfstream Park: Buy PPs, watch Saturday’s card live

Canterbury (Race 8)

Key contenders

Do the Roar (Last 3 Beyers: 67-92-90)

* In September, he became trainer Antonio Cioffi’s first stakes winner when he captured the $75,000 Treasure Coast at Gulfstream. The victory came one start after Do the Roar finished first in Tampa’s $75,000 Bonita but was placed second for impeding a rival in the race Aug. 15.

* Do the Roar has made eight starts over the Gulfstream turf, with his 50 percent strike rate over the surface the highest among all starters in the Canterbury.

* Do the Roar will be getting back to the Gulfstream grass Saturday after running second in an off-the-turf allowance Nov. 22 at Gulfstream Park West. In that race, he finished 6 1/4 lengths behind five-time stakes winner Weekend Hideaway.

* Carlos Olivero has the mount on Do the Roar for Just For Fun Stable. The horse will break from post 7, and with his tactical speed he could get an ideal tracking trip off likely pacesetters Delta Bluesman, Noble Prince, and Billy Two Hats.

Officer Griffin (Last 3 Beyers: 96-89-86)

* Although he invades from Louisiana, trainer Joe Sharp has a division of horses at Palm Meadows training center in Florida.

* Officer Griffin is moving back to turf following a runner-up finish on dirt in the $59,000 Thanksgiving Handicap on Nov. 26 at Fair Grounds. He has won 1 of 3 starts on the grass, with his most recent race on the surface the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap at Parx, which produced Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday. Officer Griffin was seventh in the race, won by Pure Sensation.

* Corey Lanerie has the mount from post 14 for owners Robert Persons and Earl Sanderson Jr.

Delta Bluesman (Last 3 Beyers: 87-91-95)

* He was third in the $100,000 Millions Turf Sprint Preview in his most recent start, Nov. 7 at Gulfstream Park West. That was his first start since August, when he captured an optional $30,000 claiming race at Monmouth.

* Orlando Bocachica has the mount for trainer Jorge Navarro.

Distaff Dash (Race 5)

Key contenders

Aquinnah (Last 3 Beyers: 72-87-86)

* She has lined up against some of the best turf sprinters in North America. Aquinnah was third to multiple graded stakes winner Ageless in the $100,000 The Very One in May at Pimlico, then in July was seventh to eventual BC Turf Sprint runner-up Lady Shipman in the $60,000 Klassy Briefcase at Monmouth.

* Aquinnah became a stakes winner earlier this year when she captured the $60,000 Sunset over the Gulfstream turf in April.

* She is looking for her 14th win.

* Paco Lopez has the mount for Patriot Stable and trainer Jane Cibelli.

Spectacular Me (Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-85)

* She is seeking her 13th win.

* Spectacular Me has experienced the bulk of her success since becoming a regular on the grass. She is eight for 24 on turf while earning $307,680 of her $337,084 bankroll on the grass.

* Spectacular Me was third by a neck to Aquinnah in an optional $40,000 claiming race at about five furlongs on turf Sept. 22 at Parx. Spectacular Me has raced once since, running second in an optional $62,500 claiming race Oct. 22 at Belmont Park.