El Charro could hold edge in Friday feature
El Charro and Copingaway look like the main players in a $75,000 optional-claiming race for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park West on Friday. The one-mile race, which drew seven horses, goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 1:15 p.m. Eastern.
Trained by Juan Rodriguez, El Charro could have a slight edge. He is coming off a fifth-place finish in the $500,000 In Reality Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 3. With Emisael Jaramillo aboard, he made a strong middle move before hanging in the 1 1/16-mile race restricted to horses nominated to the Florida Sire Stakes.
In his previous race, which marked just his second start, El Charro was an easy winner of a maiden special weight race Aug. 29. He overcame a poor start to romp by 4 3/4 lengths in the seven-furlong dash. The 68 Beyer Speed Figure he earned is easily the top figure in this field, and if he can reproduce a similar number, he could be tough to handle. He is also being reunited with Miguel Vasquez, who rode him to his impressive win.
Copingaway will be moving back to the main track after trying turf in his last two races. The Jaime Mejia-trained son of Brother Derek finished sixth but got beat by only three lengths in his most recent start in the $75,000 Armed Forces at Gulfstream on Oct. 3. It was his first try going a middle distance, and he went wide around both turns in the one-mile race.
Prior to his two turf races, Copingaway won a maiden special weight race going six furlongs over a sloppy track at Gulfstream on Sept. 5.
KEY CONTENDERS
El Charro (Last 3 Beyers: 60-68-44)
◗ That was a decent effort in his first try against winners in the In Reality, and he shouldn’t mind the cutback in distance. If he can get involved early, he could be tough to beat.
Copingaway (Last 3 Beyers: 61-55-59)
◗ He will appreciate the class relief and certainly won’t mind being back on the main track.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past year, Mejia has an 11 percent strike rate and, more importantly, a $5.13 return on investment with horses moving from turf to dirt.
Union Vow (Last 3 Beyers: 50-42-35)
◗ Trained by Gerald Procino, he is trending in the right direction and was an easy winner when he wore blinkers for the first time in his most recent start in a $50,000 maiden-claiming race at Gulfstream on Sept. 4.