Enterprising should get better setup in Sunshine Millions Turf Preview

Pace makes Enterprising’s race, and trainer Mike Maker is hopeful the closer will get the right setup Saturday in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Preview at Gulfstream Park West. The race is one of three turf stakes on a program of seven stakes, with some of the races designed to produce starters for the Sunshine Millions program Jan. 21 at Gulfstream Park.

Enterprising is part of an eight-horse field for the Millions Turf Preview, a 1 1/16-mile grass race for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up. He could get a quick pace to chase, courtesy of Charlie Mops, Light the Night, Dreaming of Gold, and Sublime Appeal.

It would be a welcome change of pace for Enterprising, who has hooked wire-to-wire winners in his last three starts, which include a second and a third in stakes. The pace scenario Saturday is encouraging, said Maker.

“It looks better than the recent races we’ve been running in,” Maker said. “He doesn’t want to get involved early, so it’s very important for him.”

Enterprising came rolling from next to last for second in $75,000 The Vid on Sept. 3 at Gulfstream Park, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Diamond Bachelor. One start later, Enterprising closed from 16 lengths back for third in the $75,000 Mr. Steele, a one-mile race at Gulfstream Oct. 1 that was also won by Diamond Bachelor.

The added distance Saturday should be a benefit for Enterprising, said Maker. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 5. Enterprising, a Grade 3 winner, will be looking for his fifth stakes win.

Fellow Grade 3 winner Uncle Vinny will be making his turf debut on Saturday. He is by Uncle Mo, who is getting 22 percent winners from his first-time turfers and 17 percent winners overall on the grass, according to Daily Racing Form statistics. Uncle Vinny’s dam, Arealhotlover, was stakes-placed on grass and has produced a turf winner in Be My Love.

The 3-year-old Uncle Vinny also will be racing against older rivals for the first time. He exits a ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones on Sept. 5 at Parx. Name Changer, the 10th-place finisher, returned in his next start to take an optional $32,000 claimer at Laurel with a Beyer Speed Figure of 92, and Abiding Star, the 12th-place finisher, came back and accounted for a $50,000 claiming race at Belmont Park, with a Beyer of 82.

Edgard Zayas has the mount on Uncle Vinny, a stalker who will break from post 7.

Juvenile Filly Turf

Majestic Gale, who last month was pre-entered in the oversubscribed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Silver Diva, a stakes winner last out at Gulfstream Park, are part of a competitive group of nine for the $100,000 Juvenile Filly Turf.

The Juvenile Filly Turf will be run over a mile and is restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred in Florida.

Majestic Gale has registered both of her wins at a mile on grass, first taking a maiden special weight in August at Ellis Park, and then the $75,000 Happy Ticket in September at Louisiana Downs.

Mitchell Murrill has the mount for trainer Joe Sharp.

Silver Diva rallied for a half-length win in the $75,000 Our Dear Page in her most recent start, Oct. 1. Tyler Gaffalione was aboard and again has the mount for trainer Ronny Werner.

Bitacora owns the field’s best Beyer Speed Figure, a 77 for a maiden special weight win at a mile on turf at Gulfstream. Bella Vincenza was a close second last out in her first start against winners, which came in an allowance at Gulfstream Park West.

Juvenile Turf

The eight-horse field for the $100,000 Juvenile Turf includes Front Loaded, who ran in a pair of Florida Sire Stakes, and Muggsamatic, who will be seeking his third straight win. The one-mile race is restricted to 2-year-olds bred in Florida.

Front Loaded will be making his turf debut after running third in the Dr. Fager and second in the Affirmed, with both of those Gulfstream Park races won by the dominant Three Rules. Front Loaded is by Kantharos, who is getting 19 percent winners from his first-time turfers and 19 percent winners overall on grass. Front Loaded’s dam, Frontier Franny, was a six-time winner on turf who has produced a turf winner in Ms. Scarlet Fever.

Emisael Jaramillo has the mount for trainer Jose Pinchin.