Expressman brings 107-Beyer credentials into allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A dozen horses were entered for Friday’s $71,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park, although if Expressman runs back to anywhere near his spectacular maiden-winning effort last summer at Saratoga, it will be a one-horse race. The one-mile race is for 3-year-olds and up and carries a $25,000 claiming option.

From both a visual and Beyer Speed Figure perspective, Expressman turned in one of the most impressive debut performances by a 3-year-old in recent memory on Aug. 13. Trained by Todd Pletcher for St. Elias Stable, Expressman was clear on the lead through lively splits of 22.75 seconds and 45.56 for the opening half in the seven-furlong race. He extended his lead in the stretch and won wrapped up by 7 1/4 lengths over his highly regarded stablemate Unlimitedpotential while finishing nearly a dozen lengths ahead of any of his eight other rivals.

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Expressman, a son of Liam’s Map, completed seven furlongs in 1:22.94, earning a 107 Beyer Figure. To put that number in perspective, Flightline and Justify, both of whom also debuted at 3, earned Beyers of 105 and 104 in their first start.

Expressman did not live up to the lofty expectations generated by his debut in his second outing, which came Sept. 17 in a seven-furlong allowance at Aqueduct. Sent off at 1-5, Expressman was trapped wide throughout and lugged in a bit under a right-hand stick when trying to fend off the late-running Nabakov through midstretch before coming out on the short end of a 1 1/4-length decision. Expressman earned a Beyer of 78. Nabokov came back to finish second against second-level allowance competition while posting a 97 Beyer in his next start.

Expressman has not raced since the loss, but hasn’t missed a beat since shipping to Pletcher’s winter home at Palm Beach Downs in early November. Expressman has posted five works there, including a bullet five-eighths in 1:01.24 on Dec. 9.

Among those faced with the daunting task of trying to match strides with Expressman is the red-hot Desert Ruler, who’ll certainly get a class check after having won three of his last four starts. Since being haltered for $12,500 by EAC Racing Stable and trainer Enrique Amado here on Sept. 24, Desert Ruler has registered a Beyer Figure of 90 three times and an 84 in his other start, all against claiming or starter-allowance competition.

Black Belt, on a two-race victory streak of his own, defeated Desert Ruler by three-quarters of a length on Oct. 16 and also looms a major player Friday. Black Belt earned far and away the best Beyer of his career, a 91, in that one-mile starter allowance. Irad Ortiz Jr., the nation’s leading rider, takes the call from trainer Peter Walder.

Gulfstream leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sends out the Grade 3-placed Kissalot along with Tallahatchiebridge. Kissalot reunites with jockey Jose Ortiz, who guided him to a 4 1/4-length starter-allowance victory going 1 1/8 miles in July at Saratoga and a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones in August at Parx Racing.

Pletcher also runs Loose Goose, who has been idle since registering a five-length maiden win going a mile and 70 yards on July 30 at Monmouth Park.

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