Fan Base consistently runs well

It is hard not to be a fan of Fan Base, who likely will be favored in an $8,000 starter-allowance/optional $10,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at Gulfstream Park West on Friday. After all, Fan Base has a record of 16-7-7 from 50 starts, and the 7-year-old gelding hasn’t finished worse than third in his last 14 races.

Adding to Fan Base’s appeal in the 7 1/2-furlong turf dash that drew eight horses is his 7-1-1-record from 12 starts over the Gulfstream Park West turf course. It goes as race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 1:15 p.m. Eastern.

Fan Base was making his first start for trainer Joseph Catanese when he was the runner-up in a one-mile, $16,000 starter/optional-claiming race on the Gulfstream Park turf course Sept. 22. The winner, Thinkinquality, earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure when he repeated in a $20,000 starter/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 19. Catanese had claimed Fan Base for $10,000 out of a winning race Aug. 27.

Fan Base likes to be involved early, but he doesn’t need the lead to win. With other potential speed in the field, look for Tyler Gaffalione to ease him into a stalking position after he breaks from post 5.

Stevis Man, trained by John Bourke, is a bit of a mystery in that he has never raced on turf in 24 starts but has been posting lofty Beyers on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Fan Base, by Hat Trick

Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-79

◗ A horse for the course, he shows up just about every time and should get a nice trip sitting just off suspect speed.

Stevis Man, by Senor Amigo

Last 3 Beyers: 86-79-86

◗ He has the best recent Beyers in the field, and given that he is by a sire who won on turf and his dam placed in one of her two starts on grass, he might be okay with the surface switch. He does seem a bit questionable at the distance, though.

FORMULATOR FACT: Since 2012, Bourke is 1 for 4 and has a $3.15 return on investment with horses running on turf for the first time.

Chief Envoy, by Indian Express

Last 3 Beyers: 77-61-68

◗ He is coming off a romp in a $6,250 claiming race going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park West for trainer Ralph Ziadie on Oct. 8, and the only time he ran on turf, he held the lead at the six-furlong mark while going 1 1/16 miles in an $8,000 starter race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Minecraft, by Spring At Last

Last 3 Beyers: 70-72-75

◗ This Alfred McIntosh trainee was stuck behind a slow pace in his latest, but he should appreciate the shape of this race and could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of his form cycle.