Fearless must overcome rail draw in Hooper
Fearless has an outstanding record at Gulfstream Park, but must overcome the rail. Speaker’s Corner has yet to race at Gulfstream, but has the superior figures. Their matchup is the marquee attraction to the Grade 3, $150,000 Fred W. Hooper on Saturday at Gulfstream, but two other track specialists, Girolamo’s Attack and Officiating, help make this a compelling appetizer to the Pegasus main courses.
The Hooper, race 10 on the 12-race card, drew nine older males for the one-turn mile, including the progressive Liam and the enigmatic Dennis’ Moment.
Fearless comes off a four-length win – earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure – last month going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday, his fourth victory in five starts at Gulfstream. He was afforded an ideal stalking position owing to his outside draw in a small field that day, but now must extricate himself from the rail while cutting back to a one-turn mile and facing a larger field.
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“I’m not crazy about the post position,” his trainer, Todd Pletcher, admitted. “He’s proven effective at a mile. He’s probably better going two turns. But this was the appropriate race on the card for him, and he does seem to like Gulfstream.”
Pletcher also sends out Liam, who came off a 14 1/2-month layoff to win a first-level allowance Dec. 15 at Gulfstream in his first start for Pletcher. He’s light on figs – he got an 88 Beyer last time – but with only five starts, his ceiling is unknown.
“He came to me about year ago and would have run earlier but had a setback,” Pletcher said. “He ran the way we hoped. He’s got to step up now, but he’s in good form.”
Speaker’s Corner has run Beyer Figures of 101 or more in three of his six starts, but is still seeking his first stakes win after being rushed into the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and then failing to stay the trip in the Discovery. Both those losses came at 1 1/8 miles. The cutback suits – he’s 3 for 4 around one turn – but the Bill Mott-trained colt has yet to race at Gulfstream.
Girolamo’s Attack, 3 for 3 in one-turn miles, including a victory over Fearless last November, cuts back after a rough trip as the favorite in the Claiming Crown Jewel when wheeled back in 14 days.
“Two turns was a question,” said his trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr, “and we brought him back quick for the Claiming Crown, but we had to give it a go. He’s never been defeated at this distance, and I thought he beat Fearless fair and square.”
Joseph doubles up with Officiating, who is 2 for 3 at Gulfstream, including a victory last time out in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector going seven furlongs.
“He ran like the extra eighth shouldn’t hurt him,” Joseph said.
Dennis’ Moment was third in the Mr. Prospector, but he has just one win in seven starts since September 2019.
Bon Raison, Payne, and Shivaree complete the field.