Trainer Fernando Abreu has won four races from his first nine starters in February at Gulfstream Park, a run he hopes to continue Thursday when he sends out Fly Right in a maiden special weight race for older males scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on turf that is the richest race on the nine-race program. Fly Right, trained in New York by Leah Gyarmati, was shipped to Abreu in South Florida for the winter. In his first start for Abreu, a race moved from the turf to Gulfstream’s synthetic surface, Fly Right chased the loose leader Tiz Eternal through modest fractions and faded late to finish third behind that gate-to-wire winner, beaten 2 1/2 lengths. Sgt. Pepper, who finished second in that race, came back to win his maiden going 1 1/2 miles here last Thursday with a career-best 79 Beyer Speed Figure. That race was Fly Right’s first since July 30, when he finished seventh in an off-the-turf race at Belmont. In his turf races in New York, Fly Right finished behind the likes of General Jim, Ari Gold, and Redistricting. “He had gone a while without running. Now he’s got a race under his belt,” Abreu said. “That race was [scheduled] on turf, it happened to come off but we still wanted to run. I think he’s way better on turf.” Fly Right is out of the dam Fly By, whose lone career win came going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Gulfstream. Fly Right is a half-sister to the graded stakes winner Sail By. Fly Right will have to deal with post 9 in a field of 12, but he appears to have enough early speed to attain a decent position despite the short run to the first turn. Javier Castellano rides. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “Last time he broke really good. I’m hoping he breaks good again because going 7 1/2 that turn comes up real quick,” Abreu said. “You would think he would be forwardly placed.” This field has several first-time starters from high-profile barns. Todd Pletcher sends out the 4-year-old firsters Swordofhonor and Storm Ready. Swordofhonor, an Irish-bred son of Siyouni, is a half-brother to Angel Bleu, a multiple Group 1 winner in France. Storm Ready, a $1.05 million yearling purchase by City of Light, is a half to a pair of turf winners including the Grade 3 sprint stakes winner Biddy Duke. Storm Ready had a steady work pattern in 2022 but was off the tab for 13 months before returning in November. According to DRF Formulator, over the last three years at Gulfstream Park, Pletcher is 3 for 39 with first-time starters going two turns on turf. Two of those winners, however, did go off at 14-1. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Chad Brown sends out Unit Economics, a gelding by Showcasing. According to Formulator, Brown is 1 for 31 with first-time starters over Gulfstream’s turf the last three years. Unit Economics also has to contend with post 12. Trainer Graham Motion sends out Porquerolles, who does have some win-early pedigree in the family. His dam, Corial, was a debut winner as was a half-sibling, Amanite. Both of those wins came sprinting on dirt. Motion, over the past three years at Gulfstream, is 5 for 70 with first-time starters on turf with a $1.19 return on investment. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.