Freedom Principle will likely have to switch to turf for next start

Freedom Principle will likely need to make a surface switch for his next start after winning his second straight race on Tapeta in the Armed Forces Stakes last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The son of Flameaway has raced exclusively on the synthetic surface – and around two turns – in his four-race career that has unfolded at Gulfstream.

Freedom Principle won a maiden special weight by more than seven lengths Oct. 8 and came back for a clear win in the Armed Forces, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 74.

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“The horse ran a heck of a race, came back in very good shape,” trainer Jose Garoffalo said Tuesday. “He’s still growing. He’s still getting more mature with every race.

“I don’t have any more any options on the Tapeta for the moment, unless something comes up. The schedule that I have, the next step could be the Pulpit on the turf Dec. 9.”

The $100,000 race for 2-year-olds will be run over 7 1/2 furlongs.

Freedom Principle won over one mile and 70 yards in the Armed Forces.

“I think the distance is a little short for him, but we don’t have too many options,” Garoffalo said. “We’re going to wait for the nominations for the Pulpit and then we’ll see what we do.”

Garoffalo said he believes Freedom Principle will take to racing on turf.

“He’s going to love the turf, in my opinion,” he said. “But there’s only one way to find out. You have to try.”

More 2-year-old action

Cat One could go favored in Friday’s sixth race, a first-level allowance for 2-year-old fillies over one mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. She was just edged against similar last time, finishing second by a half-length at this distance Oct. 13.

Refugiada, who finished right behind Cat One in the same race, also returns Friday. The fillies earned a Beyer of 65 and hold the best last-race number in the field.

Riley Mott trains Cat One and Victor Barboza Jr. trains Refugiada.

Escape Room, who was a notable maiden special weight winner July 7 at Gulfstream, is looking to conquer two turns. She exits the same race as Cat One and Refugiada, finishing fourth. The start was her first since July and Escape Room could make a nice move forward Friday.

The eighth race brings together a large field of 12 for a $12,500 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up over one-mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. A good deal of attention will be on Fly the W, who is 6 for 10 in 2023.

The 7-year-old is looking to start a new win streak after finishing third against steeper last out following a run of four straight wins. Fly the W owns one of the field’s best last-race Beyer, an 83. He also is 10 for 20 on the Tapeta at Gulfstream.

Race Craft is back on Tapeta, the site of his last win, after winning a $50,000 claiming race over a mile on good turf at Kentucky Downs.

The Best Distance is a winner of two of his last three starts, with his lone loss during that period coming against Fly the W. He finished second to that rival at this level Sept. 15 and returned to win a first-level allowance at Gulfstream.

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