Galleon Mast comes into Kyle Stakes off sharp effort

It is hard not to like a horse like Galleon Mast, who has compiled an enviable 11-9-5 record from 31 starts for earnings of $550,220. In a rare misfire on June 23, the 6-year-old Florida-bred never got involved in a one-mile $62,500 optional race on the Gulfstream Park turf course. He was coming off a lengthy layoff following his gutsy win in the $75,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Preview at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 10.

With a race behind him, he came back firing to just miss after taking the lead in midstretch of a conditioned allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on Aug. 18.

Trainer David Fawkes is expecting another strong performance when Galleon Mast runs in the $60,000 James H. Kyle at Gulfstream Park on Friday. The 1 1/16-mile race on turf drew six horses and goes as race 5 on a nine-race card that begins at 2:15 p.m Eastern.

“We just love him,” said Fawkes. “He always tries and he ran a great race last time. He likes competition and may have lost focus when he made the lead. It’s all systems go. He couldn’t be doing better.”

Fawkes said it would be nice if Galleon Mast could make it to the Sunshine Millions Turf in January. He won the $150,000 race in 2018.

“He’s an older horse so we aren’t going to push him too hard,” said Fawkes. “We’ll just take it one race at a time. If he gets to run in the Sunshine Millions again it would be great.”

Friday he will break from post 3 with Emisael Jaramillo riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Galleon Mast, by Mizzen Mast

Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-95

◗ The classy gelding probably wants more pace to work with, but he won the Sunshine Millions Preview by stalking a slow pace and could get the same kind of trip here.

Cowboy’s Hero, by Cowboy Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-95

◗ Trained by Francisco D’Angelo, he is coming off a sharp win in the $75,000 Mecke on July 7. The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred has won coming off a longer layoff ,so he can fire fresh.

◗ He should get a cozy trip leaving from the inside post with Carlos Lugo retaining the mount.

Driven by Thunder, by Overdriven

Last 3 Beyers: 77-86-86

◗ The Amado Sanchez trainee won’t mind the move back to turf after chasing a fast pace going seven furlongs in the $100,000 Benny The Bull on Aug. 24.

◗ He looks like the one they will have to run down in a race that figures to unfold at a modest clip.

Forever Mo, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 94-75-81

◗ The only 3-year-old in the field, he owns the best last race Beyer Speed Figure, which was earned in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option that was washed off the turf.

◗ He becomes the one to beat if the race is moved to the main track. The Antonio Sano-trained Kentucky-bred is also a two-time winner on turf so he should be okay if the race stays put.