Galleon Mast has experience edge in allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There are three allowance events on Sunday’s 13-race program at Gulfstream Park. The best is for older horses going 1 1/8 miles on turf for a $48,000 purse.

At first glance, the ninth race appears to be a straight entry-level allowance, but there is just enough of a twist in the conditions to allow three-time winner Galleon Mast to slip in against six rivals, none of whom has registered more than a single victory.

Galleon Mast has flourished since being transferred to trainer David Fawkes more than a year ago. Although Galleon Mast has three official victories, he had a fourth taken away by the stewards here last summer after being disqualified from an apparent $50,000 starter-allowance triumph for drifting out in the stretch run.

Galleon Mast raced under similar conditions going one mile in his most recent start, finishing third after a very wide trip while beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by the odds-on Delta Prince, Royal Delta’s baby brother, and earning a career-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I think if he gets any kind of trip, he wins that last race,” said Fawkes. “He’s doing really well right now. He’s just gotten better with experience and now that we know him a little better. What he really needs is an outside trip and, of course, some pace, and the added distance should help him a lot. I’ve been looking to stretch him out to a mile and one-eighth for a while. Obviously, there are some talented horses in this field, but I believe it’s absolutely an advantage that our horse has shown he knows how to win and also has an experience edge over the rest of them.”

The horse to beat appears to be the lightly raced but very talented Arghad, a 5-year-old with only three starts, none since he was beaten a length as the 3-5 favorite by the 38-1 Little Baltar here 14 months ago. Arghad, a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes winner Zanjero, won his maiden by a nose when debuting at Belmont Park during the spring of 2015. He was narrowly defeated by Tapitation in his only other start, earning a field-best 94 Beyer back in December of his 3-year-old campaign.

Moral High Ground is a question mark while making his U.S. debut off an 18-month layoff for trainer Christophe Clement. Moral High Ground, who won his maiden in his native Ireland at 2, is getting Lasix for the first time.

Flying Bullet also figures to garner support while coming off a sharp second-place effort under allowance conditions five weeks ago. Like Moral High Ground, he won his maiden in Ireland.

Race 9

Key Contenders

Galleon Mast, by Mizzen Mast

Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-83

◗ Although one of the key players in the race, he loses regular rider Tyler Gaffalione to Moral High Ground, with Jilver Chamafi taking the call.

Arghad, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 86-94-85

◗ He has turned in a series of works in preparation for his return over the turf and dirt courses at Palm Meadows, including a bullet five-eighths on grass Feb. 17.