Galleon Mast sets sights on Millions Turf Preview three-peat

MIAMI – When talking about the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview at Gulfstream Park West, the first horse that comes to mind has to be Galleon Mast. The 7-year-old gelding has won the event the last two seasons after finishing second in 2017. He shoots for a three-peat Saturday when he takes on nine rivals, including likely favorite Muggsamatic, in a prep for the Sunshine Million Turf on Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.

The Turf Preview is one of two stakes on Saturday’s card along with the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf, both for Florida-breds. Both races were postponed from the previous Saturday due to the soft nature of the turf course.

Galleon Mast had to dig deep through the final furlong to win the last two renewals of the 1 1/16-mile Turf Preview, registering a nose decision over Class and Cash in 2018 and a head verdict a year ago after grinding down the pacesetting Freedom Matters. Both victories came under Paco Lopez, who’ll get the call again from trainer David Fawkes on Saturday.

“The old son of a gun is doing great,” Fawkes said. “Since he came back from his little break during the spring he’s put a bunch of weight back on, looks great, and he couldn’t be training any better. He works heads up all the time with Noble Drama” – a multiple stakes winner – “who has to work hard to stay up with him.”

Galleon Mast will be seeking his first victory of 2020, although he’s been stakes-placed in four of his five starts on the year. He has finished behind Muggsamatic in their two meetings this season, a length back when second in the Soldier’s Dancer and two lengths behind that nemesis while finishing third in the Sunshine Millions Turf.

“There’s plenty of pace in the field, which is perfect for him, but I knew Muggsamatic was going to be in the race so it looks like it could come down to him and us again,” Fawkes said. “Hopefully, the weather will stay clear through Saturday. With all the wind we’ve been having it should dry out, which is to his advantage because he prefers firm ground.”

Muggsamatic returns locally off a third-place finish under starter-allowance conditions Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs. The former $25,000 claimer was defeated a head by March to the Arch in the Sunshine Millions Turf to kick off the current campaign while under the tutelage of Jason Servis. He captured the June 6 Soldier’s Dancer in his first start since transferring to trainer Mike Maker’s barn during the spring. Muggsamatic is nominated to defend his title in the Claiming Crown Emerald on Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

There is plenty of speed signed on for the Turf Preview, with Hero Up, Sir Seamus, Monforte, and Max K.O. likely to assure a legitimate pace.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Live Oak Plantation homebred Sweet Souper Sweet may go postward the tepid favorite in a wide-open field of 10 2-year-old fillies signed on for the one-mile Juvenile Fillies Turf. The daughter of First Samurai returns to the turf off a 2 1/4-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Presque Isle Downs Debutante over an artificial surface seven weeks ago.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Sweet Souper Sweet does remain a bit of a question mark on grass, having finished sixth in the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing at Saratoga in her only grass outing.

The only other stakes winner in the lineup is Quinoa Tifah, who benefitted from the switch from grass to a sloppy main track to dominate the seven-furlong Our Dear Peggy in wire-to-wire fashion Sept. 26 at Gulfstream Park. She also competed in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga, finishing an even fifth, 4 1/2 lengths in front of Sweet Souper Sweet.

Yafa and Tantalizing Gal are the only members of the field to have won on grass. Each won a division of a maiden $40,000 claiming race on Sept. 18 at Gulfstream, with Yafa posting far and away the faster final clocking.