The Gipper will be running late in turf dash

The fifth race at Gulfstream Park on Thursday is a gem. The eight horses entered for turf in the five-furlong dash have combined to win 70 races. I’m Cardinal leads the way with 16 victories. The Gipper and Tenacity Zip have the fewest wins with five apiece.

The $16,000 starter with a $25,000 claiming option could work for The Gipper, who is the only horse among the ones entered for turf that is in for the price. Small Fortune, Delta Bluesman, and Harryhe will only run if the race moves to the main track.

Post time for the first of nine races is 1:15 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by Scott Becker, The Gipper is coming off a win in a $35,000 conditioned claimer on June 6. With Jairo Rendon aboard, he was midpack while High Hours posted a sizzling quarter-mile time of 20.83 seconds in the five-furlong turf dash. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred looked like a serious threat while making a three-wide move around the stretch turn, took over just past the eighth pole, and drew off to win decisively.

With an abundance of speed in the field, he could get a similar trip with Rendon retaining the mount.

He will break from post 6.

KEY CONTENDERS

The Gipper, by First Samurai
Last 3 Beyers: 92-69-75

◗ He has a 2-1-0 record from four starts on turf and had more than one excuse the only time he wasn’t part of the exacta.

◗ He should be rolling late in a race where the speed should be coming back to him.

Gran Malbec, by Bucket Head
Last 3 Beyers: 91-81-77

◗ Trained by Victor Barboza Jr., the 4-year-old Florida-bred reeled off six straight wins going five furlongs on turf as a sophomore before settling for second at this level in his final start of 2018.

◗ This will be his first start since he won a similar race Feb. 28. Alleviating concerns about the layoff is the 24-percent strike rate Barboza has with horses coming back between 61 and 180 days.

◗ In all but one of his victories, he led from start to finish. He can stalk, though, and could be okay if he doesn’t clear after breaking from the outside post with Emisael Jaramillo aboard.

Tiger Blood, by Cowtown Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 74-86-86

◗ He is perfect in two starts on turf and won’t mind the surface switch following a fourth-place finish in his first start for trainer Steve Klesaris in the $75,000 Turf Sprint contested over a sloppy main track June 29.

Royal Squeeze, by Wildcat Heir
Last 3 Beyers: 92-91-91

◗ He becomes the horse to beat if the race moves to the main track.

◗ The Elizabeth Dobles-trained 7-year-old is part of the body of the race, but is winless in four starts on grass.

◗ He has been a bear on the dirt, though. Following four straight victories, he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint in his last start June 29. One of his recent scores in the streak came in the $100,000 Big Drama for Florida-breds on May 11.

◗ Sammy Camacho rides.