Good and Proper tough with repeat of last
Good and Proper and Rompin Reid look like the main players in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park West on Friday. Lord Trondor also looks intriguing in the one-mile turf race that drew eight horses and goes as the third race.
Rich Daddy is the lone main-track-only entrant and will be tough to handle if the race is run on dirt.
Trained by Larry Bates, Good and Proper is coming off a big effort in the $299,300 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 14. Well back early in the 1 5/16-mile race, he made a strong move while wide to finish fourth, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Closing Bell. The Bill Mott-trained Closing Bell was the runner-up in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park in his previous race.
Good and Proper is a deep closer and will need some help up front if he is going to get up in time. He will break from post 2 with Rafael Hernandez riding.
Rompin Reid has tactical speed and should get a nice trip stalking Lord Trondor, who looks like the one they will have to catch.
Trained by Steven Dwoskin, Rompin Reid just missed going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at this level at Gulfstream on Sept. 25. He also should be okay if the race gets washed off the grass and moved to the main track. Two starts back, he lost by less than a length while finishing third over a sloppy track in the $75,000 The Vid.
Lord Trondor finished third in the same race that Rompin Reid exits and could be tough to catch if he breaks on top with Edgar Prado riding. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Lord Trondor led from start to finish the last time Prado rode him, going 1 1/8 miles in a $25,000 optional-claiming race on the Gulfstream turf course April 25.
KEY CONTENDERS
Good and Proper (Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-89)
◗ The son of Pleasantly Perfect hasn’t run a bad race since he came back from a two-month break last spring.
Rompin Reid (Last 3 Beyers: 92-78-60)
◗ He owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field.
◗ He could be sitting on a big race in the third start of his form cycle.