Grainger County, The Distractor both in top form for allowance matchup

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Grainger County and The Distractor have a lot in common. Both were runaway winners against statebred allowance company this past summer at Gulfstream Park, with both earning career-best Beyer Speed Figures of 90, and both have been entered against open competition in Saturday’s $51,000 main event, which lured a field of seven 3-year-olds and up to go 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.

The headliner is the second of two allowance races on an 11-race card that also includes a 5 1/2-furlong dash over the Tapeta course restricted to Florida-bred fillies and mares.

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Trainer Bobby Dibona proved prophetic when talking about Grainger County’s chances going into his most recent start, telling Daily Racing Form: “He didn’t really perform like I expected with the blinkers on last time, but I like the way he’s trained without them since the race so I’m taking them off for this one. I also don’t feel like he was 100 percent going into the race that day. But he couldn’t be doing better now and I expect a big effort from him this time.”

And a big effort is what he got. Racing without blinkers, Grainger County rallied from just off the pace to a 2 3/4-length victory going six furlongs over a sloppy track on Sept. 18. He has continued to train forwardly, breezing a sharp half-mile in 47.60 over a wet track last Friday.

The Distractor defeated statebreds by three lengths as an odds-on favorite on Aug. 20. He returned against open company four weeks later, only to drop a head decision to the multiple stakes winner Octane following an extended pace duel in yet another strong effort. The Distractor has been a model of consistency for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., having registered three victories and two seconds in his last five starts.

Celestial Glaze had his two-race winning streak snapped when finishing third after a bit of an eventful trip facing mid-level starter allowance competition stretching to seven furlongs in his most recent start. Owned and trained by Dan Hurtak, Celestial Gaze certainly has the Beyer power to compete with the two likely favorites at his best, having registered an 89 for his 3 1/2-length conditioned claiming tally on Aug. 13.

Sensei Lawrence turned in an even effort Sept. 17 finishing third, 3 1/4 lengths behind The Distractor, while posting a new top Beyer mark of 77. He, too, continues to train extremely well in preparation for a return match with The Distractor on Saturday, zipping five furlongs in 59.60 on Oct. 1.

Rounding out the field are Ludington, a popular item at the claim box of late; Privet Moon, idle since a poor effort at Tampa Bay Downs nine months ago; and synthetic specialist Del Griffith.

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