Grand Tito could halt losing skid in turf-mile feature
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Normally, horses on eight-race losing streaks will not go postward as prohibitive favorites in high-level optional-claiming and allowance races. But such will be the case Thursday at Gulfstream Park, where Grand Tito figures to be odds-on to return to the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly 10 months in the afternoon’s $42,000 main event, carded at a mile on turf.
Grand Tito’s losing skid is a bit unique since it includes five graded stakes placings, most recently a heartbreaking second-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Miami Mile. He also was third, beaten a length, in the Grade 3 Appleton; second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf; and second, beaten a neck by Mshawish, in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale this winter.
All five of his starts this season have come since Grand Tito was transferred to the barn of trainer Gustavo Delgado at the end of his 2014 campaign. He has not won since capturing an allowance race here going a mile in August.
To get back on the winning track, Grand Tito likely will have to catch Joes Blazing Aaron, who returns to south Florida following a couple of poor efforts against graded stakes competition at Santa Anita. Joes Blazing Aaron was claimed for $62,500 by his present connections at Santa Anita on Feb. 27 and will make his first start for trainer Peter Walder on Thursday.
“The horse obviously has an affinity for Gulfstream, and all of us in the Loooch Stable try to work as a team, which is why he’s back in south Florida,” said Walder. “We didn’t expect to hook Grand Tito in this spot, but my horse is pretty salty on his best day, and it’s not like I wouldn’t have entered if I knew [Grand Tito] was in there.”
Aire Bueno comes off a very impressive U.S. debut for trainer Chuck Simon on May 28, finishing second, beaten a neck by the favored Golden Rifle, under similar optional-claiming conditions as Thursday’s main event. Aire Bueno was a multiple stakes winner in his native Chile prior to shipping to North America.
Gala Award makes his first start since finishing far back in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby nearly one year ago when trained by Todd Pletcher. Gala Award captured the Grade 3 Palm Beach here for Pletcher earlier in his 3-year-old campaign.
KEY CONTENDERS
Grand Tito (Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-96)
◗ He led through midstretch before finishing fifth behind Mshawish in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, the only time he’s been off the board since joining Delgado’s stable.
Joes Blazing Aaron (Last 3 Beyers: 76-38-89)
◗ He zipped five furlongs from the gate in 59.11 seconds on Saturday, prompting Walder to say, “He worked like a freak the other day, and Grand Tito is going to have to run to catch us. And you can’t beat what you can’t catch.”
Aire Bueno (Beyer: 85)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Simon owns a 16 percent success rate with horses making their second start off a layoff.
Gala Award (Last 3 Beyers: 55-91-79)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Juan Rodriguez is 0 for 14 after a trainer switch to his barn.
◗ This graded stakes winner has yet to compete at a distance shorter than 1 1/16 miles in six previous starts.