Gufo can get Clement back on track with English Channel win

Christophe Clement was riding high in March and was shot down in April.

That’s life as a horse trainer.

Clement hopes to change that tune in May, perhaps starting with Gufo, who heads a full field of 3-year-old colts Saturday in the $75,000 English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The English Channel and the $75,000 Honey Ryder Stakes for 3-year-old fillies – where Clement sends out Seducer – are the supporting stakes on a 12-race card topped by the $100,000 Big Drama Stakes for Florida-bred sprinters.

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Gufo, a son of Declaration of War, rallied from last under Joel Rosario to win a first-level allowance March 27. Of more significance, it gave Clement his 2,000th career victory and was part of a month in which Clement won 14 races from 33 starters.

April was a different story for Clement, who went 0 for 24 – including 0 for 20 at Gulfstream Park after This Is Sparta finished last in Thursday’s opener.

“I didn’t win a race, which is annoying, but for the most part they’ve been running pretty well,” Clement said Thursday.

Gufo ran very well in his March allowance victory, benefitting from a terrific ride from Rosario, who saved ground while in last, made a middle move into contention down the backstretch, and tipped off the rail into the clear in the stretch to get up by a half-length. That race was at 1 1/8 miles. The English Channel is run at 1 1/16 miles.

Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for Gufo’s maiden victory going 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 29 at Gulfstream, is back aboard Saturday.

“I hope Gulfstream is not too speed favoring on Saturday,” Clement said. “Every race he’s shown a good turn of foot, so the faster they go the better.”

Like Gufo, English Channel contender South Bend does his best running from well off the pace, a style that doesn’t necessarily suit Gulfstream’s turf. South Bend has run three times at Gulfstream, finishing third in the Dania Beach and Grade 3 Palm Beach and second to the Clement-trained Decorated Invader in the Cutler Bay going a mile March 28.

South Bend’s last two starts came with blinkers, but the equipment didn’t seem to get him involved earlier in the race as trainer Stanley Hough had hoped.

“I think a mile and a sixteenth is better for him than a mile,” Hough said. “I’ll keep the blinkers on him, but I’ll just open them up a little.”

Island Commish is 3 for 3 with the addition of blinkers, including a half-length win in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream going 7 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 4. His ability to lay close should serve him well.

Ever Dangerous was a good-looking four-length winner of a maiden race April 2 for trainer George Weaver. He will have to overcome the outside post in a 12-horse field in the English Channel.

“I don’t think we’re going to get hung too wide in the first turn, and that’s really the main concern when you draw that post,” Weaver said.

Other contenders in the English Channel include Doc Boy, winner of the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7; Buy Me Candy, a maiden winner at Fair Grounds on March; Proven Strategies; and Don Juan Kitten.

Highland Glory favored

Highland Glory seeks to go 3 for 3 over Gulfstream’s turf course when she heads a full field in the $75,000 Honey Ryder Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

In her most recent start, Highland Glory won the Sanibel Island going a mile, despite drifting out late under Paco Lopez. Her two wins have come at a mile, but trainer Barclay Tagg is confident she’ll go longer.

“I don’t think distance will be a problem for her,” Tagg said. “The whole family has been turf. She likes it just as much if not better than the rest of them.”

Though Lopez is returning to action Saturday after missing three weeks due to a fractured thumb, Tagg had already secured the services of Luis Saez.

Stunning Sky and Bajan Girl may be more enticing prices than Highland Glory.

Stunning Sky, a daughter of Declaration of War, won over Gulfstream’s turf course in January. After a disastrous last-place finish in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes on Feb. 25, Stunning Sky finished a sneaky good fourth at 24-1 in the Sanibel Island.

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Stunning Sky from post 6.

Bajan Girl won a maiden race March 8 at Gulfstream on turf. She finished fourth at 105-1 in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on dirt. The return to turf and a switch to Lopez make her an interesting contender.

Though Envoutante was quite impressive winning a maiden dirt race here April 2, trainer Ken McPeek is putting her back on turf for this. McPeek said Envoutante got excluded from two possible spots due to lack of earnings, including the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn.