Gulfport moving on to King Cotton

The highest Beyer Speed Figure earned at the current Oaklawn meet is a 99. Gulfport, one of three runners to have put up the number this season, shares the distinction with Happy Is a Choice and Full Screen.

Happy Is a Choice beat Gulfport by a neck in the Ring the Bell Stakes on Dec. 7 at Oaklawn. One start prior, Gulfport won the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Gulfport emerged from the Ring the Bell in good order and will now target the $150,000 King Cotton on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn.

Full Screen earned his 99 for a second-level allowance win over 1 1/16 miles Dec. 13.

“It was his all-time high Beyer, first time going two turns in some time,” trainer Mark Casse said. “It was a big race. He’s kind of a neat horse. He’s a beautiful horse, loves what he’s doing. I don’t know where we’ll come back just yet with him.”

Full Screen is a 5-year-old who was bred in Ontario.

◗ Lemon Muffin, who was scratched from a first-level allowance for fillies and mares on Sunday, returns Friday in the seventh race, an entry-level allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

She won her maiden at the distance in last season’s Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn. Lemon Muffin is coming off a runner-up finish in a Churchill allowance. The fourth-place finisher from the race, Lets Duet, came back and won the allowance that Lemon Muffin was scratched from Sunday.

The Friday card also drew Lemon Drop Shot and Lemon Meringue.

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