Gulfstream: Clash of hot trainer vs. hot horse
Something will have to give when Kirk Ziadie, one of the hottest trainers on the planet, and Competitive Player, one of the hottest horses on the grounds, square off in Sunday’s $40,000 co-feature at Gulfstream Park.
Ziadie has won with five of the last six horses he has saddled and 14 of the last 18 since April 11. He will challenge Competitive Player in the third race, a first-level optional $16,000 claimer at a mile, with Elusive Harmony, who became part of that amazing streak after leading throughout to defeat $12,500 claiming competition going a mile May 9. The victory was the third in five starts for Elusive Harmony since being claimed by Ziadie here last summer.
Competitive Player has captured three of his last four starts, with those victories coming by a combined margin of 23 1/2 lengths. Competitive Player is trained by Peter Walder and owned by Rontos Racing Stable, which originally lost the horse for $16,000 on Jan. 22. Competitive Player exits a career-best performance, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure by trouncing midlevel starter-allowance company by eight lengths April 8.
The question is whether Elusive Harmony and Competitive Player might become involved in what could prove to be a suicidal pace duel, as both have done their best lately when on or near the lead.
Sylviasgivenangel, who began Ziadie’s hot streak April 11, returned quick dividends off the claim for her present connections while giving Chris Rohbach his first win as a licensed trainer when he stepped up to defeat $12,500 claimers on grass May 3. Sylviasgivenangel was haltered for half that price from Ziadie just three weeks earlier.
Race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Elusive Harmony (Last 3 Beyers: 80-25-62)
◗ Mare has reacted negatively to each of her last two victories, following a 14-length triumph with a fifth-place finish last fall at Gulfstream Park West and a five-length tally here Dec. 19 with a fourth-place effort as the even-money favorite in her 2015 debut.
Competitive Player (Last 3 Beyers: 80-74-58)
◗ Stretches out to a mile, which, along with the pace scenario, is key to her chances. She finished off the board in three previous starts at the distance, all on turf.
Sylviasgivenangel (Last 3 Beyers: 74-69-56)
◗ She’s obviously in peak form but will be getting a bit of a class check while jumping into allowance company for the first time in 15 career starts.
Near miss in Rainbow 6
Once again, the Rainbow 6 was nearly hit the day before a mandatory payout when the four betting favorites were alive for the entire jackpot in Thursday’s finale, before longshot Lovers Quay slipped up the rail to nip Starship Zorro on the wire. Three trainers who broke long win droughts during the sequence – Peter Wasiluk, Angel Rodriguez, and Mickey Kroger – were in large part responsible for the near miss.
Wasiluk sent out Polo Is Cheaper to capture the third race, just his third win from 118 starters on the year. Rodriguez and Kroger picked up their first victories in 2015 when greeting Mr. Nine Five Four and Bonnie Boy Hunter in the winner’s circle after the fourth and sixth races. Rodriguez and Kroger were a combined 0 for 53 for the year when the day began.