Gulfstream: Closer Looks for January 4, 2014

Race 2

Narvaez

Back to square one after being on the Triple Crown trail last year; he may have just hated the off going last time; local drills are solidly spaced, he s proven off the pine and the best of 21 drill is locked and loaded; he has a shot to be on the muscle fresh; can't be dismissed.

Livingston Swagger

Runner got good for a month at Calder; the last 2 efforts leave much to be desired; note he was only beaten a head in the 2013 opener; homebred needs a reversal of fortune.

Jay Eye See

Pushed into the stakes after the shore finale and he has not been sharp since except for the effort two back; note runner was 8 clear that day; like fact he has speed but doesn't need the lead to win; out to make amends for the flop as chalk.

Harbor Breeze

Four times as many slices as wins makes him a tough on top only ticket; 7/28 show horse took a $50K optional next out, lost next several; a slice once again may be the ceiling.

Avenida Paseo

Note runner did finish in front in the last sprint before the stewards made the call; in tough in the stakes last time, note runner was second in the cut back move in July of last year in West Virginia; capable barn due to get rolling.

Jamaican Smoke

Mare exits the best races and must be given long look off that fact alone; she can give you :44 flat velocity and that puts pressure on foes to either go or settle and hope this miss wilts; she has trained like the proverbial Swiss clock; long gone?

Bear Tough Tiger

Grade 3 winner may like it here; he won in this league at Woodbine, was hung wide in last and like fact he at least got a feel of the surface in the work on the 29th; the field has 16 wins, this guy has 10; major threat if he takes to the conventional dirt.

Positively

Interloper comes to town on his game; 11/9 place horse won next out in an N1X with an 86 Beyer; show horse 11/9 pulled off the same feat with an 87 figure; drawn right, the winner 9/28 won in this very league next out with a 93 Beyer; this guy has a right to continue to thrive as kin to over $300K earner Somethingdangerous.

Race 3

Sweet Whiskey

Makes her return from 3 months on the sidelines after a solid placing at the trip in Belmont's G2 Matron; filly was quite impressive breaking her maiden off drills as a good thing in her Saratoga debut and the barn's top pilot will take the call; while they've got bigger things down the road in mind for her, the inside draw should help her make the lead and she'll have to be run down from there.

Zensational Bunny

Undefeated Canadian invader will try dirt for the first time in this spot; she's quick and worked a sharp 5/8s at Palm Meadows for this a couple of weeks back but she will face a big pace threat to her inside here and it wouldn't be a surprise if that were to discourage her from offering her best; still, it's nice to see a top pilot take interest.

Aurelia's Belle

Took plenty of money in her Keeneland debut in the fall and settled well before running them down in the middle of the track at today's trip; she's another who will try new footing here, but she zipped over it rather quickly a couple of drills back and with the move inside she's positioned just off a couple of front runners who may have similar sights; waters are a lot deeper in here, but she's worth a look.

Milam

Made a nice run to the lead in her return from the freshening at Churchill and now she'll step back in with stakes company for the first time since fading in a 2 turn G2 heat late in the summer; filly has had some time to recover from the career best number and she does have the positional foot to track the front runners in this one; 2 time winner looks to be a threat to repeat against this better bunch.

Co Cola

Aired as the good thing first out at Belmont and nearly overcame trouble when beaten at odds on at Laurel; Pletcher filly gets a top pilot for her local debut and she's working steadily of late for a barn that does do great work with its fresh runners; may prove the main danger to her uncoupled mate.

Side Street

Draws outside for her return from the freshening and she has been working rather quickly over the local main track of late; like the fact she showed some late interest across town last out and the barn does boast a winner from limited starters at the local stand, but this is the toughest bunch she's faced thus far.

Race 4

Serafino

He nearly made every pole a winning one in his career debut and his connections have picked out a realistic spot for him to make his first start over the Gulfstream Park turf course; he has the look of a top contender while going out for a barn and rider that team up with success.

School Master

Sire wins with approximately 6% of his first-time starters and with approximately 10% of his turf starters, and dam was winless from four starts, including one turf start; his workouts appear to be on the slow side and this is a demanding distance for a firster.

Headwing

He was outrun at every point of call in his career debut after going to post at over 100-1 and he's obviously going to need to produce a much sharper try to get the better of this field; he has the look of an outsider.

Pared

Half-brother to G2 winner Spice Island (7-28, 487k, including 4 of 16 turf starts for 389k) ran well enough in his turf debut to help give him a competitive look in this spot and it doesn't hurt to see Rosario aboard again; not going to be at all surprised if he's involved in the running throughout.

Skarabajo

He recorded a figure on the Beyer Speed Figure scale in his turf debut in his latest outing but he finished behind today's rival Pared in that race and he's going to have to show a lot more to threaten the top contenders in here.

Pulpit Spirit

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and dam was winless from six starts, including five turf starts; runner up from latest won next out at Prx on 9/23 going 1m vs. N1X alw. rivals with a 72 Beyer; it might be worth noting the presence of Lopez aboard the other Plesa-trained runner in here.

Allstar

He put together a decent effort in his career debut after breaking from post 10, and he appears to be well meant at second asking while dropping in with maiden claimers and getting the services of Castellano; note what this barn has been doing with horses making their second career start in maiden races.

Giant Cat

He's had his chances to show us what he can do, including a few starts over turf, and he's going to have to be ready to take his game to another level to get over on the top contenders in this one.

Livingston

He showed mild early interesting in his career debut before tiring and it's difficult to give him a favorable push against these based on that performance; note that bettors didn't warm up to him at first asking when sending him to post at just under 65-1.

Laws of the City

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and dam was winless from three starts, and all of her starts were over turf; this colt has some early speed to employ, but he needs to step up his game in his turf debut in order to contend.

Devils Peak

He finished behind a couple of today's rivals in his career debut and he's another in here who is going to need to find a way to show up with a much sharper performance in order to have a say in the outcome.

Track Telling

Post 12 wasn't kind to him in his turf debut in his latest start, and he draws the outside once again today; feel that he showed enough in his turf debut to merit consideration in this spot, but he needs some racing luck to fall his way after breaking from out here; Lopez has won with 8 of 32 (25%) mounts for this barn in 2013.

Race 5

Concorde's Cat

Failed to show much firepower despite being bet down to 2 to 1 in his debut; his sire won a G1 and 1.61 million while the dam won 5 of 18 appearances and 271K; winning siblings include 51K earner I Am Discreet; can rebound for expert connections.

Puntrooskie

Stayed within range until the eighth pole in his first assignment; his sire won 1.22 million including G1 success; the dam won 1 of 4 and 91K; among the winning siblings is 44K bankroller Saber.

Do Not Enter

Progeny of Keyed Entry, a G2 winner who notched 322K, have scored in 2 of 48 initial starts; the dam was without a victory in 3 attempts; among the winning siblings is 37K earner My Mass Media.

High Intense

Chased a rapid early pace when beginning his career over the turf; his sire won a G3 and 462K; the dam never raced; winning sibs include 59K earner Seeking Harmony; can show more endurance with this surface switch.

Can't Stop the Kid

Adds blinkers after coming out of the same race as the previous runner where both showed some early food; he ran well in his only main track assignment at Saratoga when attempting 7 furlongs; has money chances here with alert break.

Coro Coro

Very unlucky colt has found himself in a series of speed duels; if he can clear his inside rivals in opening strides, his chances of success improve dramatically today; worth some follow-up on that premise.

Dreamingoflawrence

See the second runner in this field for same sire information (descendants of In Summation have won 2 of 25 initial races); this gelding's dam won 6 of 30 and 166K; sib to 83K earner More Drama.

Tuneintobow

New face was sired by speed merchant Concorde's Tune who won 12 of 28 and 242K (his progeny have won 10 percent of their first races); the dam won 1 of 12 and 32K; there are no winning siblings to mention.

Race 6

Didn't Take It

Stakes placed veteran has done some nice work sprinting over turf in his career and he's probably going to appreciate the dirt-to-turf move for his second start back from a layoff; this isn't a soft assignment for him, but he certainly doesn't appear to be out of the question.

Red Hot Randy

Not wild about the fact that he has just a single victory after 15 career starts, but he earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure while making his first start for this barn in his latest outing, and that effort helps give him appeal.

Country Chapel

He deserves another chance to see what he can do racing over turf, and his early speed can come in handy in a turf dash, but looking at this as being a tough bunch for him to be meeting up with.

The Green Cougar

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and dam won 2 of 21 starts for 81k, including 2 of 15 turf starts for 72k; he's been disappointing since a couple of quality starts to begin his career but maybe the move to turf can help him along.

No Way R J

If his latest performance is what we can expect going forward, then maybe he can sneak his way into a spot underneath in the exotics against these, but when looking at his overall form, he looks like more of an outsider.

Evolution Rocks

If this race has to be moved to the main track, it's going to be tough to look past this gelding, and he beat today's rival Red Hot Randy in his latest start; seven-time winner can be tough on these even with a sub par performance.

Starship Windsor

His best effort doesn't appear to be quite strong enough to get the job done in this spot and this colt is making his first start sprinting over turf, and he wasn't at his best the few times he sprinted on dirt.

Law Dog

He's probably going to need to see a few of these show up with less than their best to have a shot at the top spot, but his form sprinting over turf hasn't been bad at all, and not going to be shocked if he rounds out a spot underneath in the exotics.

It's Time to Laugh

This gelding has run some nice races sprinting over turf in his career, but it's just difficult to place confidence in him when seeing what he's done in his most recent starts, and he was entered with a 5k tag attached just two starts ago.

Drunken Love

Stakes winning veteran is looking to make his 9-year-old racing debut a winning one while extending his current winning streak to five; he's proven that he can run well when fresh, and the third-place finisher from his latest race returned to win next out at Lrl on 12/7 going 6f vs. 5-4.5k N1Y claimers with a 62 Beyer.

Gentlemans Code

Minor stakes winner has to be regarded as being one of the more legitimate options to consider in here, and this will prove to be a comfortable drop in class for him after facing a tough group of turf sprinters at Churchill Downs when last seen; have to respect his chances while going out for a strong trainer/jockey tandem.

Race 8

Constitution

Tapit about 12% with debuters in a 454-runner sample; sire was unbeaten in 2 juvenile starts, banked over $550K; 1 for 13 dam took a route; this is her first to race; love the spacing of the drills including the best of 30 bullet; primed.

I'mbetterthangood

Must be given valid look on the drop alone; he s in for $60K less than his purchase price; show horse in last graduated next out in a Grade 2 stakes with an 83 Beyer; dam was unraced; all 3 siblings won; top kin Lea's Exchange earned nearly $75K; must break with the field.

Vinceremos

Considering the slop kicked in his face, the debut was not all that bad; dam out of the money twice; lone half bro to race took 3 of 16, earned over $60K; respect both Pletchers.

My Storm Trooper

Beyers going in the right direction and note the legit trouble in the debut; 5 for 20 dam banked nearly $200K; 3 of 5 siblings won; top earner banked just under $70K; shorter trip could be just what the good doctor ordered.

Mandatario

The freshening seems to have helped this runner; Grade 3 placed 4 for 16 dam banked nearly $160K; this is her first to race; Lopez has had success for this barn but this runner probably needs to improve to cash.

Sportscaster

Harlan's Holiday about 14% with debuters in a 471-runner sample; sire won 4 times at 2, banked $3.6 million; dam was unraced; this is her first to race; he has been in training a long time; not sure that's a good thing.

Hurricane Ray

Tiznow about 7% with debuters in a 597-runner sample; sire did not race at 2, took 8 of 15, earned over $6.4 million as a double BC Classic hero; 5 for 32 dam earned nearly $75K; 3 of 6 siblings won; top kin Appealing Zophie took a G1, banked nearly $500K; there is distance blood and grass blood in the pedigree.

Four More

Runner was cold on the tote and fans were on the money; dam was unraced; all 3 siblings won but none were monsters; fresh Lasix here and maybe runner just didn't care for the turf; needs to turn it around.

Buck Magic

Connections thought enough of him to try the stakes last time; forced to steady two back when nearly 3 clear; 2 for 4 dam banked $60K; this is her first to race; Rocco got a chance to figure him out; respect.

Legend

See Hurricane Ray for sire stats; dam s lone win came in a stakes in Ireland; 2 of 3 siblings won; top kin Ol Donyo took 2 of 9, banked $125K; this guy seems to have speed; check out the drill on 12/8.

Race 9

Floral Romance

Some nice horses like Just a Game and Pico Teneriffe have won this race over the years and last season Hard Not to Like was coming off a layoff to get an ideal 3-hole trip and with this race with a 96 Beyer; the fact this runner won the debut and won off the layoff on the course gives her a right to be on her game here; miss must prove it against runners that have been there before.

Miss Montreal

Mare likes this layout and she has the 2 races to draw from now; she nearly overcame trouble in her stakes debut but has to prove she can handle this caliber foe; she has some semblance of speed but can't see her clearing here; not sure the race sets up all that great for her.

Angelica Zapata

All this gal does is show up, put on the work boots, punch the clock and run huge; that s a corner stone runner for any barn; she proved she belongs here with the $100K stakes win on this course and she has shown the ability to win close up or from left field; trainer spotted them just fine last year; respect.

Viva Rafaela (BRZ)

Any horse that can beat 15 in Group 1 company can run; rank in the stateside bow, she showed good speed in the SAR finale and she has been carefully placed for this; she did run into the slow pace in last but the splits will be quicker here; needs very best.

Silverette

Nothing wrong with hitting the exacta in 10 of 12; she can give you a sub :44 half if in the mood and would expect rider to be gunning from the sound of the bell; note she stumbled at the break in the lone route effort but she still made the lead that day in May of 2012; she has trained well in Florida and miss has a right to get the trip as kin Going Ballistic took a G2, won long several times and banked over $1.1 million.

Naples Bay

Respect this horse for the course; note she ran huge off the layoff in June of 2012; mare stumbled two back and the 9/14 show horse took a Grade 1 at Keeneland next out and then was third beaten a half in a G1; would think long and hard before taking too short a number today.

Deanaallen'skitten

Mare comes to this race at the top of her game; note she strung 3 wins together back in 2011; 11/6 place horse cashed in a pair of optional claimers since; note place horse in last was also nearly 3 clear; she doesn't have to be 12 back this time, note she was close up to a hot pace here last March; respect everything from this outfit.

Poetic Kid

She beat up basically smaller, less classy fields last year; she has shown the ability to quicken once she makes the top; out of the money in the last three stakes efforts and that may speak volumes; she gets the acid test.

Rose to Gold

Grass debut not all that bad and the shorter trip could help today; like fact she has natural speed but she doesn t need the lead to succeed; she chased 2 of the best ladies in the land two back and was bothered early that day too; the class is there, it's just a matter if she can transfer it to grass.

Somali Lemonade

Matz looking for that deja vu feeling as his trainee won this race last year; it looks like trainer is trying to get this miss to focus with the shades today; she needed the yielding course and 5 foes for the last win; this miss has some back class; key off the tough beat in the Grade 1 in 2012 and she fits; contention goes deep in a good betting race.

Dreaming of Sophia

Miss has shown she can win off the layoff and handle any kind of going; miss can give you a sub :46 half if things roll out right and that would give her first run on the deep closers; an interesting runner if the race comes off the grass.

Abaco

She graduated and beat winners off the layoff; nice; love the spacing of the comeback drills accentuated by the blowout on New Year's Eve; proven on the course, she showed she could overcome adversity in last and still get it done; can't be counted out.

Race 10

Just Call Kenny

94 days since the beaten-betting choice 1st time facing winners; late runner gets a strong-pace flow to rally into here and will be able to save every inch of ground then make one run; steady worktab on display for a high-percentage fresh trainer; would have to show a significant Beyer speed figure increase to upset these.

Trail Blaze

Obviously lots of talent here crushing the debut field; key-race winner romping over the show and 4th-place finishers; they Beyered 71-66 in next-out AQU-MSW wins; latest-bullet workout and going right into a stakes off the debut score shows a lot of confidence from his barn; plenty of upside here.

Corfu

Beaten favorite in 3 straight starts; for the 1st time in career he did not break from the gate on the lead in last showing little from post 11; adds blinkers which is a high-win percentage angle for the trainer; has to beat Cool Cowboy out of the gate then hold off the closers.

C. Zee

Has the right stalking style in a field top heavy with gate speed; the 90-day absence did him a world of good as he rallied strongly from post 14 to graduate when racing 1st time on GP dirt; the nose-debut loss looks a lot better since the winner took his next 2 starts with 82-75 Beyers capturng a GP-125K stakses and CRC-allowance.

Cool Cowboy

The one to catch here; seems better suited for this at 6F than in the 7F TAM-100K stakes he is also entered in today; 2-for-2 on dirt including the 2-back score over the show runner who Beyered 70 in his next-out HAW-optional-claiming victory.

Giancarlo

Exits a field-best Beyer and figures to work out an ideal trip stalking a projected hotly-contested pace; would have to be scratched from a TAM-100K race today at 7F on dirt; posted a 6F-key-race graduation victory beating the 4th and 5th-place finishers; they Beyered 63-55 in next-out CRC-MSW and 25K-maiden-claiming wins.

Hollywood Talent

On the lead in 3 straight and 4 of 5 but breaks outside of the main-gate speed in Cool Cowboy and Corfu; 82 days since dominating PRX allowance runners when loose on the lead; reunites with the debut-win rider who is yielding 30% winners since 2013 for his trainer; know him early then hopes to hang on late.

Elusive Blueboy

7 weeks since latest but that is a good sign as he fired a career-best Beyer with 57 days between races; snuck through the claim box in his debut romp over the GP-main track in August while exiting a stakes score where he showed versatility by stalking the pace after winning on the lead in 1st pair; bullet-GP workout suggests he is ready to rumble; hopes to sit just off Cool Cowboy then wear them all down in deep stretch.

Race 11

Chuckle of the Day

Showed much more racing spirit when negotiating the turf for the first time recently while huge odds; she can improve from this rail slot and the cutback in distance can work to her advantage as well; curious item.

Ocean Gal

Flashed some fair early speed in both attempts; her sire won a G3 and 176K (offspring of Indian Ocean have won 6 of 73 grass debuts); the dam won 2 of 6 and 28K; winning siblings include 33K earner Get Back.

Charanga

Nothing to write home about thus far; her sire won a G2 and 1.1 million (descendants of Two Step Salsa have won 1 of initial tries over the lawn); the dam lost her only race; sib to 71K bankroller Imperial Strike.

Lucky Black

Retired early in her sole try over the turf course while a big price on the board.; she might be better off if this race is washed away to the main oval as she turned in a fair placing against better stock in late November.

Principessa Gina

Although off the board first time out, she middle moved from the far outside in that maiden voyage before fading; her sire was unraced while the dam went zero for 9; winning siblings include 47K earner Jack Knife; do not overlook.

Herecomeshoneybobo

Raced evenly at the straightaway mile on the main after a slow getaway; her sire was 5 for 13 earning 1.5 million including G1 success (progeny of Circular Quay are 1 for 23 as far as winning their first grass test); the dam was zero for 4; sib to 100K earner Cold Orient.

Siyawe

See Charanga, above, for information and relevant statistics regarding the same sire; this filly has a legitimate excuse in her first encounter; her dam never raced; among the winning siblings is 278K earner Eighteenthofmarch.

Defying Gravity

Firster hails from G1 dirt sprinter Wildcat Heir who captured 424K and whose progeny are 23 for 155 as far as winning their initial grass try; the dam lost her only race; this is her sole foal to compete.

Billie Skirts

Far back in that first run with no known excuse; the grey's sire was a G3 winner on the turf while earning 964K; the dam went 1 for 14 earning 20K; there are no winning siblings to highlight.

Royal Spaces

Did not recover from a troubled beginning when starting her career over this surface last month; her sire won a G2 and 495K while the mom won 1 of 5 and 10K; winning siblings include 46K earner Macho Spaces.

Harbor Mistress

Moved into contention in an off-the-turf last time out before tiring badly; her sire won a G2 and 324K (progeny of Rockport Harbor have won 8 of 144 grass debuts); the dam went zero for 4 and this is her sole foal to compete.

Moonlight Time

Tries blinkers after a series of ineffective performances on the main; her sire won a G2 and 621K (first time turf runners from Teufflesberg are 1 for 20); the dam won 4 of 27 and 45K; there are no winning siblings to mention.

Secret Fascination

Game in defeat, and probably best, last month when trying this surface for the first time; her sire won a G2 and 583K while the dam was zero for 2 lifetime; this is her sole foal to make it to the starting gate; obvious true contender if escaping AE list.

See Trouble

Made decent bids in both turf tries before tiring in the final furlong; her sire won a G2 and 508K while the dam won once in 11 tries earning 16K; sib to 72K earner Umbraggio; needs perfect touch and right pace set-up.

Benny's Babygirl

Sired by G1 sprinter Benny the Bull who won 2.35 million; the dam won 1 of 4 and 14K; sib to 117K earner Gulf Cat; she had little chance in her unveiling last month when having to deal with an extreme outpost; watch for her down the road.