Gulfstream: Closer Looks for March 28, 2014

Race 1

J B's Unc

Note he won by over 10 in the return effort at the shore last year; nice; runner has much more speed than he just flashed and would expect rider to put him into the race early; 12/7 winner repeated in a $150K stakes with a 105, then took an $88K stakes; respect everything from this barn.

Untethered

Gelding loves this layout, has a penchant for finding the wire and you can never discount sub :44 speed; 4 of the 7 wins came at this trip and the feeling is if he does have to rate, he'll deal with it; the one to beat.

Explosive Image

Veteran trainer thought enough of this guy to take him back for the same client; he needs help up front but may get it if the rival on the direct inside and the outside runner hook up and go bonkers; value should be there.

Toh's Grey Cat

Proven fresh, like the fact he has speed but he can also track and get it done; winner of last repeated in a $10K optional with an 85 Beyer; decent drills for this race; legit player right back.

Revelationist

Colt has some back class to draw from but just appears off form; solid blowout last Saturday, but there is genuine speed in here and he may have a hard time keeping up; he has not been in the same zip code of a winner since the taxing victory last November.

Beer Garden

Another closing effort could be on tap for this runner; pushed into the Grade 3 last summer and that race may have just zapped him; hard to adore today.

Newspaper Boy

Respect hot claim box item; he can handle any kind of going, but must find a way to deal with the rail rival among others; winner 1/20 took a $10K optional next out with a 73 Beyer; sire was sprint only; dam was unraced; this is her first to roll; there are stamina concerns but at least backers should get an early run for their money. - Brian Mulligan

Race 3

Rowdy Miss

Dueled and weakened going 7fs here March 12; longer trip may help (won at this distance here Jan. 3) and she does have decent speed to be in the hunt from the start; that being said, that March 12 loss came vs. cheaper restricted foes so today she's not only up in price but facing open rivals, too.

Outwildcattin

Been a while since her last win but she's been running pretty darn well since last September; knocking on the door and for the most part she's been facing what would on paper be a tougher cast of characters than she faces here; wasn't disgraced by N1X foes at CRC March 7 and while she's back in for a tag it's the same price they claimed her for Feb. 15.

Phoenix Court

Had things hummin' along nicey at PEN last spring/summer but the pattern since is worrisome; after a 3rd there Aug. 3 you see layoff/dull race Sept. 19/layoff/dull return here Feb. 27; in her defense, that dull Feb. 27 run came after 5 months off and she was asked to run on turf, which isn't her game, from an impossible post; no layoff this time, she's back to dirt and down in class with 2 nice works since so maybe all that can help get her back on track...maybe.

Wild Kira

Some good work at CRC last spring/summer but after a win in the slop there Aug. 9 things went south - then came over 4 months off, 3 not-so-hot outings here and now another over 2 months off; drop may help and she has been working along pretty nicely the past month and a half or so.

Shalala

2 nice recent wins here, Jan. 9 and Feb. 13, stamp her a player; sure, both came in the slop and she obviously liked that, but we could have wet footing today and note she's run well on dry land, too; threw her head at the start of her last run here March 9 to get away poorly and then never got involved; worked nicely since and a return to her prior form would make her a threat.

Izy Power

Toss that 5th at CRC Dec. 22 and yu're left with 6 smart outings including a win in her first try oover this track Feb. 28, which, coincidentally, came at this distance; not only did she look good winning but Walder saw fit to claim her for $6,250 (20% off a claim) AND more than doubles her in value; that's a great sign as it speaks of optimism and tells others that if they want to claim her that the price of poker just went way up; speed and versatility helps, too. - Michael Hammersly

Race 5

Gotaheartofgold

A 10-1 morning-line Main Track Only entry Thursday in a tougher spot; there is rain in the forecast for this weekend and she's hoping the showers pop up before her race today because her wet-track form is outstanding including the 2-back sloppy-track win.

Back in a Minute

5-year-old takes on several 3-year-olds so should have the seasoning edge on a lot of these; 33%-winning 1st off the claim barn leaps off the form at you; she aired 3-back off a freshening and that is the main concern the trainer is just 10% winners with similar-fresh runners since 2013; the 2-back runner-up Beyered 77-76 in 2 next-out wins taking allowance and 30K-claiming events; she beat the 3-back show runner who Beyered 63 in her next-out GP-20K maiden claiming score.

Araksia

Her 2 route races on the form are not good stretching back out after a clear show finish vs. tougher; her lone GP start was a dull effort on a wet-main track; the 3-back runner-up finisher captured a GP-100K stakes next out with an 85 Beyer.

Farfullera

1 of the 3 older runners seemingly havng an experience edge on four 3YOS entered here; 2 big questions the added 2F and facing winners for the 1st time; she couldn't beat 5K maiden claimers 2 back but returned from a 3-month absence to post a best-last-race Beyer speed figure vs. much easier; keeps a sizzling-local rider; has not raced past 6F yet; sire earned 1.5M in routes including winning the SA Derby; dam went 0-for-1 in dirt routes producing 2-for-17 dirt router Shertzer (97K).

Flash Song

Claimed off a 2nd-time out Beyer regression; she has not raced past 7F yet; stakes-placed sire banked 235K in dirt routes; 0-for-4 dam finished 6th in her only dirt route; her only other foal to race Occam's Razor went 4-for-15 in dirt routes (18K).

Lady Budapest

Steps up in claiming price off recent-competitive defeats; her last 2 fast-track starts were exacta finishes; we know the barn is a lot better than 1-for-16 at GP while the 3-back runner-up finisher Beyered 62 in her next-out 16K-claiming victory.

You Never Learn

Figures to be a major pace presence who hopes to hang on late; she has not raced past 6.5F yet; G2 sire went 4-0-1-1 (118K) in dirt routes; 0-for-4 dam finished 5th in her only dirt route; her only other foal to race is SP-Ice Danger (3-for-10, 132K) who only raced on synthetic surfaces and has not raced past 7F. - Art Gropper

Race 6

Standup Paddle

All those layoff lines among his PPs is a negative, but at least he's coming off one of his better performances; the winner of his last race returned to finish a close third in an optional event, and the fifth-place finisher subsequently crushed $25K maidens at Calder; Kenneally scored at a 21% clip with new shooters during the past five years ($2.49 ROI); preferred.

Peter Castleboy

4yo is debuting off the reclaim by Iadisernia, who has an 11% strike-rate first-time off the halter switch over the last five years ($1.61 ROI); Peter appears to have found his calling going a mile around one turn, and should be a major player with top jock Castellano back in the tack.

Master Yank

Never challenged in his lone trip postward last April at Calder, in a maiden special which wasn't all that good; has been working at Palm Beach Downs for the clever Weaver, whose stats pertaining to this situation are spotty; chestnut is by a G2-winning router; his dam was unbeaten in two starts going long, and she's thrown a route winner.

Trade Rumor

Longtime maiden came up a half-length short after racing prominently when he got back on track in his latest on the grass; his local dirt form was good, but his trainer has poor numbers first-time off the claim; mandatory for the bottom of vertical wagers in his third race off the bench.

Birds Gone Wild

Standup Paddle's former trainer Nicks has a chance to beat that rival here with this son of Birdstone, who came up empty in a recent turf experiment; led most of the way before weakening late in a seven-furlong sprint for $50K maidens in his commendable penultimate outing; is being reunited with Lanerie, who's 1 for 9 at the meet for this barn.

Giant Cat

Giant's Causeway gelding wound up on the edges in his last few on the grass, when not a whole lot was expected; was inconsistent here on the dirt early in his career, but note that he displayed an affinity for the slop in a narrow loss in September; unlikely, even with the live bug Davis taking over. - Ron Gierkink

Race 7

Boston Garden

Her best finish to date is a fourth, and that includes nine turf starts; she might be able to get herself forwardly placed early on after breaking from the rail, but going to look for others to have more to offer through the lane.

Herecomeshoneybobo

Half-sister to Cold Orient (5-22, 100k, including 3 of 14 turf starts for 52k) has yet to run a race that is up to the level of the top contenders in here and she might prefer distances shorter than today's 1 1/16m assignment.

Camille Garey

She's tough to ignore while dropping in with 16k maiden claimers for this, and even though there's a barn change in play, this is a solid turf outfit; runner up from latest won next out at CD on 11/28 going 1m vs. 30-25k MCL's with a 58 Beyer, and third-place finisher won next out at Haw on 11/13 going 1m over turf vs. 25k MCL's with a 60 Beyer.

Sofialeonor

She's one of two in here seeking her first career win in start number 17, and her best finish to date from seven turf starts is third; not all that wild about her turf form and she might be more comfortable sprinting than routing.

Cocoa

She looks like a solid fit at this level of competition and what's really interesting about her is that she's making her first start for a new barn that does well with new acquisitions, and she's getting Lasix and blinkers; plus, her new connections see fit to call upon Castellano.

Acting On a Feelin

Daughter of top turf influence Kitten's Joy is out of a dam who won 2 of 10 turf starts for 57k, and she ran well enough in her career debut over this turf course and at today's distance to be taken seriously against these; she's an interesting option to consider.

Transformer

She finished behind today's rival Acting On a Feelin in her latest start and she's going to need to step up her game if she's planning on getting over on the top contenders in this spot; she is lightly raced, and she's eligible to still have more to show us, but others entice more.

Calm Reply

Her form has improved with a move to turf and she's making her first start for Calabrese and Vazquez after a 25k claim; she's a 1/2 to minor stakes placed Castle Concert (4-41, 93k over turf); winner from latest won next out here on 2/21 going 7 1/2f over turf vs. 16k N2L claimers with a 69 Beyer.

Forever for Always

There really isn't much of the way of dirt form worth mentioning in this race, but this miss has been at her best racing over turf, and she has a turf leaning pedigree; from two dirt starts, her best Beyer Speed Figure is 32. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Pray a Novena

Makes her first start since the summer when she was little threat in stakes company in New Jersey; filly aired first out up there so we know she's capable of firing off drills and though she's yet to get back to the maiden breaking number she earned, it plays out quite well in here; re-uniting with the pilot aboard for this one, she's worth a look.

Miss Melinda

She looked quite good running away from maidens in her debut last fall at Belmont and has been idle since; runner up in that heat has returned to break her maiden and just missed in a New York bred stake while earning a career best 70 Beyer; barn doesn't usually ask for their best first out and they boast a nice winning clip with runners who have had a race; first Lasix and a solid recent worktab complete an attractive return package; contender.

Hot and Dangerous

Filly makes her first start of the year after ending last season in poor form; her maiden breaker came at a shorter sprint trip in West Virginia and she's yet to run a number that puts her in the mix at all here; looms a long price.

Art of the Game

Broke her maiden second time out at Saratoga and hasn't been close to the winner since; filly showed little speed in her 2 starts since returning this year and though she's been training well in the interim, we'll need to see her prove it in the afternoon; passing.

Wild N Clever

Improved to break her maiden over synthetic footing in Canada 2 back but after showing some early interest, had little to offer late in her turf debut; she's been quick early and maybe getting off the fence helps her some for a barn that does well second back from the break; price should be right.

Shogun Samurai

Returns fresh off the beaten chalk fade in her first with winners here earlier in the year; filly had to work a little harder for the top against that tougher set than she did in wiring maidens and she paid the price for it; interim drills suggest she's on her toes for this and she should again have a shot to flaunt her speed while returning to the trip of her maiden score.

Shanagarry

Ran in a couple of stakes spots after breaking her maiden in Canada last fall and she found herself in a wide spot after breaking from an outside draw in the last out turf try; turn back and surface switch bode well for her and she'll lure Leparoux while catching what figures to be an honest clip in front of her, but she's yet to run on dirt.

Bridled Heiress

Exits a big figure score in her second career start and now she'll take on winners for the first time; gray returned to again work well and from out here she should be able to secure a solid pace tracking trip if Castellano so chooses; looks like she'll be tough to deny at a short price.

Cajun Sunrise

She's made late runs in each of her starts on different surfaces and was able to break her maiden against statebreds at a big price when dropped in for a tag; filly returned to work well and she'll get an extra panel in which to make her run, but now she'll try open company winners; doubt she'll have a similar impact against these; siding against the repeat.

Sunset Silhouette

Fresh filly returns with solid and steady drills for a barn that boasts a recent comeback winner; she's in for the optional tag and will break from the outside slot today; while a strong pace up top may help her, a minor award will be her likely ceiling. - Steve Grabowski

Race 9

Eclipticalspraline

Her best effort is strong enough to get her into the mix against these, and it doesn't hurt to see that she's had some success racing over this turf course from four starts, including her one career win; this barn has been quiet at this meeting, but they appear to have a live one to send out in this spot.

Forever Conga

She routinely runs races that are strong enough to suggest that she can get the job done in this spot, but with just a single win next to her name after 18 starts, it is difficult to trust her with the win dollar; nevertheless, she has to be respected as a top contender.

Mandola

He might be at his best racing over a synthetic surface, but his turf form hasn't been all that bad, and he's making his first start for an outfit that has done their best work with turf starters over the years; winner from latest won next out here on 1/20 going 1m 70y vs. N1X rivals with an 85 Beyer.

Golden Rifle

Three of his first four starts have been solid performances and the 74 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for his latest effort is the best last race figure in this field; this barn can move one up after a claim and Lopez is a go-to rider for this outfit.

Lakota Brave

Private Interview has been a poor influence as a turf sire but this gelding has seen his form take a noticeable turn for the better since being placed over turf two starts back; leaning in another direction for the top spot, but he does merit contender status against these.

Arangol

Sire wins with approximately 5% of his turf starters and dam won one of 10 turf starts for 37k; have to wonder about the move to turf with him but his new barn adds Lasix after taking him for 25k from his latest race.

Son of Sparta

He earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure in his turf debut in his latest outing, but that performance isn't strong enough to get the better of the top contenders in this one; he figures to have a tough time getting himself into the mix against these.

Kwacha

He's been a consistent performer and he earned his first career win in his first start for this barn after a 35k claim in his latest outing; he will need to step it up a little bit to beat these, but this really isn't a bad spot for his first start against winners. - Brian Pochman

Race 10

Defiant

Gives the level another shot after coming up empty late when pressed hard through quick splits on the class rise; his prior effort showed what he's capable of doing when allowed things his own way on the front end and he does draw inside, but there's some fresh stretchout speed in here and that could make him work hard from the bell; consider.

Jupiter

Tracked the pacesetters before coming up with little in his first start of the year; gelding's prior effort wasn't very good either so though he owns some back efforts that fit, maybe he's just going the other way; prefer to side with others for the money spots.

Spiro Tune

Dirt sprinter stretches out on the surface switch after finishing closer to the winner than he had in quite a long time; neither of his turf tries was much and although he figures to offer some speed, don't think he'll have enough to prove any type of threat in the lane in here; can't use him.

Farleys Mandate

He's another stretching out after trying better in each of his last handful of starts; gelding may find himself closer to the pacesetters early at this trip but he hasn't done much over the local sod and doesn't appear to be a serious player in this one.

Exclusive Moon

Speedy main track sprinter sheds some weight with the switch to a triple bug who hasn't had much luck at the stand; he did show sharp early foot sprinting in his lone turf try and should be a big factor from the bell on the stretchout, but there's not much to indicate he's going to be able to carry his speed all the way today; keeps things honest up top.

Mr J

Drops after leading a good part of the way in his first start of the season; the slight cut back to this trip should be to his benefit and this guy showed last summer that he's capable of settling off the pace and making a run; with a right to move forward second back from the break, he's a contender.

Big Shindig

Slow break did him in while returning to the lawn last time but he did pass some runners late; colt ran well on the lawn in beating cheaper in his '13 finale but he's the kind who wants to be up top early in order to offer his best and he'll switch to a pilot who has had a rough local stand.

Springfield Alley

Didn't offer much the first time he sprinted on the lawn nearly 2 full years back; gelding will tackle added ground today and figures to be move involved from the bell, but don't know that he'll handle either the added ground or this type of footing; have to pass on him here.

All Alex

Goes for a new outfit while stretching out off the freshening in his return to the green; he was ok going long over this stuff last year, but his lone wins did come at one turn; even at his best a minor award looks to be his ceiling.

Gloton

Outside drawn colt returns from the freshening to try the lawn for the first time for a barn that hasn't had much luck with its runners trying the footing for the first time; 4 year old is by a sire who gets 10% first surface winners from his offspring and the dam did win once on the green prior to dropping 2 turf winners; maybe he likes the new footing, but he'll need to move forward significantly off what he's been running to have a say in the outcome today.

Drum Roll

MTO stretches out a bit for his first off the barn's claim after being beaten as the chalk here last month; he hasn't been as good as he was first time in shades at Saratoga last summer but his last was his best in some time and maybe it's a sign he has more to offer; pedigree suggests a wet track would help move him up. - Steve Grabowski