Gulfstream Park: Abtaal back in top form after injuries

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had a big day Saturday. Not only did he send out Cairo Prince to a convincing victory in the Holy Bull, but he also brought Abtaal back from a 17-month hiatus to win a second-level optional claimer on turf.

Abtaal, a son of Rock Hard Ten owned by Shadwell Stable, was a Group 3 winner as a 2-year-old in France but was sidelined for an extended period of time due to a chronic cannon-bone issue.

“He’s a graded stakes winner, and I’m happy we were finally able to get him going again,” McLaughlin said. “I thought he might need a run, considering the long layoff, but he went right by them in what I thought was a pretty impressive effort. It’s really nice to have patient owners. This horse was sent to me last year but had bruising of the cannon bones, so we gave him time, rechecked him, and found he still had the issue. We just tried to do what was right by the horse and give him all the time he needed.”

McLaughlin said he would consider the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at a mile here Feb. 22 for Abtaal’s next start. He also has the stakes winner Sayaad pointing for the same event.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]