Gulfstream Park: Apriority up for $100,000 tag in Friday sprint feature

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Anyone with an extra $100,000 laying around that they don’t know what to do with can pick themselves up a pretty classy racehorse, and will have three to choose from, out of Friday’s $54,500 optional claiming feature at Gulfstream Park.

Seven-year-olds Apriority, a Grade 3 winner who ran in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint; Black Diamond Cat, a three-time stakes winner last summer; and Action Andy, whose list of accomplishments include a victory in the 2012 Frank De Francis Memorial at Laurel, have all been entered for a $100,000 claiming price in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. The race drew a field of only five horses and also includes the speedy Cajun Breeze and Jay Eye See.

Apriority, who captured the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here to conclude his 2011 campaign, struggled through most of last season before waking up with a convincing five-length optional-claiming victory here Nov. 24. After finishing a wide-running but disappointing sixth in the Mr. Prospector and even farther back in the Sunshine Millions Sprint, the 7-year-old son of Grand Slam got back on track last month when rallying to finish third against slightly softer optional-claiming company than he’ll encounter in Friday’s main event.

“He kind of hung a little when he got to those horses in his last start. I don’t know what that was all about, but he ran well, and it was definitely an improvement over his previous two races,” said David Fawkes, who has trained Apriority throughout the majority of his career for owner-breeder Donald Dizney. “I think his inconsistency of late has a lot to do with the fact that he’s 7 years old now. But he’s trained well and I expect him to run a good race on Friday. I’d rather he hadn’t drawn the rail, but it shouldn’t bother him. It’s a small field and he should be able to get out.”

Black Diamond Cat, who is based at Calder with trainer Larry Bates, has tailed off since posting one-sided victories here last summer in both the Housebuster and Montbrook stakes. A former $25,000 claimer, Black Diamond Cat snapped a 19-race losing streak when upsetting the Ponche Handicap last June at Calder.

Action Andy ships down from his winter home at Tampa Bay Downs off a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Super Stakes three weeks ago. Action Andy sandwiched a game nose victory in the 2012 De Francis between stakes wins in the Maryland Millions Sprint Handicap and Pelican to close out his 2012 campaign, but has since gone winless in eight subsequent starts for trainer Carlos Garcia.

Cajun Breeze figures to set the pace but could need a race having been idle since finishing 11th of 12 last summer in Calder’s Grade 2 Smile Sprint.

Jay Eye See captured a one-mile optional claimer on Jan. 12 at Calder and finished third in the Thrillin Discovery Handicap here on Jan. 25 but seventh in his most recent start on Feb. 22.