Gulfstream Park: Apriority and Star Harbour to meet in Mr. Prospector

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Saturday's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream lured a field of nine, led by 2011 winner Apriority and the speedy Star Harbour.

Apriority looked like his former self following a series of dull efforts when he rallied to a convincing five-length allowance win here last month. Star Harbour ran five statebred rivals off their feet capturing the seven-furlong Sunshine State in wire-to-wire fashion here three weeks earlier.

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The remainder of the Mr. Prospector lineup comprises Fort Loudon (who would be making his third start in 20 days if he runs), Upgrade, Travelin Man, Singanothersong, Black Diamond Cat, and Trinni Heart, who was supplemented into the race at a cost of $5,000.

The day's other stakes at Gulfstream, the El Prado on the grass, drew a full field of 14 turf specialists to go a mile, led by defending champ Nikki’s Sandcastle, Coalport, Salto, Philly Act, and Lea, who’ll make his first start since being transferred to trainer Bill Mott’s barn earlier this fall.

Nikki’s Sandcastle, winner of the Grade 2 Fayette in his last start, tuned up for the assignment blowing out a very easy four furlongs in 50.21 over the main track here Monday.

Catron wins impressively

First there was Zaikov and then came Catron.

For the second time in less than two weeks, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor off a layoff to register an impressive allowance victory when Catron remained perfect and virtually unchallenged in two starts with a 4 1/2-length tally Sunday. A homebred owned by Aaron and Marie Jones, Catron had captured his only previous start June 15 at Belmont Park.

Catron earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure on Sunday. Zaikov registered a 106 Beyer capturing a similar allowance race nine days earlier.

“He’s a nice horse. He finished strong. It was a great performance today,” said leading rider Javier Castellano, who has been aboard Catron for both his victories. “He’s a little bit stronger and more mature, more grown up than when I rode him in his first start. Mentally, he was much better and he was able to learn something today. I was impressed with the way he finished.”

River Seven may try Donn

Trainer Nick Gonzalez said River Seven could not have bounced out of his record-setting performance in Sunday’s Harlan’s Holiday Stakes any better and is looking down the road toward a possible start in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 8. River Seven earned a 102 Beyer for his first career victory on dirt.

“Surprisingly, it doesn’t look like the race took too much out of him,” said Gonzalez shortly after feed time late Monday morning. “I know it was one of his best performances, but he took it well and is as happy today as a lamb with two mothers.”

Gonzalez said he will take a week or two before making any definite plans for River Seven, although he said he would likely nominate him for both the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope at a mile and the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale on turf. Both stakes are Jan. 11.

“As of today, the Donn would probably be the goal, although there’s a lot of time between now and Feb. 8,” said Gonzalez. “I’ll nominate for the two stakes on Jan. 11, although if we are going to point for the Donn, I might not want to run him back off this race in less than three weeks.”

Gonzalez also reported that Midnight Aria, who has not started since upsetting Woodbine’s Queen’s Plate on July 7, is likely to arrive here after the first of the year to begin preparations for his 4-year-old campaign. Gonzalez claimed Midnight Aria for $35,000 out of a maiden race here last winter and watched him upset the prestigious Queen’s Plate at odds of 16-1.

“We had some down time with him after the Queen”s Plate. He took that race pretty hard, and we have been very cautious with him ever since,” Gonzalez said. “He’s still in Ontario, but we’ll probably get him here shortly and start him back in training, although we’ll be in no rush. He’s a big, monstrous horse, and we’ve still got all that Ontario stuff to look forward to with him later next year.”