Gulfstream Park: Cozzetti moves to dirt in bid to end long skid

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s been a long time between drinks for Cozzetti, but Dale Romans is hoping the strapping gray 5-year-old is about to end the drought.

Cozzetti will move turf to dirt when just one of six starters in a second-level allowance that serves as the nominal feature at Gulfstream Park on Monday, when racing is being held on what is normally a dark day because of the Presidents Day holiday.

Cozzetti has alternated between turf and dirt for most of his 20-race career and comes off a trio of decent, if not spectacular, efforts on grass, the latest resulting in a runner-up finish Jan. 25 at Gulfstream.

“He’s just training too well on the dirt for us not to give him a chance to finally get through this condition,” said Romans, alluding to a sharp recent half-mile breeze over the Gulfstream surface. “It looks like we should be one of the favorites in this spot with the short field and all, so let’s try and get him through this before we think about what we’ll be doing with him the rest of the year.”

Cozzetti, owned by the Albaugh Family Stable, will break from post 1 under Corey Lanerie in the ninth of 10 races. The Kentucky-bred son of Cozzene has not won since capturing the Grade 3 American Derby on the Arlington Park turf in July 2012, with a span of 10 losses coming in the interim.

Three of his opponents are entered for a $62,500 claiming option that also governs the $51,750, seven-furlong race, most notably Apriority (post 2, Luis Saez), a winner of more than $500,000 for owner-breeder Don Dizney.

The ninth is one of four allowances on a 10-race Presidents Day card that starts at 12:40 p.m. Eastern. In those preceding races, all scheduled for turf:

◗ Race 7: Dauphine Russe returns as a beaten favorite from a similar first-level race here Jan. 3 with Javier Castellano retaining the mount for Martin Schwartz and Chad Brown. Auntie Martha and Apologize look like the chief threats among 10 fillies and mares, including one main-track-only entrant.

◗ Race 6: This five-furlong dash for older horses should see Fast Time (blinkers on) and Mish Mosh vie for favoritism, with the latter being one of several in for a $62,500 claiming option in a race otherwise governed by a first-level allowance condition. Nine are entered, including one for main track only.

◗ Race 4: This one also goes five furlongs with the same race conditions as race 6, except it’s for fillies and mares. Eddie Plesa seems to have an edge here with the uncoupled duo of What a Party and Perfect Package favorably drawn in the two outside posts in a field of seven.

Gulfstream will not race Wednesday, when it is normally open, with Monday having taken its place on the calendar. Live racing resumes here Thursday.