Gulfstream Park: Declan’s Warrior fresh in return

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Most everybody was surprised to see Declan’s Warrior fighting for the lead under jockey Jose Lezcano when launching his comeback from a seven-month layoff in Thursday’s eighth race. But nobody was more surprised than his trainer, Nick Zito, who was hoping to see him laying several lengths off the pace in his first start since being eased after running less than a quarter-mile of the Grade 1 King’s Bishop last August at Saratoga.

Declan’s Warrior forged to a short advantage in early stretch Thursday but could not match strides with the pace-pressing Border Song, finishing second while going 6 1/2 furlongs in a high-level starter-allowance race.

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“I was shocked to see him up with the pace like that,” Zito said of Declan’s Warrior, who won the Grade 3 Bay Shore last year. “I never dreamed he would be on the lead. Jose said he was just so fresh, and he broke so well, there wasn’t much he could do. I would have preferred to have seen him let Border Song go and take back where my other horse, Catholic Cowboy, was so he could close, because that’s his game. Declan is a funny horse. He likes to be on the outside. He doesn’t like to be on the inside.”

Zito said Declan’s Warrior “had some things pinching him” after the King’s Bishop. Zito said he wasn’t sure when Declan’s Warrior would race next, but that the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 5 comes up too soon.

“We’ll build on this,” Zito said.

◗ A field of just five 3-year-old fillies will contest Sunday’s $48,750 main event at a mile. West Coast Girl, an impressive debut winner over the promising Bridled Heiress, figures to go postward as the overwhelming favorite and is one of two fillies trainer Bill Mott will send out in the race, along with Norcarl. The remainder of the lineup is recent winners White Legend and Gdansk along with Fast Betty Blue.