Gulfstream Park: Graydar’s next-race plans undecided

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he has not yet mapped out any definite plans for Graydar, who came within .01 of a second of equaling Commentator’s one-mile track record when he captured his first-level condition last week. Graydar, who received a 100 Beyer Speed Figure winning his debut here this past spring, earned a 103 Beyer for his latest performance.

“It’s nice to get him back, and obviously, it was a big effort,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, we can finally have a chance to put together a nice series of races for him. He’s a horse with a lot of ability who still needs a little bit of racing experience.”

Pletcher said he could bring Graydar back in a second-level allowance race, although he did not rule out the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope on Jan. 13 for his 2013 debut.

Pletcher, who won Saturday’s Grade 3 Sugar Swirl with Dust and Diamonds, said he probably won’t run his other top filly and mare sprinter Turbulent Descent until the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint on Jan. 19. Turbulent Descent finished a distant seventh behind Groupie Doll and Dust and Diamonds to close out her 2012 campaign in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“I will probably just give her a little more time and wait for the Sunshine Millions with her coming off what I felt was a little bit of a disappointing performance in the Breeders’ Cup,” Pletcher explained.

Pletcher has been relatively quiet thus far since the meet opened, starting only five horses and winning two races over the first seven days of the session. Wesley Ward has grabbed the early lead in the trainer standings, having saddled six winners entering Wednesday’s card, two more than Michael Matz and Mike Maker.

◗ Scatman topped Monday’s light work tab at Gulfstream, breezing an easy five furlongs in 59.68 seconds for trainer Bill Mott shortly after the first renovation break. Scatman, a 3-year-old son of Scat Daddy, has won each of his last two starts and is among the nominees for Sunday’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday.