Gulfstream Park handicapping roundup and horses to watch for Oct. 5

Jockeys working double time

A cab service to shuttle jockeys between Gulfstream Park and Calder would make a good buck these days as the two neighboring tracks continue to run in conflict on Saturdays and Sundays.

Locally based riders have regularly been making the eight-mile trip between the two south Florida Thoroughbred facilities to accept mounts at both tracks on a given day. Gulfstream’s leading jockey Edgard Zayas even managed to ride the winner of the first race at both tracks one afternoon earlier this summer, a unique feat that requires a clean trip not only on the racetrack but during the approximately 15-minute drive between the two tracks.

“We try to accommodate the jockeys as best we can when it comes to helping them honor their riding assignments if they’ve taken calls at both tracks on the same day,” said Victor Sanchez, the popular and long-time clerk of scales at Gulfstream. “They will usually make the drive over already dressed to ride, all they need to do once arriving is put on their silks and go out to the paddock. We also allow them to park adjacent to the jocks’ room and then go back out and move their cars to the regular jockey lot after the race.”

Saturday workout report for juveniles

Third race

THREE QUARTER ROY
Sept. 14 – Finished four lengths clear of workmate from the gate completing a half-mile in 48.40 seconds under mild pressure with blinkers. Rating: B–

Sept. 22 – Flashed big speed, his opening three-eighths in 34 and change, weakened late going five-eighths in 1:00.30 under pressure while three lengths clear of stablemate Ice Wagon, again with blinkers. Rating: B

CORO CORO
Sept. 22 – This one a little better than final time might indicate, just cruised start to finish going a very easy half in 50.72, shading 25 for the final quarter, galloped out well. Rating: B

CONGRATS ROB
Sept. 8 – Was best of a set of three from the gate going pressured half-mile in 49.16. Rating: C+

Sept. 28 – An easy half-mile in the dark in 49.12, finished willingly without pressure, galloped out okay in 1:02.86. Rating: B

HY KODIAK WARRIOR
Sept. 13 – Showed some big speed out of the gate, shaded 35 for his opening three-eighths but was under pressure to complete a half-mile in 47.57 while more than 10 lengths clear of his partner. Rating: B+

LITTLE ROCCO
Sept. 14 – Went five-eighths from the half-mile pole in 1:01.17 while asked to finish into the turn, continued under urging to complete six furlongs in 1:16.72. Rating: B

Sept. 30 – A tailwind-aided three- eighths from the gate in 35.44 but did it easily, galloped out a half-mile in 48.42. Rating: B

PRAGUE
Aug. 7 – Very fast from the gate at Saratoga prior to his debut, dominated two members of Carl Domino barn, completed a half in 47.78, galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.11 without much urging. Rating: B+

Aug. 15 – Finished a half-length behind Ever Awesome completing easy half mile in 48.05 at Saratoga. Rating: B

GRYVON
Sept. 8 – Finished a length best while working outside stablemate Stately Defense from the gate, completed pressured half-mile in 48.32 before galloping out well clear in 1:01.76. Rating: B

Sept. 15 – Was all out to the wire to again get the best of Stately Defense while shading 47 for a half-mile, continued willingly into the turn to complete five-eighths in 59.63 with Manny Cruz up. Rating: B+

WORLD CHANGER
Sept. 22 – An easy half-mile in company with mate Daring David in 49.44 with not much gallop out. Rating: B–

Sept. 30 – Was last of a set of three from the gate, albeit in a relatively quick 35.81 for three furlongs with aid of a tailwind, galloped out in 47.63. Rating: B

TEQUESTA STORM
Sept. 22 – Finished a half-length behind 3-year-old Duchess of Wicklow (second for maiden $25K last Saturday) after three-eighths in 35.30, continued out a half-mile in 48.01 under pressure in blinkers. Rating: B–

Sept. 30 – Got the better of workmate Union Dues, finishing about 1 1/2 lengths clear but without much urging to the wire, galloped out five-eighths same margin in front in 1:01.67 with blinkers under a light rider. Rating: B+

HY WARRIOR PRINCE
Sept. 28 – Broke a length slow, was asked to keep up with unnamed workmate while under more pressure of the pair to finish four furlongs in 48.69 from the gate. Rating: B–

Fourth race

MADE IN HEAVEN
Sept. 14 – Finished well, final quarter faster than the first, while not asked to wire in 49.28. Rating: B
YOU NEVER LEARN

Sept. 22 – An even half-mile in 49.03 while under just a little mild urging to the wire, up in 1:03.06. Rating: B–

YOU LIE

Sept. 22 – Easily ran away from overmatched workmate from the gate while showing good speed, galloped out a half-mile in 48.53. Rating: B

Sept. 30 – Best of a set of three from the gate, blowing out a very fast but tailwind-aided three-eighths in blinkers. Rating: B+

LITTLE TAMI
Sept. 30 – Chased unnamed 2-year-old from Kirk Ziadie barn out of the gate, finished several lengths back after three furlongs in 35.51, galloped out a half in 48.14. Rating: B

PROBABLY
Sept. 25 – Showed good speed from the start, tired late under pressure, completed a half-mile in 47.55, out five-eighths in 1:01.52, from the gate. Rating: B

CONGRATS HONEY
Sept. 22 – Easily best of a team along with a slow breaking mate, finished well clear after easy three-eighths in 37.63, out a half in 50.46. Rating: B–

MONEY GAME
Sept. 14 – Finished three lengths better than workmate from the gate but did tire some late under pressure to complete a half-mile in 49.26. Rating: B–

INDUBITABLY ELLIE
Sept. 28 – Showed sharp speed but under steady urging to the wire with blinkers. Rating: B

CHIQUIEM
Sept. 28 –Finished well, albeit under late pressure, got a half in 49.65 with no gallop out. Rating: C+

Horses to watch

MY HOUSE
Trainer: Thomas Schell
Last race: Sept. 21, 5th (GP)
Finish: 3rd by 8 1/4
Beyer: 45
Daughter of Flower Alley showed promise in her debut facing bottom-level maiden claimers, beat nine of 11 rivals despite some early trouble, and galloped out past the winner beyond the wire. .

HEIR TO A SLEW
Trainer: Saul Matos
Last race: Sept. 22, 5th (GP)
Finish: 5th by 6
Beyer: 44
In-form filly never had much of a chance after breaking slow and rushing up into traffic near the inside stepping into nonwinners-of-three company for the first time. She will be in new hands off the claim in her next start.

SOLA GRATIA
Trainer: David Fawkes
Last race: Sept. 28, 8th (GP)
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 79
Consistent turf mare did not have the best of trips when favored in recent overnight stakes after sitting several lengths off a soft pace and steadying in traffic along the rail approaching the stretch.

BEAR'S SPIRIT
Trainer: Aubrey Maragh
Last race: Sept. 29th 7th (GP)
Finish: 2nd by 2 3/4
Beyer: 77
Consistent gelding ran another big race but fell victim to the very talented, odds-on favorite Speechify, withstanding an early speed duel before proving no match for the undefeated winner under first-level optional-claiming conditions.