Gulfstream Park handicapping roundup: Week of Jan. 25

Holy Bull preview

With each passing week this winter, the quality of stakes for 3-year-olds has improved in depth and quality, with Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park running respectable Kentucky Derby preps in the Lecomte and Smarty Jones last week.

Santa Anita also has showcased some good 3-year-olds, although unfortunately, the fields have been short.

Saturday is Gulfstream’s turn in the spotlight, with the Grade 2 Holy Bull, and top to bottom, it is the best stakes for 3-year-olds so far this year.

Of the 11 entrants, at least seven look like they have the potential to become players on the Derby trail. There is Cairo Prince, Wicked Strong, and Intense Holiday, who finished 2-3-4 in the Grade 2 Remsen, plus the unbeaten Coup de Grace, Nashua runner-up Financial Mogul, the promising Almost Famous, and Mr Speaker, a Grade 3 winner on grass.

Financial Mogul offers appeal for price seekers. With his closing runner-up finish in the Nashua, he ran behind Cairo Prince, who nearly upset Honor Code in the Remsen, and he finished in front of third-place Noble Moon, who returned to win the Grade 2 Jerome.

The supporting Grade 2 Forward Gal for 3-year-old fillies lacks the same depth and quality but did draw an exciting prospect in Onlyforyou, who merits singling in multirace exotics.

Although no comment was made of it in her past performances, in winning her last race Dec. 15 at Gulfstream, Onlyforyou did so despite breaking almost two lengths behind the field.

Despite the tardy beginning, she got back into the race quickly and, after tracking the early leader on the inside, angled out and powered away from the pack while racing six furlongs.

The extra eighth-mile of the seven-furlong Forward Gal should benefit her.

Speed handicapping angles

Bettors looking for speed plays Saturday should consider Lovefindsaway in race 3, Resistivity in race 7, and Almost Famous in race 10, the Holy Bull.
Per Moss Pace Figures, all showed speed in races that were determined to have very fast early-pace race shapes. If they prove able to make the lead while setting a moderate tempo, they could run improved races.

Last week’s wrap-up

Although denied a championship when outvoted by Wise Dan as the top older horse of 2013, Mucho Macho Man certainly ran as if in championship form in taking the Sunshine Millions Classic.

Admittedly, he towered over a short field of outclassed Florida-breds, but the ease with which he won – by 14 lengths – and his fluidity of motion indicated that this horse remains as sharp as he was last year, when he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Think nothing of his rather ordinary winning Beyer Speed Figure of 103. Jockey Gary Stevens never asked him for his best.

If Mucho Macho Man can maintain this level throughout the year, there will be few, if any, who can keep up with him.

As for the other races on the Florida Sunshine Millions card, some good, rock-solid horses like Sweet N Discreet, Parranda, Ullapool, Star Channel, and Ribo Bobo posted victories.

Ribo Bobo, claimed for $6,250 last March at Gulfstream, bears special note, having won yet again, and in blazing-fast time, after going 10 for 11 in 2013. He raced six furlongs in 1:09.16 in taking the Sprint, which earned him a 105 Beyer.

Meanwhile, in action unrelated to the Florida Sunshine Millions stakes, fans saw a number of good-looking 3-year-olds.

Storming Inti and We Miss Artie dueled from the far turn to the wire in Sunday’s Kitten’s Joy, with Storming Inti prevailing by a head after getting passed in midstretch; Tonalist was an eye-catching four-length winner of a maiden race going 1 1/8 miles; and much-hyped first-time starter Hartford ran to the public’s expectations in winning a sprint at 1-2 odds.

Storming Inti and We Miss Artie earned 86 Beyers, Tonalist posted a 90, and Hartford earned a 79.