Gulfstream Park: Laugh Track, Brujo de Olleros part of strong Sprint lineup

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two horses who earned nice checks at the 2013 Breeders’ Cup are among a terrific mix of older horses entered in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint on Saturday.

Laugh Track, second in the BC Sprint, and Brujo de Olleros, third in the BC Dirt Mile, will square off in a field of 11 that also includes such notables as Jackson Bend, an earner of $1.8 million, and Catron, who has been sensational in winning his first two career starts for Todd Pletcher.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

The Grade 3 Gulfstream Sprint and Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes lead off a big Gulfstream weekend that culminates Sunday with a trio of graded stakes, led by the Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

Laugh Track, trained by Mark Casse, was closing fastest of all when finishing a neck behind Secret Circle in the BC Sprint. The 5-year-old Laugh Track has had five workouts at the Palm Meadows training center since ending his season with a ninth-place finish in the Nov. 30 Cigar Mile. He was assigned the rail post with Joel Rosario riding for the first time.

The Gulfstream Sprint goes at seven furlongs.

“That’s his game, the seven-eighths,” trainer Mark Casse said. “We gave him a little break after the Cigar Mile, and he’s done really well since then.”

Brujo de Olleros (post 6, Alan Garcia) will be making his first start since rallying to be third behind Goldencents and Golden Ticket in the BC Dirt Mile. The Brazilian-bred 6-year-old Brujo de Olleros shows four recent works at Palm Meadows for trainer Rick Mettee.

The Gulfstream Sprint goes as the 11th of 12 Saturday races, with post time set for 5:31 p.m. Eastern.

Abaco tops Suwannee River

The $150,000 Suwannee River (race 10, post 5:01) also drew a solid field, with Abaco looking to rebound as a beaten favorite in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Abaco was fourth as the 5-2 choice in the Jan. 4 Marshua’s River when making her first start since capping her 2013 season with a victory in the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old Abaco will have Javier Castellano aboard when breaking from post 5 in a field of eight fillies and mares.

Other major contenders in the Suwannee River include Caroline Thomas, making her first start in 3 1/2 months after finishing a solid third in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and Parranda, back in three weeks following a three-length romp in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf.