Gulfstream Park notes: Reveron begins road back in Sunday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Agustin Bezara came within one week of realizing every trainer’s dream – to start a horse in the Kentucky Derby. But Bezara never did make it to Louisville, his dream shattered after Reveron suffered a slight fracture of his left front ankle during a one-mile workout at Calder the Saturday before the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Reveron, who suffered yet another setback last December, will finally return to the races for the first time since his second-place finish in the 2012 Florida Derby when he goes six furlongs in a strong field in Sunday’s main event at Gulfstream Park.

The $41,500 optional-claiming race also lured graded stakes winners Travelin Man and Apriority, and serves as the feature race on the final card of Gulfstream Park’s inaugural summer meeting. The track’s winter meeting, dubbed the championship meet, begins next Saturday.

Reveron began his ascent through the 3-year-old ranks during the winter and spring of 2012 with his victory in the first edition of the Gulfstream Park Derby. He came back to finish a close third in the Grade 3 Sam Davis at Tampa Bay Downs before apparently earning his way into the Kentucky Derby by finishing second, a length behind Take Charge Indy, in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

“It was very frustrating to get that close to the Derby and not make it,” said Bezara. “First he fractured his ankle in his last work before we put him on the van for Kentucky, then he was getting ready to come back last December when he kicked the wall in his stall and fractured a hind ankle.”

Reveron has been working steadily and at times spectacularly for his return, posting back-to-back bullet five-furlong drills within a six-day span here earlier this month, both in 59 seconds.

“I think he’s better now than he was before, both mentally and physically,” said Bezara. “He’s as good as he can be going into this race, although I am a little concerned because he’s been away such a long time. It’s a very good field, but at the top of his game this field would be nothing for him.”

Bezara said he’s planning to keep Reveron at one turn for the time being while mentioning the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Sprint going seven furlongs on Feb. 8 as a possible goal.

Travelin Man, who has been idle since June 22 when he finished 10th and last in a seven-furlong stakes at Parx, has registered all five of his wins at Gulfstream, including the last two renewals of the Sir Shackleton Stakes. He also captured the Grade 2 Swale here during his 3-year-old campaign. Like Reveron, he has been working forwardly for his return, posting back-to-back bullet five-furlong works at Palm Meadows this month for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Apriority remains winless since a nose victory over Zero Rate Policy in his final start of 2011 in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector. Grade 1-placed earlier that season when second in the Carter, Apriority spent the early portion of the current campaign on the West Coast with trainer Bob Baffert before returning to trainer David Fawkes late this spring.

The remainder of the field for Sunday’s headliner comprises recent allowance winners Sweet Rocket Man, Rockyshomerun, and Dad’z Laugh, along with Duty Blues, Silver Menace, County Gun, and Partyallnightlong.

2-year-old to watch

Bezara will send out a 2-year-old he believes could be his next Kentucky Derby prospect, Hy Kodiak Warrior, in Sunday’s sixth race. Hy Kodiak Warrior, a son of Kodiak Kowboy, returns on less than two weeks’ rest after cruising to a seven-length maiden victory on Nov. 11. He’ll be part of a full field of 12 juveniles going a mile in a possible prep for the one-mile Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year’s Day.

Popular turf stakes

Two-year-olds will also be in the spotlight next Saturday, with the $100,000 Pulpit and its filly counterpart, the $100,000 Wait a While, sharing top billing on opening day of the 2013-14 championship meet. Both races are carded at a mile on the turf and attracted plenty of interest, with the Pulpit luring 47 nominations and the Wait a While 48.

Todd Pletcher will have no shortage of candidates to choose from in both races, having nominated five to the Pulpit, including Breeders’ Cup starters Bashart and We Miss Artie, and six fillies to the Wait a While. The Wait a While nominees include six members of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf lineup.