Gulfstream Park: Party Lad wins on grass

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Party Lad won for the third time in four starts, running his eight rivals off their feet to capture Thursday's $54,500 main event on the Gulfstream Park turf. The Canadian-bred Party Lad won his maiden at first asking at Woodbine and an entry-level allowance dash at Penn National by a combined 10 1/2 lengths. Thursday was his first start on grass.

"We shipped him down to Florida to try him on the grass," trainer Mario Pino said. "He's fast and he's out of a Stormy Atlantic mare, so I figured he'd handle it well. We'll probably look for a two-other-than and keep him on grass for now. Five and five-and-one-half furlongs looks like it's going to be his best game for now."

Pino also may have a pair of newly turned 3-year-olds to run here on New Year's Day, She's All Scat in the Grade 3 Old Hat and Tate's Landing in the Spectacular Bid. She's All Scat won a seven-furlong overnight stakes in her last start at Laurel. Tate's Landing exits a disappointing eighth-place finish last week in the Dania Beach after having won the Laurel Futurity on turf in his previous start.

"She's All Scat is quick, but not quite as quick as Party Lad, although she did win her last race on the lead going seven furlongs," Pino said. "Tate's Landing probably wasn't quite up to going two turns here the other day. He missed some training because of the shipping, so I'll try cutting him back to six furlongs and putting him back on the main track."