Gulfstream Park: Pletcher eager to test Catron in Gulfstream Park Sprint

[bc_video_id:315748:]HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The X-factor sometimes can be the most dominant variable in a given race, with handicappers asking themselves, “But what if this horse . . . ?”

The X-factor label might well apply to a Todd Pletcher buzz saw named Catron, a 4-year-old colt skipping conditions to jump right into Grade 3 company Saturday in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint. Catron, unbeaten in just two starts, will face 10 far more experienced rivals in the seven-furlong race.

“It is an aggressive move on our part, and we are giving away quite a bit in terms of seasoning,” Pletcher said. “But I’ve been really pleased with the way the colt is training, and we’re eager to see how he stacks up against these older stakes horses.”

Catron, bred and owned by Aaron and Marie Jones, comes favorably drawn toward the outside in post 9, from where jockey Javier Castellano should be able to get a clean trip. The son of Distorted Humor was well-backed in winning his debut last June at Belmont Park, then again in dominating a first-level optional claimer here Dec. 22 when earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure that would seem to put him in the same league as these others.

Those more accomplished opponents include Laugh Track, the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up who will start from post 1 when having Joel Rosario aboard for the first time; Jackson Bend (post 2, John Velazquez), a 7-year-old with career earnings of more than $1.8 million; Brujo de Olleros (post 6, Alan Garcia), making his first start since running third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; and Singanothersong (post 10, Juan Leyva), a last-out winner of the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here six weeks ago.

Laugh Track, trained by Mark Casse, was 16-1 when he barely missed catching Secret Circle in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The 5-year-old horse is listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite by track oddsmaker Ron Nicoletti, with Catron the second choice at 3-1.

“We gave him a little freshening after the Cigar Mile,” Casse said, referring to the Nov. 30 race that followed the Breeders’ Cup by four weeks and resulted in a disappointing ninth-place finish for Laugh Track. “He has really come back sharp, and we’re hoping this starts off a big year for the horse.”

This is the 39th running of the Gulfstream Sprint, which formerly had the word “Championship” as the last word in its name. The 2013 winner was Fort Loudon, who is in the lineup again this year as a longshot after being defeated in all eight of his starts since hitting that career peak a year ago.

The Gulfstream Sprint directly follows another Grade 3 event, the Suwannee River for female turfers, as the 11th of 12 Saturday races. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.