Gulfstream Park: Promising 3-year-olds set for Sunday allowance sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Several promising 3-year-old sprinters – many of whom are coming off extended layoffs – headline Sunday’s $48,750 first-level allowance feature at Gulfstream Park.

Derivativecontract and Little Daddy are recent maiden winners over the track who will take on returners All in Blue and Jimmy Connors in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.

Derivativecontract, a son of Cowtown Cat, made a successful 3-year-old debut Feb. 20, coming from off the pace to run down Pomeroy’s Package. Derivativecontract debuted almost five months earlier at Saratoga, running fourth in the mud. He came out of that race with an ankle injury, according to trainer Terri Pompay.

“The first time in Saratoga, he ran on a bad track, sprained his ankle a little bit. Nothing major,” Pompay said. “That’s what happened to him then. That’s why he had the time off. He came back very well. It was worth it. He ran a very good race. He fought hard. He didn’t win by a lot, but he did a good job.”

Though this race is a furlong farther than the last one, Pompay is confident that it won’t be a problem. Luis Saez rides from post 6.

Little Daddy, a New York-bred son of Scat Daddy, won his debut here just 13 days ago for owner/trainer Carlo Vaccarezza. Little Daddy was plagued last year by a breathing problem, according to Vaccarezza.

“When we shipped him from Kentucky to Ocala, it went away, no surgery,” Vaccarezza said. “We didn’t have any problems with him. I always thought he had a lot of talent, especially for a New York-bred.”

Manhattan Johnnie, All in Blue, and Jimmy Connors were all debut winners last year as 2-year-olds. After his debut win at Belmont in September, Manhattan Johnnie finished 10th in the Grade 2 Nashua. In his first start this year, Manhattan Johnnie got used in a speed duel and finished fourth in a first-level allowance.

“The horse got in a speed duel on the inside, and he was pressed, and they went really, really fast for the opening half-mile,” trainer Eddie Kenneally said. “He’s had a couple of nice works since, and I think he got plenty out of that race.”

Manhattan Johnnie, who breaks from post 2 under Julien Leparoux, could be the primary speed in this field.

The other potential speed is All in Blue, trained by Todd Pletcher, who defeated subsequent graded stakes winner We Miss Artie in his debut last summer at Belmont. All in Blue hasn’t been out since, finishing seventh Sept. 2 in the Grade 1 Hopeful.

Jimmy Connors, a debut winner at Monmouth, cuts back to a sprint for his 3-year-old debut. He last ran in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill, where he finished ninth of 10.