Gulfstream Park: Tackleberry getting closer to a race

On the day the Sunshine Millions Classic was run for the 10th time – albeit under a slightly different format – last year’s Classic winner Tackleberry took another step toward his return.

Tackleberry worked four furlongs in 48 seconds at Calder Saturday morning, the fastest of 86 works at the distance. A week ago, Tackleberry worked three furlongs in a bullet 36 seconds.

“He’s coming along pretty fast,” said Luis Olivares, trainer and owner of Tackleberry. “He’s three weeks to a month away from running. He’s doing very well. So far, so good.”

Olivares said that he is considering either the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship at seven furlongs on Feb. 18 and/or the Gulfstream Park Handicap at a mile on March 12. Tackleberry won both of those races last year as well as the Sunshine Millions Classic.

Tackleberry has not run since finishing ninth in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park last May. Olivares said he wanted to give the horse some time off after the Met, and the horse then got sick while vacationing on the farm. He didn’t arrive back at Olivares’ Calder barn until three weeks ago.