Gulfstream Park Turf among strong trio of graded stakes Saturday

A trio of very competitive stakes was drawn here at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday for Saturday’s card, topped by the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap.

The nine-furlong Gulfstream Park Turf lured the top three finishers – Flatlined, Almanaar, and Divisidero – from the 1 1/16-mile Fort Lauderdale here last month. They will face an imposing group of contenders that includes last year’s Turf winner, Luke’s Alley; Grade 1 winner Beach Patrol; All Included, third in this race a year ago; and the multiple Grade 3 winner War Correspondent.

Sharp Azteca, coming off a strong second-place finish behind Mind Your Biscuits in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita, tops the field for the Gulfstream Park Handicap. The race also features last year’s winner, Blofeld, and his former Todd Pletcher stablemate, the multiple graded stakes winner Tommy Macho, along with the Mark Casse-trained duo of Awesome Banner and Awesome Slew.

Blofeld will be making his first start since joining trainer Rusty Arnold’s barn late last season.

The Grade 3 Suwannee River will also be decided Saturday, with the Chad Brown duo of Elysea’s World and Goldy Espony among the featured players, along with Sandiva and Sea Coast.