Gulfstream Park West: Two graded turf stakes on closing weekend

The Gulfstream Park West Fall Turf Festival ends next weekend and goes out with a bang, with a trio of grass stakes next Saturday that includes the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Handicap and its filly counterpart, the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap. The third stakes is the ungraded Gin Rummy Champ at five furlongs.

The Tropical Turf closed with 20 nominees, including four horses from the barn of trainer Christophe Clement – Blacktype, Il Segreto, Lubash, and War Correspondent.

Among the locals, trainer Patrick Biancone has three eligible for the race. According to stakes coordinator Mike Costanzo, Diamond Bachelor, winner of The Vid and the Mr. Steele stakes in his last two starts, is the most likely of the trio to run.

Rose Brier, a three-times stakes winner in 2016 trained by Jane Cibelli, is also expected to start.

A total of 18 fillies and mares were nominated for the 1 1/16-mile My Charmer. Trainer Todd Pletcher has three of the names on that list, but said Friday that only Isabella Sings would run. Isabella Sings has captured two of her six starts this year, including the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth Park. She returns to South Florida off a fourth-place finish as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 3 Violet at Monmouth on Sept. 17.

Others likely to contest the My Charmer, according to Costanzo, include Flipcup, winner of the Grade 3 Arlington Matron earlier this year; the Michael Stidham-trained multiple stakes winner Secret Someone, Gypsy Eyes for Biancone, and Susie Bee.