Hutcheson winner Beeline begins comeback
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Beeline, winner of the 2024 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park last winter in his second lifetime start, returns to face likely favorite Mish and four others in Friday’s $97,000 main event, which will be decided at six furlongs over the main track under high-priced optional-claiming and allowance conditions.
Beeline launched his career here a year ago in spectacular fashion, winning a maiden special weight dash by 3 3/4 lengths over stablemate Mr Skylight. Beeline returned five weeks later to win by a neck over Improptude after contesting the pace every step of the way in the Hutcheson. Both of Beeline’s victories came at six furlongs.
A son of Bee Jersey trained by Riley Mott, Beeline started just twice more at 3, finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile before concluding his abbreviated campaign with a fourth-place effort against first-level allowance competition on June 5 at Churchill Downs.
“He ran well the first couple of times and certainly showed he likes this track,” Mott said. “We kind of threw him to the dogs in the Pat Day Mile, tinkered around distance-wise after his races here, and just decided he needed a little time to regroup after that last start at Churchill.”
Beeline has not missed a beat at Palm Meadows preparing for his return, and Mott feels his horse is ready for another big effort off the layoff.
“This is a competitive little spot for him, but he’s trained really well. I feel he is doing just as good as he was before he debuted last year,” Mott said. “He’s had plenty of useful works on the dirt and I feel three-quarters is probably his optimum distance, although I am leaving the door open to experiment with him on turf one day. He’s got a lot of turf on the bottom of his pedigree.”
Mish has been like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in his last two starts. He posted a Beyer Speed Figure of 7 when beaten nearly 50 lengths by stablemate White Abarrio on Nov. 22. He then returned just 23 days later to register an 88 Beyer winning a similarly conditioned optional-claiming and allowance race by 3 1/4 lengths as a 6-5 favorite. Mish, now 8, is the only member of the field entered for the $62,500 claiming price.
Pay Zone posted a near career-best 90 Beyer of his own when finishing second against slightly softer allowance and optional-claiming opposition in his 2024 finale. He could prove the one to catch in Friday’s seventh race if he gets away cleanly in a field that also includes Great Navigator, Gatsby, and Banded Rocket.
◗ Mott reported that his up-and-coming 3-year-old filly, Zealous Moon, could be headed for graded stakes company after winning an open allowance race going a mile and one-sixteenth over the Tapeta track here last Saturday.
“There’s really no two-other-than allowance races for 3-year-old fillies here, so we’re probably forced to try her in a black type stakes next time,” said Mott. “We’ll nominate for everything and find a spot for her.”
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