J P Hellish could get heavenly trip

In his youth, J P Hellish did his best work on the front end. Late last season and now into the early part of his 8-year-old year, J P Hellish has been running well from just off the pace.

Thursday, J P Hellish should have ample pace in front of him when he seeks his 11th win in his 50th career start in another multi-conditioned allowance scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs over the Gulfstream Park turf course. This $92,000 race goes as the last of nine on a card that begins at 1:10 p.m.

J P Hellish finished a solid third behind the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Quality G and Never Surprised in this same condition March 2, the Fountain of Youth card. J P Hellish was checked slightly entering the first turn and was in tight along the rail down the backside.

Trainer Marty Drexler felt J P Hellish “got a little jammed up last time. Javier [Castellano] used him; it got a little uncomfortable into the first turn. There should be a truer pace. He prefers a little bit of a faster pace early where he can stretch his legs. He’ll rate, but he’s not the best at it.”

J P Hellish, who breaks from post 4 under Castellano, is being offered for the $62,500 optional claiming tag.

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My Sea Cottage and Stat, both coming off front-running victories in their respective last starts, should provide the pace on Thursday. Bluebirds Over is another who is likely to be forward.

English Bee, also 8, was sent off the favorite in the aforementioned March 2 allowance race but finished 10th, beaten five lengths. That was his first start in five months and he acted up in the gate and also encountered traffic in the first turn that put him out of his usual stalking position.

“He’s an 8-year-old acting like a 2-year-old. It was very unlike him,” trainer Graham Motion said of English Bee’s performance. “Maybe he was too sharp. He did act up pretty good in the gate and Johnny had to take a hold of him in the first turn. It was a bit of a disaster. He lost interest at that point.”

English Bee did spend a good part of last year chasing some of the best turf horses in North America, including eventual champion Up to the Mark, Casa Creed, and Annapolis.

There is a third 8-year-old in this field who is in with a chance. Burnin Turf, from the red-hot barn of Sandino Hernandez, finished fourth behind Stat in this condition Feb. 8. He is saddled with the outside post, but is likely to move in one spot as Determinedly is expected to scratch, according to trainer Mark Casse.

Casse does send out My Sea Cottage, who did come off a four-month layoff to win a first-level allowance in front-running fashion. He will break from the rail under Luis Saez on Thursday.

Ruse and American Speed, both of whom may benefit from a lively pace, complete the field.

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