J S Bach could prove tough to handle in Wednesday feature
A horse named after Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach will be the favorite in the fourth race Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West. The $16,000 optional-claiming race for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses, and J S Bach is clearly the one to beat.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, J S Bach not only has the best career and last-race Beyer Speed Figures in the field, but it looks like the 3-year-old son of Tale of the Cat will be able to control the one-mile race right from the start.
In his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park last December, he came from a stalking position to finish second while earning a 92 Beyer. When he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in his second start Jan. 17, he set an honest pace before drawing away to win by 8 1/2 lengths.
J S Bach didn’t return to the races until Oct. 2, when he was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in a $12,500 optional-claiming race restricted to Florida-breds. He didn’t disappoint, winning the six-furlong sprint by 1 1/2 lengths with Edgard Zayas aboard.
He drew post 3 for Wednesday’s race. With a race behind him and two sharp interim works, he should be tough to handle with Zayas retaining the mount.
Pletcher also entered Wild Zambezi, who has been training forwardly for his first start in almost a year.
KEY CONTENDERS
J S Bach (Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-92)
◗ The half-brother to eight-time dirt-route winner Harborplace romped the only time he went around two turns and should thrive while stretching out to a middle distance.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Pletcher has a 31 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff and moving from a sprint to a route.
Tiger of Wales (Last 3 Beyers: 76-69-76)
◗ Trained by Mike Maker, he rallied to finish second in a similar race in his latest at Gulfstream.
◗ He has a good record at the distance and could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of his form cycle.
Wild Zambezi (Last 3 Beyers: 60-77-74)
◗ He was the runner-up in the $101,000 Sapling Stakes in 2014 and then went on a long break after running a dull race as the odds-on favorite in a $75,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park West last October.