Laoban, back from surgery, points to Harlan's Holiday

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Laoban went into the Saratoga summer meeting a maiden and left several months later as the winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. But he was put on the track vet’s list after being eased across the finish line nearly an eighth of a mile behind Arrogate in the Grade 1 Travers.

As a result, trainer Eric Guillot had to load Laoban into a van early Sunday morning at the Palm Meadows training center to make the 40-mile trip to Gulfstream Park, where he worked an impressive five furlongs in 1:00.43 under jockey Paco Lopez shortly after 9 a.m.

“Good thing my groom reminded me I had to work my horse for the vet before I entered him for the Harlan’s Holiday [or we] couldn’t run,” Guillot said. “I was hoping to work him right after the break over a fresh track, but things got messed up a little after a horse broke down there earlier in the morning, and the track was closed for a while. So, all things considered, I thought it was a really good work. He did it easily and galloped out strong.”

Guillot is pointing Laoban, who also finished second in the Gotham, fourth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass and sixth in the Preakness, to the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday at 1 1/16 miles here Dec. 17. Laoban underwent surgery to repair a chip in his ankle that was discovered immediately after the Travers.

“He’s doing well, and the Harlan’s Holiday is a good spot to bring him back,” said Guillot, who acknowledged that he’s been approached by at least two of the 12 Pegasus World Cup slot holders about the possibility of making a deal to run Laoban in the $12 million race Jan. 28.

“Right now, any further discussions about the Pegasus are on hold for two reasons,” Guillot said. “First, obviously he’s got to run well in the Harlan’s Holiday, or the Pegasus is off the table. And if he does run big, I’ll have to see how many legitimate horses are looking to actually [run in the Pegasus]. I don’t need to run him there, but if I can make [a big score] for finishing fourth, why not? Besides, it’s horse racing, anything can happen, and I’ve been known to upset the applecart a few times in my life.”

Guillot said Lopez would have the mount on Laoban in the Harlan’s Holiday.

Milestone for Lopez

About eight hours after putting Laoban through his paces, Lopez achieved a milestone by picking up the 2,000th winner of his career, guiding Yourdreamsormine to victory in Sunday’s featured ninth race. Lopez, 31, was blanked on seven mounts Saturday and with his first five on Sunday before finally gaining elusive win No. 2,000.

“I tried it yesterday, got beat on some favorites, tried again today, and finally did it,” Lopez said. “I feel great about finally doing it, especially for people from Miami because this is where I got my start.”

Lopez, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, began his career riding Quarter Horses. He won his first Thoroughbred race across town at the former Calder Race Course, now known as Gulfstream Park West, in July 2007.

Yourdreamsormine is trained by Milt Wolfson, a fixture on the south Florida circuit since 1991. The 4-year-old has been a model of consistency since joining Wolfson’s barn here last winter, having finished first or second in all nine starts for his new mentor. Sunday’s win in a high-priced optional-claiming and starter dash going six furlongs was his fifth during that span at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile.

“I thought he was probably better at seven furlongs or a mile, but I couldn’t get a race for him at those distances, this one came up at six, and he’s been so sharp, I had to run him,” Wolfson said. “After watching that race, I don’t know now.”

Wolfson said he might consider the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at six furlongs on Dec. 26 for Yourdreamsormine’s next start. He was also delighted that Lopez was able to get the special victory on one of his horses.

“That was great,” Wolfson said. “I’ve been friends with Paco for a long time, and he lives right down the street from me. I had all those horses in front of me today; he had a good shot to win with a couple of them. I’m just happy it happened to play out this way.”

◗ Gulfstream Park’s perennial leading trainer, Todd Pletcher, will be in action in five of the six 2-year-old stakes on tap here Saturday. Pletcher said he plans to enter the undefeated Fact Finding in the six-furlong Buffalo Man; the unbeaten Bode’s Dream in its filly counterpart, the six-furlong House Party; the stakes-placed Sonic Mule going a mile in the Smooth Air; and Lemonist and Bahama Halo on turf in the Pulpit and Wait a While, respectively.