Lex Vegas faces quality foes in second career start
For those that can’t wait to see many of Florida’s best 3-year-olds Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, Friday’s feature race provides an appetizer to whet the palate. The 10th race, a first-level, $44,000 allowance at seven furlongs, has attracted several promising 3-year-olds.
Among the notable entrants are Lex Vegas, a Street Boss colt who won at first asking Jan. 18, earning a race-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure; Prospectus, an Uncle Mo colt who finished second, beaten 7 1/4 lengths by the Fountain of Youth-bound Zulu on Jan. 15; and Realm, a Haynesfield gelding who won his debut at Saratoga last July but hasn’t raced since.
Favoritism seems likely to tilt the way of Lex Vegas due the quickness of his maiden victory and a stretch-out in distance that would seem likely to suit him. In his debut, Lex Vegas raced from just off the pace and powered home in the stretch to win going away at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Julien Leparoux returns in the irons for trainer Brian Lynch.
The steadily improving Prospectus also will garner his share of backers, having run faster with each start and with progeny of Uncle Mo making a splash around the country. He is one of two horses in the race trained by Todd Pletcher. The other is Pinstripe, who should benefit from a return to Gulfstream after struggling over a synthetic surface after falling behind early in the OBS Sprint on Jan. 26.
Race 10
Key Contenders
Prospectus, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 71-64-54
◗ John Velazquez rides him for the first time, replacing Javier Castellano, who stays aboard Pinstripe. Per DRF Formulator statistics, Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher are 19 for 55 together (35 percent winners) at the current Gulfstream Park meet with a $2.66 return on investment.
Pinstripe, by High Cotton
Last 2 Beyers: 51-66
◗ He has broken a step slowly in each of his two starts, though it didn’t matter in his debut Dec. 30 at Gulfstream, when he quickly advanced to press the pace and romped by five lengths. In his most recent start at OBS, he was last away and after racing 10th early managed only to pass tired horses to finish sixth.
Lex Vegas, by Street Boss
First Beyer: 84
◗ Lynch has gone 4 for 13 (31 percent) over the last five years with first-out maiden winners that raced next in allowance or optional-claiming races.
Realm, by Haynesfield
First Beyer: 69
◗ He has been breezing every week or so since recording his first work of the winter Dec. 29 at Palm Meadows. He adds the anti-bleeding medication Lasix and is reported as a first-time gelding.