Lochte back in form for Spider John
Lochte, an easy winner of the $75,000 Mr. Steele on Sept. 27 at Gulfstream, will try to win his second straight stakes on turf when he runs in Sunday’s $75,000 Spider John at Gulfstream Park West. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 5.
Trained by Marcus Vitali, Lochte was reserved early before unleashing a strong kick to win the one-mile Mr. Steele by 4 1/4 lengths over Padilla. It was his first win since he won a $100,000 optional-claiming race Jan. 24 at Tampa Bay. He went into to the Mr. Steele with sharp form, however, having finished third on the grass in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger going 1 1/8 miles Aug. 23 at Monmouth.
With Matthew Rispoli aboard, Lochte rallied into a fast pace in the Mr. Steele, but they probably won’t be in any hurry early in the Spider John. He is versatile, though, and has enough speed to stay in touch with whatever happens up front. His biggest win came in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap last year when he stalked a moderate pace before taking over the lead at the quarter pole in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Lochte drew the outside post with Rispoli retaining the mount.
Slim Shadey also is coming off a sharp win going a mile. Trained by David Jacobson, Slim Shadey romped over a sloppy track at Belmont in a $62,500 optional-claiming race Oct. 3.
He will be fine with the move to turf, where he has earned the majority of his $897,574 in earnings.
KEY CONTENDERS
Lochte (Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-89)
◗ The Grade 1 winner was just getting warmed up when he won the one-mile Mr. Steele and will appreciate the added distance he gets to work with here.
Slim Shadey (Last 3 Beyers: 96-69-83)
◗ He has plenty of back class, having won the Grade 2 San Marcos at Santa Anita in 2012 and 2013.
◗ He becomes the horse to beat if it comes up wet and the race is moved to the main track.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: The past five years, Jacobson has a 15 percent strike rate with horses moving from dirt to turf.
Hampstead Heath (Last 3 Beyers: 88-91-89)
◗ Trained by Pat Parente, he is going for the hat track after winning back-to-back races on the expansive turf course at Woodbine.