Lochte coming back on short rest for Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Marcus Vitali said he plans to bring Lochte back on two weeks’ rest to defend his title in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 7.

Lochte rallied from midpack to register a head decision over Old Time Hockey last Saturday in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes. The win was just the second in 11 starts for the son of Medaglia d’Oro since he upset the 2014 Gulfstream Park Turf at odds of 39-1 here last winter.

“He came back in two weeks to win at Tampa, and he bounced out of the race just fine,” Vitali said. “So, bringing him back again next Saturday should not be an issue.”

Lochte likely will be part of a short field shaping up for the Gulfstream Park Turf, which shares top billing on the Feb. 7 card with the Grade 1 Donn Handicap. Among the others expected to start are Amen Kitten, Grand Tito, Mshawish, and Manchurian High. Ring Weekend and Imagining are among the other possible contenders.

Vitali also plans to run another of his bargain purchases, Valid, on Feb. 7 in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper Jr. Handicap. Valid finished fourth after setting a contested pace in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope earlier this month. Valid won the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup and Gulfstream Park West’s Eight Miles West in 2014.

“I didn’t want to put him in with the big boys in the Donn,” Vitali said. “Plus, he’s much better suited to a mile than a mile and one-eighth.”

Vitali also said he’ll likely bring Bluegrass Singer back in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 21. Bluegrass Singer won the one-mile Mucho Macho Man on New Year’s Day before finishing a tiring third behind runaway winner Upstart last Saturday in the Grade 2 Holy Bull.

“I still think he can get a mile and one-sixteenth, and I’d rather keep him home than shipping him around looking for perhaps a little easier spot in another of the Kentucky Derby preps,” Vitali said.