Luck of the Kitten finds himself the outsider

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Wesley Ward is certain about two things when it comes to Wednesday’s 7 1/2-furlong allowance feature on the turf at Gulfstream Park: His Grade 1-placed Luck of the Kitten is back in top form to begin his 5-year-old campaign, and he’s at a big disadvantage breaking from the outside in post 10.

Luck of the Kitten was never worse than second in five starts at 2, concluding the campaign as the runner-up behind Hootenanny after setting the pace in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. But his career was slowed by a series of setbacks following his return from an 11th-place finish in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot the following June.

“He had a couple of really small issues, one right after another, but he’s rounding back into his best form now,” said Ward, who trains the homebred Luck of the Kitten for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Luck of the Kitten is winless in four starts on the comeback trail but is coming off his best effort since the Breeders’ Cup when finishing second, beaten a head, in the Prairie Bayou Stakes over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park in his 2016 finale.

Tyler Gaffalione rides Luck of the Kitten on Wednesday in the $49,000 ninth race.

“He ran some great races at 2, and I think he’s back to being as good as he was then,” said Ward. “But he really drew a tough post, being on the outside like he is here, with that short run to the turn. The jock will have to play it at the break, but he is fast, and I’m sure he’ll try to get him out of there and get some position around the first turn.”

There is speed aplenty breaking inside of Luck of the Kitten, including Soluble from the rail, Stockyard from post 3, Bobcat (5), and Semblance of Order (8).

A lively pace surely would enhance the chances of Gimlet, who is the one to beat coming off a wide-running fourth-place finish in the Tropical Park Derby to close out his 3-year-old campaign Dec. 31. Gimlet was defeated less than three lengths in the Tropical Park Derby after being taken out to the middle of the racetrack with his bid on the final bend. Gimlet, trained by Todd Pletcher, still earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Munjaz also should benefit from all the speed in this lineup. He made a big middle move before flattening out late to finish fourth behind Ballagh Rocks while going nine furlongs under tougher optional-claiming conditions Dec. 26. Ballagh Rocks flattered the effort when he came back to post his third consecutive victory here last weekend.

Key contenders

Luck of the Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 92-89-85

◗ He’ll have to overcome a post position that has yielded only 8 percent winners over the past four years at this distance on turf.

Gimlet, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-74

◗ He’ll reunite with jockey Javier Castellano for the first time since the pair teamed up to win a maiden special weight race over this course one year ago.