Matrooh makes multiple changes for first U.S. start
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Regardless of how his 2013 running lines in England might be interpreted, Matrooh figures to take serious action Sunday in the $48,000 featured race at Gulfstream Park.
Matrooh, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Distorted Humor, is now trained by the ever-popular Chad Brown. He will be ridden by reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano. He has been gelded since his last start. He will be getting Lasix for the first time. And he shows a nice series of workouts at the Palm Meadows training center.
Given the lack of standout opposition, Matrooh might well be favored in a field of eight older horses in the 11th of 12 Sunday races, a first-level optional $25,000 claimer at a mile on the main track.
Owned by Shadwell Stable, Matrooh sports a so-so overseas record, having won once in five starts, all of them on turf. He was gelded last summer before going into serious training in New York, where he posted five works prior to being briefly sidelined. Since resuming a regular schedule in mid-January, he shows six more works at Palm Meadows.
A couple of other Palm Meadows-based horses, Strike Tone and Saa Mi, are among the chief threats.
:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Sunday
First post Sunday is 12:30 p.m. Eastern. One starter allowance and three maiden special weight races also are on tap.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days before live action resumes Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Matrooh (No Beyers)
◗ Difficult to say what his races in England were like, but it’s probably irrelevant at this point, given that his most recent start came in October 2013. The new beginning under Brown’s tutelage and all the other aforementioned changes are what could trigger a transformation.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Matrooh. Trainer Chad Brown is 3-0-0-1 over the past five years going turf to dirt in the first start following a trainer switch. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Strike Tone (Last Beyer: 81)
◗ Is a winner of his lone start, having narrowly prevailed in a short field here Jan. 14, but that was on turf. Kiaran McLaughlin has put him through four dirt works at Palm Meadows in the interim.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Strike Tone. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 3-2-0-0 with a $4.26 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt in routes with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Curlin’s Gem (Last 3 Beyers: 82-77-70)
◗ Martin Cherry homebred stretches out from slightly shorter races for trainer Marty Wolfson, who shows a gaudy 31 percent win strike and a $5.16 return on investment from 35 starters in that particular category.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Curlin’s Gem. Trainer Marty Wolfson is 13-3-2-2 with a $3.33 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt in the third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Saa Mi (Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-85)
◗ His running lines look like he’s just a midpacker, but his Beyers are very competitive in this context. Kentucky-bred will be making his first start in four months after a steady string of works at Palm Meadows.