Mr. Jordan rolls into Smooth Air on Juvenile Showcase program

MIAMI – There are 118 2-year-olds entered to compete in Saturday’s Juvenile Showcase program at Gulfstream Park West, the most promising of whom appears to be Mr. Jordan, who’ll put his unblemished record on the line against nine rivals in the main event, the Smooth Air Stakes.

The one-mile Smooth Air is one of six stakes, each valued at $75,000, on Saturday’s 10-race program, which is dedicated exclusively to 2-year-olds.

Mr. Jordan has won his first two starts by a combined margin of 9 1/4 lengths, including the 6 1/2-furlong Juvenile Sprint in his local debut Nov. 8. Mr. Jordan overcame traffic issues on the turn before asserting his superiority to draw off by three widening lengths in his stakes debut. Gilberto Saez will replace Mr. Jordan’s regular rider, Paco Lopez, who’ll be at Aqueduct on Saturday to ride stablemate Itsmyluckyday for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

“I need to find out if he can go around two turns,” said Plesa. “Paco, the first time he worked him, he said he’d go a distance, so I hope he’s right. It looks like an opportune time. He’s here at his home course, and he’s won over this racetrack.”

Mr. Jordan’s main competition could come from Juan and Bina, who turned in an impressive debut when overcoming a tough post and a wide trip to win at first asking going a mile here Nov. 2. Unfortunately for trainer Gustave Delgado and jockey Edgar Prado, Juan and Bina again must begin from well outside in post 9 in the Smooth Air.

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Key contenders

Mr. Jordan (Last 2 Beyers: 84-86)

* Well drawn on the rail for his two-turn debut with a short run to the first turn, he might use his inherent speed to try to steal this one on the front end.

* Plesa expects Mr. Jordan to improve with experience, especially his anxious demeanor.

“He settled in nicely under adverse circumstances in his last start, and I think each step has been in the right direction with him so far,” said Plesa.

* Despite running Itsmyluckday the same afternoon in the Cigar Mile, Plesa has opted to stay home to saddle Mr. Jordan in the Smooth Air.

Juan and Bina (Last Beyer: 73)

* His dam, Caressing, won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

* There have been only five winners from the 68 horses to start from post Nos. 8-10 during the current meet.

Morgans Harbour (Last 2 Beyers: 79-74)

* He showed improvement when second to Mr. Jordan in the Juvenile Sprint despite a wide trip.

Honor Earned (Last 3 Beyers: 73-66-63)

* Dons blinkers for the first time and is the only member of the field stakes-placed around two turns, having finish third in the In Reality.

In other stakes

** The six-furlong Buffalo Man also has drawn a solid field of 2-year-old colts and geldings, led by the undefeated Richard the Great, who has won his only two starts by an average margin of nearly 4 1/2 lengths but comes in idle since easily defeating allowance company Sept. 28.

“He’s very professional, very straightforward, and I don’t think there are any distance limitations with him,” said Ralph Nicks, who trains Richard the Great for Alan Cohen’s Arindel Farm. “I didn’t go into the one-mile Smooth Air because he developed a little heat in his shin, and I had to back off him after his last start, and right now, we’re just trying to do right by the horse.”

The Buffalo Man drew a field of 10 that also includes key contenders Ambidextrous Alex, Twotwentyfive A, Brother Bobo, and It’s Not Me.

** Only six fillies signed on for the one-mile Hut Hut, led by local division leader Holywell, who captured two of the three legs of the Florida Sire Series at Gulfstream Park, and the impressive Belmont maiden winner Money’soncharlotte.

** The six-furlong House Party for 2-year-old fillies came up strong, with Leap Year Luck looking to repeat her easy victory in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint here Nov. 8. She’ll face a group that includes the speedsters Ekati’s Phaeton, Concealedwithakiss, and Savingtime.

** The Pulpit and its filly counterpart, the Wait A While, drew full fields of 12 to go a mile on the turf. Firespike, an impressive stakes winner here earlier this month, tops a strong and wide-open group in the Pulpit, while the Northern invaders Fila Primera, Arctic Ocean, and Walking the Kitten may have the edge in the Wait a While.