Navarro tries to work his magic on turf
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prudhoe Bay and Stand and Salute have two things in common. Both are stakes winners, and both were recently haltered by trainer Jorge Navarro, whose success at the claim box is second to none on the local circuit.
But Prudhoe Bay and Stand and Salute have one more thing in common: Neither has ever won a race on turf, which poses a dilemma for handicappers trying to sort out Wednesday’s $43,000 eighth race, a five-furlong dash on the grass that drew a full field of 12 under first-level optional-claiming conditions.
Navarro has won with 63 of the 177 horses he’s started first off the claim over the last three years, according to DRF Formulator, a success rate of an incredible 36 percent. His prowess with such runners has become so respected that his ROI for those 63 winners actually shows a slight parimutuel loss at $1.95.
Navarro took Prudhoe Bay for $16,000 out of a second-place finish on turf here Feb. 24. The winner of the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth two years ago at 3, Prudhoe Bay has gone winless in 10 subsequent starts and has not won in five tries on grass.
Stand and Salute brought $25,000 at the claim box from Navarro and Monster Racing Stables on March 18. The winner of the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last year at 3 for trainer Todd Pletcher, Stand and Salute has made just two starts on turf. The best of those efforts was a second-place finish at Golden Gate in November.
Those seeking alternatives to the new Navarro acquisitions have plenty of options in what figures to be a mad dash from start to finish.
Starship Wildcat is the most logical of the bunch. He has been a model of consistency in turf sprints dating back to this time last year. In his 11 most recent such races, he’s posted five wins and finished second four times. Most of those efforts, however, came against lesser-priced opposition and never in a 12-horse field, where traffic issues could muddle the outcome.
Deterrent defeated Starship Wildcat here Jan. 1 for trainer Jason Servis while turning in the best race of his career. He was haltered for $25,000 six weeks later when finishing ninth after an extended pace duel, and he has not raced since.
Doctor J Dub was beaten a nose under similar conditions in his last start and has been close several times at this level since joining trainer Maria Borell’s barn. She claimed Doctor J Dub for $16,000 out of a fourth-place finish to Deterrent on Jan. 1.
Singanothersong drops in class and shows up for a straight $25,000 claiming tag for the first time. His only victory since winning the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector in December 2013 came via a disqualification in the Bonita Stakes on turf here in August.