Oak Bluffs seeks end to victory drought

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Being 9 years old, Oak Bluffs surely is on the other side of midnight – but that doesn’t mean the hard-knocking New Jersey-bred is completely through.

A 16-time winner with earnings of $572,406, Oak Bluffs will be risked by owner-trainer Mary Eppler for a rare claiming tag when he brings an obvious class edge to the lone allowance on a 12-race Sunday card at Gulfstream Park. He’s one of seven older horses in race 3, a $51,000 turf sprint with multiple conditions, including a $25,000 claiming option.

A major player last year in the innovative MATCH series hosted by Mid-Atlantic tracks, Oak Bluffs just missed in the Claiming Crown Canterbury on opening day of the Gulfstream championship meet before his form went a bit stale in two subsequent starts here.

In November 2015, Eppler claimed Oak Bluffs for a mere $5,000 at her main Laurel Park base before gradually getting him back into the upper echelon of the turf-sprint stakes ranks, with a victory in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governors’ Cup last summer that marked a career apex.

Paco Lopez, who has ridden Oak Bluffs periodically, including in his Governors’ Cup score, has the mount back Sunday.

Among the main threats to deal Oak Bluffs a seventh straight defeat are Geyser, a winner versus lesser earlier in the meet; First Spring, a Mark Casse returnee with intriguing form; and Gran Saman, a capable sort trained by Steve Klesaris.

First post Sunday is 1:10 p.m. Eastern, with back-to-back starter-optionals (races 10 and 11) a primary focus of the Rainbow 6 sequence, which spans races 7-12. Into Friday, the Rainbow 6 jackpot stood at more than $1.5 million.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before another five-day week resumes Wednesday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Oak Bluffs, by Defrere

Last 3 Beyers: 78-81-95

◗ He won a stakes on the Monmouth Park turf in summer 2015 for prior connections, and has staged a career revival since Eppler claimed him for $5,000 later that year. Eppler did something similar with the recently retired Page McKenney.

Geyser, by The Factor
Last 3 Beyers: 77-74-N/A

◗ Off a couple of failed efforts in hurdles races, this gray gelding pulled a 9-1 surprise here in early January when cutting back dramatically in distance. He adds blinkers for conditioner Peter Pugh following an interim defeat.

First Spring, by Spring At Last
Last 3 Beyers: 75-82-75

◗ This race may serve merely as a starting point for the 4-year-old, who hasn’t raced since last September and seems to prefer more distance. But he’s got a hint of class.

Gran Saman, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 63-75-79

◗ This 5-year-old reeled off three straight triumphs over the local course during the latter half of 2018 for trainer Steve Klesaris, who shows a positive ROI ($2.35) from 92 starts in turf sprints.