Odd mix of runners in feature race

MIAMI – Delta Bluesman is a 9-year-old veteran with 15 wins, $775,000 in earnings, a graded stakes victory, and a trip to the Breeders’ Cup on his résumé. Souper Jackpot is a 3-year-old with only four starts under his belt and a single win to his credit. Yet, despite their diverse backgrounds, the pair will hook up as two of the major players in Saturday’s $39,000 co-feature, a six-furlong optional-claiming dash restricted to Florida-breds.

Delta Bluesman is eligible for the race via the $12,500 claiming clause in the conditions. He woke up off a series of dull efforts with a wire-to-wire 5 1/4-length victory over much weaker $6,250 conditioned claiming foes here on Nov. 1, a race for which he received an 89 Beyer Figure.

Delta Bluesman, who won the Grade 2 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park three years ago, is back with trainer Jorge Navarro, who lost him for $25,000 here last fall and re-claimed the old pro for just $6,250 at Gulfstream on Aug. 29.

Souper Jackpot showed much promise at 2, winning his maiden at second asking at Churchill Downs before finishing a game second after contesting the pace in the one-mile Smooth Air Stakes in his juvenile finale. Souper Jackpot, a son of Ghostzapper, has not started since launching his 3-year-old campaign by finishing fifth after setting a contested pace in the one-mile Jerome at Aqueduct on New Year’s Day.

Delta Bluesman and Souper Jackpot figure to receive their sternest challenge from Allurstra, second under similar conditions three weeks earlier, and Vincero, who seeks to rebound from a dull performance vs. much better on Oct. 26.

Zayas sidelined

Jockey Edgard Zayas is listed aboard Vincero in Saturday’s headliner. Unfortunately, the veteran will have to forgo that assignment and all other mounts for the next four weeks after suffering a broken index finger on his left hand in a riding mishap leaving the gate here Wednesday. Zayas, among four riders battling for the Gulfstream West riding title, missed the majority of the 2018-2019 Gulfstream Park Championship meet after suffering a fractured femur in a riding accident at Gulfstream on Dec. 30.

Zayas’ agent Tito Fuentes said his rider had numerous calls during the opening week of the upcoming Championship meet, including Capital D in the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes on opening day, Nov. 30.

◗ Florida Derby winner Maximum Security and two-time graded stakes winner Tax are among the 261 horses nominated to the 21st running of the $1.11 million Claiming Crown on Dec. 7 at Gulfstream Park. The list of nominees includes two defending champions, Rocket Heat and Salsa’s Return.

Maximum Security is scheduled to make his next start Dec. 7 in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.