One Step Salsa looks to rebound in Friday feature
One Step Salsa won his first three starts before finishing sixth in a second-level allowance at Keeneland on Oct. 8. It is a race that is easy to toss out, however. He was unruly in the starting gate and then broke a step slowly in the one-mile turf race.
One Step Salsa will try to get back on track in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park West on Friday. Not including Aces for John – entered for the main track only – the 7 1/2-furlong race on turf attracted 11 horses and appears to be wide open.
Trained by Mike Maker, One Step Salsa was involved right from the start in his last two wins, and he certainly was taken out of his game when he got off to a poor start in his most recent race. But he didn’t give up, and despite getting fanned eight wide on the stretch turn, he lost by only 3 1/2 lengths.
With a better beginning, he should be in the mix early after breaking from post 5 with Rafael Hernandez aboard.
Four-time stakes winner Yes I’m Lucky is looking for his first victory since he came from a stalking position to win the $75,000 Mr. Light at Gulfstream Park in April 2014. Yes I’m Lucky, trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., finished fifth in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Saratoga in his most recent start Aug. 15. He was impeded in deep stretch in the one-mile race on turf and was moved up to fourth.
Yes I’m Lucky and One Step Salsa have speed but are versatile, so it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds.
KEY CONTENDERS
One Step Salsa (Last 3 Beyers: 77-81-84)
◗ The lightly raced 4-year-old has yet to run a bad race, and Maker is on fire at the meet, with a 4-3-2 record from 13 starters.
Yes I’m Lucky (Last 3 Beyers: 79-82-66)
◗ The class of the race, he hasn’t been showing the kind of speed that he used to win three stakes as a juvenile in 2013. He did break sharply in his last start, however, and could be dangerous with a more aggressive ride by Tyler Gaffalione.
C. Zee (Last 3 Beyers: 82-76-76)
◗ Trained by Stanley Gold, he is a Grade 3 winner on dirt and could be a handful if he can handle running on grass for the first time.
◗ He becomes a heavy favorite if the race is moved to the main track.