Pan American looms a crapshoot

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – For six of the eight horses entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park, it has been at least eight months since they visited the winner’s circle. For the two whose victories have come more recently, they are suspect at the 1 1/2 miles of this turf race.

That should make for fun times handicapping the Pan Am, which runs as race 5 on Gulfstream’s 14-race marathon Florida Derby program.

Master Piece is one for his last 10, the win coming in the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar on July 31 when trained by Michael McCarthy. A 7-year-old Chilean-bred son of Mastercraftsman, Master Piece is winless in two starts for new trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., though he was third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here March 4.

Joseph is adding blinkers to Master Piece’s equipment, hoping that could put him over the top.

“He always runs consistent numbers but rarely does he break through and win,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, the blinkers help him with that aspect. Last time, I thought he was close enough at the top of the lane and he just didn’t finish it off.”

Jose Ortiz rides Master Piece from post 3.

Joseph also sends out Novo Sol, who finished third behind Gufo in this race last year. Novo Sol went winless the last six starts of the year and is making his first start in four months in the Pan Am.

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“I don’t know if we have him quite ready off the layoff,” Joseph said. “We’ll take a chance and see where he’s at.”

Leonel Reyes rides from post 2.

Abaan has gone woefully off form since last winter, when he won the H. Allen Jerkens and William L. McKnight and finished second in the Pan American. He’s done his best running on the front end, and he may be able to secure that early position in this eight-horse field on Saturday, though trainer Todd Pletcher said he won’t pressure Joel Rosario to get there.

“When you’re in those situations where you commit to going to the lead and someone else goes too, so either you commit or you don’t commit,” Pletcher said. “The last couple of times it went the wrong way on us. I think we’ll employ some different tactics here and let him find his way into the race and see if that works.”

Trainer Mike Maker sends out three in the Pan Am. Wicked Fast is 0 for 8 since last June and was most recently fifth in the Mac Diarmida. Therapist, an 8-year-old New York-bred gelding, is 11 for 38 but has only raced twice beyond 1 1/16 miles, getting beat twice at nine furlongs. Bay Street Money is coming off a fourth in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes on Feb. 18.

Ry’s the Guy and California Frolic complete the field.

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