Past-classers look evenly matched in Thursday feature
Johnny Handsome and Russian Greek have a few handicapping points in common heading into Thursday’s featured eighth race at Gulfstream Park. Both older horses won derbies at the age of 3, both exit key races, and both own the field’s best recent Beyer Speed Figures.
The feature Thursday is an optional $12,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. There are eight horses entered, among them Holy Highway, who is seeking his third straight win, and Rich Daddy, who was third in an optional $50,000 claiming race last out at Gulfstream.
KEY CONTENDERS
Johnny Handsome (Last 3 Beyers: 85-56-68)
◗ He will be making his first start since May 31, when he closed for a two-length win in an optional $16,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream.
◗ The runner-up from the race, Toh’s Grey Cat, came back in his next start to take a $30,000 claiming race at Gulfstream with a Beyer of 82. In addition, the fifth-place finisher from Johnny Handsome’s race, Semblence of Order, returned in his next start to take an optional $75,000 claiming race at Gulfstream with a Beyer of 76.
◗ Johnny Handsome, who is 5, won the Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds in 2013.
◗ Luca Panici has the mount for trainer Leo Gabriel Jr.
Russian Greek (Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-67)
◗ He enters Thursday’s race off a close third-place finish in a $25,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on turf July 24 at Gulfstream.
◗ Russian Greek finished in front of Hard Enough, who ran fifth and came back to take an optional $25,000 claiming race at Gulfstream in his next start. In addition, Main Man Mike, who ran seventh, returned to win a $12,500 claiming race at Gulfstream with a Beyer of 74.
◗ Russian Greek, who is 6, won the California Derby at Golden Gate in 2012.
◗ Russian Greek’s dam, Sand Dollar, is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Cat Thief.
Handle up for Sire Stakes card
Gulfstream reported that it handled $6.2 million on its Florida Sire Stakes card from all sources last Saturday, up 35 percent from $4.6 million on the corresponding program in 2014. The 12-race card featured the first leg of the sire stakes series. Handle on the program out of state was up 36 percent, while handle in state was up 29 percent, according to Gulfstream.