Plenty of changes for Social Inclusion’s return
Social Inclusion created a stir last winter at Gulfstream Park, where he won the first two starts of his career, including an allowance over Honor Code for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 110. On Sunday, Social Inclusion returns to the site of that defining performance for an optional $62,500 claiming race at a mile that serves as his first out since July.
Social Inclusion will have something of a new look. He’s making his first start for trainer Chad Brown after launching his career with trainer Manny Azpurua, and he will be ridden for the first time by Jose Lezcano. Social Inclusion also will be back on Lasix after racing without the diuretic in his last start, and he will shed blinkers, equipment he’s worn since a 7 1/2-length maiden special weight score at Gulfstream in his debut last February.
Social Inclusion last raced in the Haskell Invitational on July 27 at Monmouth Park. He finished seventh, emerged with a tendon injury, and has been prepping for his return at Palm Meadows in Florida.
“He’s doing really well, and we’re excited to get him started,” Brown said. “Any time you’re dealing with a soft-tissue injury such as a tendon, it’s a delicate process bringing them back, and this horse has cooperated beautifully.”
Owned by Rontos Racing, Social Inclusion is part of a six-horse field that includes multiple stakes winner Decisive Moment.
Race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Social Inclusion (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-92)
◗ Following his allowance win at Gulfstream last March, he ran third in the Wood Memorial, Preakness, and Woody Stephens Stakes.
◗ Social Inclusion shows a series of five-furlong moves for his return for Brown, who wins at a 26 percent rate with horses returning off layoffs of 180 or more days, according to DRF Formulator.
“I feel like we’ve done our job as best we can getting him ready,” said Brown. “He’s going into the race 100 percent healthy, and all of us at the barn are really anxious to see him run.”
◗ Brown said there were a couple of reasons to remove blinkers.
“He’s been relaxed in the morning without them,” he said. “And the way this horse has been training, he strikes me as a distance horse, which is why I’m starting him out at a mile. Right now, I’m planning on running him from a mile to a mile and one-eighth.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Social Inclusion. Trainer Chad Brown is 21-10-1-3 with a $2.41 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Decisive Moment (Last 3 Beyers: 80-86-83)
◗ He is returning to dirt, over which he has five wins, after finishing fifth in a turf allowance April 3 at Gulfstream.
– additional reporting by Mike Welsch
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Big Looie. Trainer Jorge Navarro is 20-10-5-2 with a $2.38 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes with last-out winners in the first start following a claim. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan