Pletcher, Brown go toe to toe on the turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Friday feature at Gulfstream Park presents another new and interesting twist to the ever-simmering rivalry between uber-trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.

Battle of Blenheim, formerly trained by Brown and now in the Pletcher fold, will square off against Medal of Honour, a European import making his Stateside debut for Brown. They’re the principals in the 10th race, the only open allowance on an 11-race Friday card that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Battle of Blenheim, now owned by Mike Repole after being sold by Joe Allen, has been gelded ahead of his return to action in the $52,000 second-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option. Medal of Honour will be treated with the bleeder medication Lasix for the first time after being assimilated into the Brown program following 15 overseas starts.

The 1 1/16-mile turf race has 16 entrants but only 12 can run. Seven are entered for the optional tag.

Pletcher and Brown, both based primarily in New York, have accounted for 10 of the last 15 Eclipse Awards for outstanding trainer.

One other allowance restricted to Florida-breds (race 5) also is on tap Friday, with the Rainbow 6 spanning races 6 to 11.

KEY CONTENDERS

Battle of Blenheim, by War Front

Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-84

◗ With the sizzling-hot Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the call, this 5-year-old has been sent through eight works at Palm Beach Downs ahead of his first start since a fourth-place finish in a similar allowance last June on the Belmont Stakes undercard for Brown.

Medal of Honour, by Lope de Vega

◗ Javier Castellano has the mount on the British-bred 4-year-old, who has had 12 workouts since early November after having raced in Ireland last fall.

◗ Brown shows positive ROI statistics in a couple of categories that apply here – first time with the trainer ($2.33) and 61-180 day layoffs ($2.11).

Siding Spring, by Warrior’s Reward

Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-63

◗ A two-back victory for these same conditions on Jan. 6 makes this Mark Casse-trained gelding a viable alternative as he stretches back out from a slightly shorter race with Jose Ortiz taking over.

Dr. Edgar, by Lookin At Lucky

Last 3 Beyers: 70-95-92

◗ One of two entries in here for Barclay Tagg (with Im the Captain Now), he was the beaten favorite in the Jan. 6 race won by Siding Spring after dominating his prior start by five lengths.