Pletcher has pair in turf marathon feature

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Todd Pletcher has them surrounded in the Thursday feature at Gulfstream Park – literally.

Pletcher is bookending the 1 1/2-mile allowance with the inside horse, Shamrocket, and the outside horse, Pillar Mountain, in what shapes up as a deep field of 11 older turf runners. A $51,000 purse is on offer in the ninth of 10 races.

Shamrocket is the likely favorite in the three-turn feature, given not only the presence of the ever-popular Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, but the way the 4-year-old colt has performed since Pletcher took over his training this fall. Exiting a pair of sharp efforts in Florida-bred company over the local course – a Dec. 23 last-to-first triumph and a runner-up finish in the Jan. 16 Sunshine Turf – the Donegal Racing colorbearer will break from post 1. He is still eligible for a first-level stipulation that’s part of the race conditions.

Pillar Mountain, a Team Valor import, is among five in here entered for an optional $35,000 claiming tag. A 6-year-old Irish-bred who racked up several mid-90s Beyer Speed Figures when in peak form, Pillar Mountain will have Luis Saez aboard when he makes his first start in nearly six months.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Gulfstream Park Clocker Report

With 37 wins through Sunday, Pletcher leads all trainers at the championship meet. Except for the 2018-19 meet, when the since-disgraced Jorge Navarro edged him, Pletcher has been the top trainer here every winter since 2004.

Other considerations in the Thursday feature include Focus Group (post 6, Tyler Gaffalione), who’s in for the $35,000 tag amid slumping form following 10 straight stakes starts, and the uncoupled Mike Maker pair of Bray (post 3, Jose Ortiz) and Fortuity (post 4, Edgard Zayas).

The feature is part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which spans races 5-10 and is expected to offer a guaranteed pool of about $1.25 million, assuming the jackpot is not emptied Wednesday by a solo winning ticket. The Rainbow 6 has built steadily since last being forced out Jan. 24, with the jackpot standing at $795,288 through Sunday.

Three straight starter allowances (races 6-8) also are part of the Rainbow 6 sequence. Some of these replace what might have been run this coming Monday. Gulfstream has hosted a Presidents Day card filled with starter events in recent years, but the track is dark for the holiday this year.

First post Thursday is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. After several days of rain, including a wash-out of turf racing last weekend, a drying-out period was forecast for this region Tuesday through Friday. Mostly sunny skies and a high of 81 are expected for Thursday.