Poseiden, McKnight among undercard races

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A blockbuster race invariably is surrounded by a sensational undercard these days, and that’s certainly the case Saturday. No fewer than six undercard stakes are on tap, led by the first running of the $400,000 Poseidon, a 1 1/8-mile handicap that drew nine older horses.

Stanford (120 pounds) and Imperative (118) are the highweights and likely favorites in the Poseidon, which goes as race 5 (post, 1:30 p.m. Eastern).

The Grade 3, $200,000 W.L. McKnight (race 11, post 4:50), a longstanding turf fixture, directly precedes the Pegasus as one of the deepest wagering events of the day. Twilight Eclipse, winner of the McKnight in 2012 and 2013 when it was still run at Calder (now Gulfstream West), is among the field of 12.

“I think this McKnight would mean a lot if he were to win it again for a third time,” trainer Tom Albertrani said.

The other four stakes are the Grade 3, $200,000 La Prevoyante for fillies and mares on turf (race 10, 4:14); the $125,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (race 9, 3:38) and $125,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint (race 7, 2:33), both at five furlongs; and the Grade 3, $100,000 Hurricane Bertie for fillies and mares at seven furlongs (race 3, 12:30).