Prince Lucky a clear standout in Gulfstream Mile

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s main concern when he sends out Prince Lucky in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile is if he’ll regress, or bounce, coming off a career-best effort in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope following a long layoff.

“He ran so well off the layoff, I hope he can come back with a similar performance,” Pletcher said.

Prince Lucky may not have to run as well as he did in the Hal’s Hope to win the Gulfstream Park Mile, a race where his five opponents have combined to win just two stakes races.

In the Gulfstream Park Mile, which is carded as race 4 (1 p.m. Eastern), Prince Lucky could very well be the shortest-priced favorite on the 14-race card.

Prince Lucky was sent off at 7-1 odds in the Hal’s Hope, which was his first start off an 8 1/2-month layoff. Another Pletcher runner, Copper Town, was the 2-1 second choice. Breaking from the outside post in that nine-horse field, Prince Lucky pressed a strong early pace – he was a half-length off Copper Town and Quip after a half-mile in 45 seconds – and drew off authoritatively under John Velazquez to win by six lengths. He ran a mile in 1:34.84 and earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I thought he ran super,” Pletcher said. “He had a good, favorable post that day, but he was on the bridle from the first jump and looked great.”

Pletcher said Prince Lucky needed time off following his 14-1 upset victory in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont last June. Prince Lucky is 2 for 3 since being gelded following the Sunland Derby in March 2018.

Prince Lucky has three solid breezes since the Hal’s Hope, giving Pletcher hope that a regression is not forthcoming.

“He’s trained really well, his breezes have been good, his energy level is good,” Pletcher said.

Prince Lucky will break from post 4 under Velazquez. He is the 124-pound highweight and will concede six pounds to his five rivals.

Prince Lucky figures to be on the lead or sitting second just off Guy Caballero, who breaks from the outside post under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Be Gone Daddy looks like the only horse with a chance to pull off an upset. A 4-year-old Scat Daddy gelding trained by Marcus Vitali, Be Gone Daddy has won three of his last four starts, all at Gulfstream Park. Still, he is a closer who has been aided by fast early paces in his last two starts.

Luis Saez rides from post 3.

Tale of Silence, trained by Barclay Tagg, upset the Westchester Stakes at Belmont last May, but finished 8 1/4 lengths behind Prince Lucky in the Hal’s Hope. Tale of Silence will break from the rail for the eighth time in his last 12 starts.

Jaime Mejia entered longshots Millionaire Runner (2 for 26) and All Golden (1 for 26), which essentially helped fill the race.