Proud Man Stakes looks loaded with speed
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There appears to be a good amount of speed in the $65,000 Proud Man on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, and if the fractions match the summer heat the race could set up for Divieto, Bentornato, or Northshore Drive.
The Proud Man, which is for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, leads a card that includes the $60,000 Wasted Tears for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.
The field of eight for the Proud Man includes Reaper, who won the Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows on the front end July 8; Keep On Coming, who wired his rivals in his debut May 6 at Gulfstream; and Gentle Breeze, who led at every call en route to a more than 12-length debut win over the local strip June 25.
“On paper, it looks like there could be a lot of pace, which would be in Northshore Drive’s favor,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “But sometimes when it looks that way, it doesn’t materialize.”
Northshore Drive rallied for a neck win in a maiden special weight over 5 1/2 furlongs on June 17 at Gulfstream. The effort came in his third career start. Northshore Drive will break from the rail under Edwin Gonzalez.
“He just needs more distance – this will help him even more,” Nicks said of the move to six furlongs. “I don’t like the post draw. It is what it is. He does have experience on his side. And who knows how the race will set up. So many of them won on the lead.”
Divieto could go favored following his debut win in which he rallied for a 4 1/2-length victory over maiden special weight rivals July 21 at Gulfstream. The Beyer Speed Figure of 74 that he earned is the best career number in the Proud Man.
Bentornato closed from six lengths back to win his debut in a maiden special weight July 1 at Gulfstream. He’s been flattered since that start. The runner-up, Proud Man entrant Big Effect, came back to win a maiden special weight at Gulfstream, and the third-place finisher, Dewy’s Beast, returned to romp by 12 lengths at the same level at Colonial Downs.
Gentle Breeze brings the flashiest form into the Proud Man. His double-digit debut win came against $25,000 maiden-claiming rivals, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 60 that he earned stacks up favorably Saturday.
“He was pretty impressive – obviously with a different type of group,” Nicks said. “He caught a sloppy track, got away clean, and never had pressure. It’s a big step forward for him, going in this type of race off a maiden $25,000.
“He’s been getting smarter all along. He was a little anxious. As time goes by, he’s learning to relax, continuing to get better.”
Gulfstream leading rider Leonel Reyes has the mount from post 2.
◗ The Wasted Tears field of eight includes Midnight Bella, who is seeking to win the 11th race of her career. Alternate Rock, who was second in the $75,000 Martha Washington on Tapeta earlier in the meet, takes on older rivals for the first time Saturday.
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