Quick returns sought from recent claims in turf feature
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A couple of horses coming off the claim and another haltered earlier in the meet will be among the leading contenders in Friday’s wide-open, second-level allowance feature at Gulfstream Park that carries a $62,500 claiming option. The race is carded at a mile on the turf.
McIlroy, claimed by trainer Ralph Nicks for $50,000 out of a game second-place finish in his last start, and Yari, who fetched $35,000 at the claim box just three weeks ago, will attempt to return quick dividends for their new connections when stepping up in company for the main event. Golden Rifle changed hands for $25,000 in December and actually will be getting some class relief after exiting the Silks Run Stakes in his last start.
Schoolofhardrocks has yet to see the claiming ranks, having made five of his eight career starts against graded-stakes company. He’ll compete for the first time since joining trainer Brian Lynch’s barn this winter and for the first time since finishing a tiring 10th in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita for David Hofmans six months earlier.
With Rhythm has raced only three times, all in France, winning twice, and will make his U.S. debut with trainer Christophe Clement on Friday.
Other leading players in a race loaded with speed include Shatak, Dangerous Lad, and Shock Leader.
KEY CONTENDERS
Golden Rifle (Last 3 Beyers: 88-93-93)
◗ He paired 93 Beyer Speed Figures going 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles this winter but was loose on the lead during the early stages of both of those races and is not likely to see the front so readily on the turnback to a mile.
McIlroy (Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-80)
◗ He not only defeated two of today’s rivals, Yari and Hobbs, in his last start but had his game second-place effort flattered when two of the seven rivals behind him that afternoon returned to win their next outings, including Hammers Terror, who won a $50,000 claimer with a 92 Beyer six weeks later.
Schoolofhardrocks (Last 3 Beyers: 76-85-83)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Lynch owns just a 13 percent success rate, with a $1.08 return on investment, with horses returning from layoffs of 61 to 180 days over the past five years but has won at a 24 percent mark and owns a solid $2.27 ROI with horses switched to his care for the first time during that same time frame.
With Rhythm (first U.S. start)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Clement owns a 24 percent success rate over the past five years with horses switched to his barn for the first time and a 22 percent win mark with horses getting Lasix for the first time during that same period.