Quijote a standout if ready

Having proven competitive with the likes of X Y Jet and Recruiting Ready already this year, Quijote should be in for a cakewalk Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

Problem is, the 6-year-old gelding hasn’t raced in more than four months, and he’ll be facing capable opposition when the $48,000 feature is run at 6 1/2 furlongs and amid fading daylight at the South Florida track.

A 23-1 winner of the Sunshine Millions Sprint – a Jan. 19 race in which he earned an eye-catching 103 Beyer Speed Figure while the huge favorite X Y Jet faded to fourth – Quijote then was a creditable runner-up behind Recruiting Ready in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Sprint in early March.

Quijote then finished last in a restricted stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on March 31, after which trainer Georgina Baxter gave him a brief respite. Since mid-June, the Midwest Thoroughbreds color-bearer has been sent through seven workouts at Gulfstream, three of them earning bullets.

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If Quijote isn’t quite ready for his best when he breaks from post 3 under Emisael Jaramillo, an upset could come from any of a handful of rivals in a field of six seasoned sprinters, most notably Soldollie, Field Trip, or Hard Belle.

The feature is the 11th of 12 races and the last of three allowances on a program that begins at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. The two others, each with a $47,000 purse, go as races 5 and 7. The feature is part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 7-12), which had a carryover jackpot of nearly $500,000 when racing began Friday.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days before another four-day week begins Thursday. The next stakes is the $100,000 Benny the Bull on Aug. 24.

KEY CONTENDERS

Quijote, by Pomeroy

Last 3 Beyers: 65-97-103

◗ The Florida-bred owns proven class, having won seven races and more than $330,000 prior to this season.

Soldollie, by Soldat

Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-64

◗ One of the likely pacesetters from his rail post, this 4-year-old has won two of four starts since being claimed last summer by trainer Aubrey Maragh.

Field Trip, by Field Commission

Last 3 Beyers: 80-97-70

◗ First or second in eight of his last 12 starts, this 5-year-old has become one of the more reliable upper-level sprinters on this circuit.

Hard Belle, by Hard Spun

Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-51

◗ The lone 3-year-old in the lineup, he is unbeaten in two starts since being claimed in mid-May by the Imaginary Stables.