Quip will run in Hal's Hope

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Quip, unraced since the Preakness last May, was scratched from the Mineshaft on Saturday at Fair Grounds and instead is being diverted to the Hal’s Hope, which will be run here Feb. 23.

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset said an unfavorable draw (post 13) for Quip in the two-turn Mineshaft was cause to wait for the Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope, which is at a one-turn-mile on the main track. Among his likely opponents are the Todd Pletcher pair of Copper Town and Prince Lucky, along with Sir Anthony, who upset the Pletcher-trained Audible here in December in the Harlan’s Holiday.

The Hal’s Hope is the focus of the Saturday program, which also will include twin turf sprints – the $75,000 Texas Glitter and $75,000 Melody of Colors.

Bourbon War limbers up

Bourbon War, a member of Daily Racing Form’s first Derby Watch Top 20 posted this week, had his third breeze since a Jan. 18 allowance victory and went an easy five furlongs here Friday in 1:02.40 over a fast track.

Bourbon War, trained by Mark Hennig, is pointing to the March 2 Fountain of Youth, which is taking shape as the deepest Kentucky Derby prep so far this winter. Other likely starters include Hidden Scroll, Maximus Mischief, Vekoma, Code of Honor, and either or both of the Kenny McPeek duo of Signalman and Harvey Wallbanger.

Jason Servis stays red hot

Trainer Jason Servis won with all three of his starters here Thursday, giving him a 13-for-19 record at Gulfstream dating to Jan. 24. Overall, into Friday, Servis was an uncanny 25 for 51 at the championship meet, which began Dec. 1.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who into this weekend was poised to overtake the suspended Luis Saez for the top spot in the jockey standings, rode all three of the short-priced Servis winners: Winning Drive ($4), Diva’s Revenge ($2.40), and A Bit of Both ($3.40).

X Y Jet in good order

X Y Jet exited his allowance victory here Wednesday in good shape, trainer Jorge Navarro said Friday, and is all set to run next in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 30.

X Y Jet earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for finishing six furlongs in 1:09.98 over a sloppy track. The gray 7-year-old gelding now has won 11 of 24 starts and nearly $1.6 million. He was a close second in the Golden Shaheen in 2016 and 2018.