R Limo Joe looks to bounce back in sprint

R Limo Joe looked like a shadow of his former self in his April 16 comeback from a long layoff, and it will be interesting to see how bettors treat the third-time starter in the seventh race on Friday’s Kentucky Oaks Day card at Gulfstream Park.

R Limo Joe is one of eight entered in one of two first-level allowance races, the highest-class fare on a 10-race card with a first post of 12:55 p.m. Eastern. R Limo Joe’s race is restricted to Florida-breds, also open to $12,500 claimers, and carded at six furlongs on dirt.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, R Limo Joe debuted Dec. 19, 2014, and won a Florida-bred maiden special weight sprint far stronger than par, with his talented stablemate J S Bach second and a subsequent next-start winner, Cool Walkin Man, third. But after that auspicious beginning, which yielded a 97 Beyer Speed Figure – crickets. R Limo Joe didn’t race again until last month, and considering the popularity of his trainer and the manner of victory in his lone start, his 2-1 odds suggested R Limo Joe was dead on the board.

And he ran that way. R Limo Joe had brief early speed but failed to make the lead and steadily faded to finish seventh of nine. Getting to the front might be key for this son of Kantharos, who went wire to wire in his debut, and he figures to be hustled hard to the front by jockey Edgard Zayas after breaking from post 1.

But there’s speed to the outside, with Minute Madness and Good Genes perhaps just as fast as R Limo Joe. Handicappers forecasting a taxing duel might look to Niconellie, who showed ample ability in five previous starts but will be tasked with winning his first start since September.

Race 9 is an open, first-level allowance carded for seven furlongs on dirt. It drew nine entrants and looks highly contentious, with outside-drawn Avast Matey, who turns back from a route for trainer Ralph Nicks, perhaps rating a narrow edge.

Race 3 is for 2-year-old maidens at 4 1/2 furlongs, and keep an eye on Cabinette. The Discreetly Mine filly is trained by Dane Kobiskie and will be ridden by Jocelyn Gomez, the duo that won the last 2-year-old maiden special at Gulfstream with the sharp I Shod the Sheriff.