Re-claim of Proud American continues to pay off for Eppler
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Mary Eppler admitted she was a little surprised when somebody reached in and claimed Proud American for $8,000 out of his 2026 debut on Jan. 4. She showed little hesitation in claiming the horse right back for $12,500 just 25 days later, a decision that has continued to pay dividends all season for Eppler, who will send Proud American out as one of the favorites to win Saturday’s $54,000 allowance and optional-claiming feature at Gulfstream Park.
Proud American captured both those claiming races back in January by a combined 11 lengths and has registered two more victories and a second in four starts for Eppler since rejoining her stable following his brief absence. His two latest wins came against mid-level optional-claiming and starter-allowance opposition, the most recent at the direct expense of former stakes winner and still hard-knocking 9-year-old Mish, who he upset by three-quarters of a length going six furlongs on Sept. 4.
Mish turned the tables on Proud American when the pair met again four weeks later, holding on for a three-quarter-length victory going 5 1/2 furlongs in a race Eppler felt her horse could have won with a little cleaner trip.
“Six furlongs is more [Proud American’s] game, but I feel like if we didn’t have to come out at the sixteenth pole, if he had just stayed on the rail, he would have beaten that other horse again,” Eppler offered.
Proud American will stretch back to six furlongs Saturday, a distance at which he is undefeated in four previous starts.
“There doesn’t seem to be as much pace in this field as some of the earlier races and he’s coming back on just two weeks’ rest, but that doesn’t concern me,” Eppler said. “When he came back from his last start, he acted like he hadn’t even run. He’s doing very well coming into this race, and we’re looking forward to the winter, considering all the starter-allowance conditions he’s eligible for next year.”
As was the case in his last two starts against Mish, it is another member of the potent Saffie Joseph Jr. barn, Practically Dark, who it would appear Proud American has to beat Saturday.
Practically Dark comes into the race in top form, having won his last two starts, a pair of optional-claiming and allowance races both locally and at Colonial Downs, while posting near career-best Beyer Speed Figures of 88 and 87 for those efforts.
Practically Dark was entered under a $25,000 claiming tag here June 21 and for $50,000 in the race at Colonial. He is eligible to be claimed for $25,000 once again on Saturday.
Practically Dark, who figures to be prominent from the outset, did not show a published work on his résumé since the Aug. 1 victory at Colonial until breezing three furlongs in 36.00 seconds here Thursday.
A field of eight was entered for the main event, two of whom, Alhaeba and Consul Dorado, will be making their U.S. debuts.
Alhaeba has raced exclusively in France, where he won 2 of 12 career starts. He will make his U.S. bow for trainer Jose D’Angelo for whom he’s registered four works at Palm Meadows, including a near-bullet 47.40 from the gate on Sept. 26.
Consul Dorado had made all 15 of his starts in his native Chile and has not raced since capping off a four-race winning streak at the Hippodromo on Dec. 27.
My Mitole, Swaggish, Jalapeno, and P Four complete the field.
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