Remaster goes longer in second start following layoff

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – An Irish-bred gelding named Remaster was supposed to return to the United Kingdom when Wesley Ward made his annual trek to the Royal Ascot meet last June, but no dice.

“He was one of Bob Edwards’ early picks to go with me overseas,” said Ward, referring to the founder of eFive Racing Thoroughbreds. “But he came out of his first race with an issue that required some time off, so he didn’t make the trip.”

It’s not Royal Ascot, but Remaster still figures to get some quality time in the spotlight at Gulfstream Park on Friday, the day before the Pegasus World Cup. The 3-year-old son of Kodiac will be stretching out to 7 1/2 furlongs over the turf when he makes his third start in the first of two allowances (race 6) on a 10-race program.

“He’s a pretty easy-going dude and relaxes nice, so I’m thinking the two turns will be even better than the five furlongs were for him,” said Ward. “So we’re going to give it a go.”

Remaster sped to a 3 1/4-length romp versus maidens in his May 26 debut, kindling hopes of an overseas journey. Duly rested and regrouped, he then finished second on opening weekend of the Gulfstream championship meet in another five-furlong race, this one for the same type of first-level condition that governs the Friday co-feature.

Jose Ortiz has the call on Remaster, who will break from post 3 and faces five other 3-year-olds for a $51,000 purse. His top challengers include Frosted Rose (post 1, Edgard Zayas), a late-running gray making his first start since being gelded; King Theo (post 4, John Velazquez), coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy; and Monforte (post 6, Jairo Rendon), who earlier this month ran the opposition off their feet in capturing a starter allowance on the turf in his first start off a Ruben Gracida claim.

The second allowance of the day (race 8), also a first-level turf race with a $51,000 purse, is for 3-year-old fillies going five furlongs. Ward and eFive have a top contender for this one, too, in Miss Lucy, another Irish-bred by Kodiac. She’ll have Velazquez aboard as part of a well-matched field of eight.

First post Friday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with both allowances being links in a 20-cent Rainbow 6 that spans races 5-10 and was expected to offer a $4 million pool guarantee. Gulfstream has announced a forceout of the entire pool for Sunday.

Cloudy skies and a high of 78 are in the Friday forecast.