Repeat of last would put Morning Stride in winner's circle for Richard Henry Lee Starter Stakes

Morning Stride paid $22 for his 4 1/4-length win going 1 1/2 miles on the Gulfstream Park turf course in the $45,000 Home of the Brave starter handicap on July 19. He figures to be a considerably shorter price when he cuts back to 1 3/16 miles in the $50,000 Richard Henry Lee Starter Stakes on Sunday at Gulfstream.

Restricted to horses that have started for a claiming price, the Richard Henry Lee goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at noon Eastern.

Acting on behalf of 4RH Racing Stable, trainer Monica McGoey claimed Morning Stride, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Morning Line, for $12,500 on June 13. Morning Stride took a small step forward in his first start for McGoey when he finished third going 1 1/8 miles on turf in a $12,000 starter race with a $16,000 claiming option on June 28 at Gulfstream. His Beyer Speed Figure jumped from a 73 to an 82 in that race, and then to a career-best 92 for his impressive performance in the Home of the Brave.

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He may have won the Home of the Brave by a larger margin if he did not have to wait for room on the stretch turn. With Hector Berrios riding him for the first time, he appeared to be full of run but was stuck behind horses. When a seam opened coming out of the turn he exploded.

Morning Stride is clearly trending in positive direction for McGoey and should be fine with the cutback in distance.

He will break from post 3 with Berrios retaining the mount.

Max K. O., trained by Edward Plesa Jr., should appreciate shortening up in distance from the Home of the Brave. He had the lead early in the Home of the Brave but dropped back and was sitting comfortably in second when Renaisance Frolic posted a quick half-mile time of 48.23 seconds. He engaged Renaisance Frolic at the six-furlong mark and came up empty after dueling through the stretch turn and finished fifth.

Max K. O. drew post 2 for the Richard Henry Lee and could be the one they have to run down. He is capable of stalking and may sit off Sharm El Sheikh, who also has speed but may be a bit suspect at the distance.

The late-running Rijeka won’t mind if Max K.O. and Sharm El Sheik hook up early.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., he came from last to finish second in the Home of the Brave. Rijeka was good enough to finish fourth in the Grade 3 La Jolla at Del Mar last year and could be sitting on a big effort in his second start following a layoff.

Rijeka also is reunited with jockey Victor Lebron, who rode him to victory going 1 1/2 miles on turf in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option March 20 at Gulfstream.