Rich Daddy should get right setup
Rich Daddy is the only horse in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park West on Friday who isn’t a stakes winner. Nonetheless, the shape of the race should work for him, and he seems to be on top of his game right now. He looks as good as any in the wide-open race for 3-year-olds and up going a mile and 70 yards. The featured fifth race drew six horses.
Trained by Jose Garoffalo, Rich Daddy earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure when he romped in the slop in a $16,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream on Aug. 27. With Emisael Jaramillo aboard, he bided his time early before making a strong move to win by 9 1/4 lengths. The race came back live, with the runner-up, Old Times Sake, earning a 94 Beyer when he won a $10,000 starter race with a claiming option in his next start Oct. 10 at Gulfstream. Saraguaro, who finished third, won his next two starts, both $100,000 stakes restricted to Florida-breds. He earned a 90 Beyer in each of them, the Florida Sire Foolish Pleasure at Gulfstream and the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview at Gulfstream Park West.
Rich Daddy rallied to finish third in the $75,000 Sensitive Prince in his next race Sept. 12. With plenty of speed in the field Friday, he could get up in time if things fall his way. Jaramillo retains the mount.
My Running Mate, a multiple Grade 1 winner in Venezuela, will be making his first start in North America. Trained by Hernan Parra, he reeled off seven wins as a 3-year-old at La Rinconada Hippodrome in 2014 but hasn’t won in three starts this year and has been off since finishing third in the Grade 1 Clasico Presidente de la Republica on April 19. He does his best running late, so he won’t mind if a fast pace develops.
KEY CONTENDERS
Rich Daddy(Last 3 Beyers: 85-98-85)
◗ He could feast on what should be a fast and contested pace.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Garoffalo has a 19 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 61 to 180 days.
Bluegrass Singer(Last 3 Beyers: 69-71-85)
◗ The only 3-year-old in the field, he is a multiple stakes winner and was good enough to finish third in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream in January. Keen Ice, the only horse to defeat American Pharoah this year, finished fifth in the Holy Bull.
◗ Trained by Marcus Vitali, he should appreciate being back on the main track after finishing last on turf in the $75,000 Showing Up on Oct. 31.
◗ He likes to be involved early, as do Friday rivals I’m Steppin’ It Up, Storming Inti, and Percussion.