Rich Daddy tests stakes waters in Sensitive Prince
Rich Daddy ran the race of his career last out, and his connections will get a chance to see how he stacks up against better Saturday in the $75,000 Sensitive Prince at Gulfstream Park.
The field for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up includes East Hall, a Grade 2 winner and earner of more than $800,000; Lynx, the runner-up in last year’s $500,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie; Souper Lucky, who is Grade 3-placed against 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist; and Ledokol, who was stakes-placed last out at Gulfstream.
Rich Daddy, meanwhile, owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 97.
“He ran a big race last time, and he had a big Beyer, so we considered the stakes level,” said Jose Garoffalo, who trains Rich Daddy for Winds of Change Racing Stable Corp. “The race is a chance to prove if he can run in stakes in the future.”
Sensitive Prince (race 4)
KEY CONTENDERS
Rich Daddy (Last 3 Beyers: 97-84-71)
◗ Claimed for $6,250 in May, he won that day by 11 lengths. In his most recent start, he took an optional $16,000 claiming race by 9 1/4 lengths Aug. 27 at Gulfstream. That start came at a one-turn mile, and he will stretch out around two turns Saturday.
“He likes to run from behind horses,” Garoffalo said. “I think he’ll be better with distance. I think he will love this distance.”
◗ Rich Daddy will break from post 4 under regular rider Emisael Jaramillo.
East Hall (Last 3 Beyers: 75-65-74)
◗ He was entered for the main track only in last Saturday’s The Vid on turf at Gulfstream and was scratched.
◗ East Hall is the class of the field as an earner of $821,630. He has won three stakes, including the Grade 2 Indiana Derby.
◗ Tyler Gaffalione has the mount for trainer Bill Kaplan.
Sr. Quisqueyano returning
Sr. Quisqueyano, the winner of the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic by a half-length over East Hall in January, has been freshened over the summer and is due to return to Gulfstream by early next week, said trainer Peter Walder.
◗ Entries for the Gulfstream Park Raise Your Game Handicapping Challenge close this weekend. The contest is Sept. 19. For information, go to www.drf.com/tournaments, or contact Nancy Berry at (954) 457-6284.