Rivzinthehouse looking to add to De la cerda's strong meet

HALLANDALE, Fla. – Trainer Armando De la cerda is spending his first winter at Gulfstream Park and has already made a name for himself among local bettors. He’s had considerable success competing against the country’s strongest trainer colony at the 2016-17 championship meet.

De la cerda will attempt to add to his impressive record when he sends out Rivzinthehouse as one of the favorites in Wednesday’s $48,000 main event, at five furlongs on turf under allowance and optional-claiming conditions. The race is the fourth leg of the Rainbow 6, which begins with a carryover of nearly $254,000.

De la cerda, who trains here exclusively for Midwest Thoroughbreds, enters Wednesday’s card ninth in the local standings with 14 victories, one win behind Mark Casse for eighth place. Rivzinthehouse, 6, is in his second stint in his barn, having won a starter optional claimer at Arlington Park last June, four weeks after being haltered for $30,000 by Midwest. De la cerda lost the horse that day but got him back when Midwest reclaimed him for $25,000 last summer at Saratoga.

Rivzinthehouse has started twice at this meet, finishing fourth on both occasions, including in the Claiming Crown Canterbury on opening day. The 82 Beyer Speed Figure he earned Dec. 30 matches the highest last-start Beyer in this field.

“All his wins have been wire to wire, but he took back off the leaders in his two starts here,” De la cerda said. “He got in a little trouble and was beaten less than two lengths in his last start. Luis Saez rides him Wednesday, and I expect to see him on the lead this time.”

De la cerda said he is happy with the way his first winter in south Florida has gone.

“It’s been a good meeting,” he said. “I knew when Midwest hired me nearly a year ago I would be coming here for the winter, and at the moment, the plan is for me to stay here year-round.”

Also with an 82 Beyer last out is Lex Vegas, who did all the dirty work in similar race while making his turf debut Feb. 12, dueling on the lead before dropping a half-length decision to the red-hot Starship Thor. Although he pressed the pace throughout that day, Lex Vegas proved he was not a “need the lead” type when winning his career debut from off the pace over the main track here last winter.

An honest pace would enhance the chances of Zoot Suit and Space Mountain. Zoot Suit finished a wide-running fourth behind Starship Thor and Lex Vegas last month, earning a career-best 80 Beyer while continuing to improve for trainer Allen Iwinski. Space Mountain will shorten up to five furlongs off a steady diet of two-turn races, although he’s been off the board in all four tries since winning his maiden here at 7 1/2 furlongs nearly 14 months ago.

Grand Sky has been a model of consistency from a Beyer standpoint, having posted speed figures of 79 in all three of his starts at the meet, although he has been unable to finish better than fifth in any of those.