Rogue Victory seeks clear run

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer George Weaver thinks Rogue Victory would have won his last start if he hadn't gotten shut off while rallying near midstretch in his 3-year-old finale. While that opinion might be biased, it also could be well worth heeding when handicapping Wednesday's $42,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park. It is carded for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf.

Rogue Victory got shut off badly while seemingly full of run against entry-level allowance competition at Aqueduct on Nov. 23. The son of Victory Gallop finished sixth, nearly six lengths behind the winner.

"He got stopped cold," said Weaver. "Otherwise I believe he'd have gotten there. I like the way he's been training since that race. Hopefully he'll be a little luckier on Wednesday."

Rogue Victory flashed plenty of potential last summer at Saratoga, where he finished second despite a poor start in a well-graded maiden special weight race on the turf before returning two weeks later to win his maiden following an extended pace duel. Eibar Coa picks up the mount Wednesday.

Weaver has gotten off to a hot start this year, winning with the first three horses he sent out, including a pair during opening weekend at Gulfstream. His other victory came in New York.

A clean trip will be necessary if Rogue Victory is to beat a good field that includes likely favorites Radical Sabbatical and Les Antiques.

Radical Sabbatical turns back in distance after tiring to finish fifth after setting the pace to midstretch going 1 1/8 miles under entry-level allowance conditions in his 3-year-old finale. The Harlan's Holiday colt earned Beyer Speed Figures in the low 90s in both previous outings, including an easy maiden win at Belmont on Oct. 4, but finished far behind Rogue Victory when the pair met as maidens last summer at the Spa.

Les Antiques showed steady improvement during a 3-year-old campaign that began with a third-place finish here in early March and ended with a hard-fought maiden win at nine furlongs at Belmont on June 28. Les Antiques has been training steadily for his return with trainer Christophe Clement at Payson Park and will be equipped with blinkers for the first time on Wednesday.

Edge of a Shadow comes off a pair of midpriced conditioned claiming victories at Calder and finished second in 3 of 5 starts over the local course last winter.