Sabian seems to have discovered a knack for turf later in his career and trainer Victor Barboza Jr. hopes to take advantage in the eighth race at Gulfstream Park on Friday, a first-level statebred allowance at five furlongs. The 5-year-old gelding will break from the far outside post in the field of nine. “He has a strong chance because he ran very well in his first time on turf,” Barboza said. “The position is good, he has experience [toward the outside]. I think it’s a good option.” After going on the shelf as a 3-year-old and missing more than a year, Sabian finally returned in January and made his first start for Barboza in a $17,500 claiming race on synthetic. The resurgent Florida-bred won the race with a steady stalking trip, but he was disqualified to third for bumping one of his rivals. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. In his second start back on March 8, Barboza had no intention on losing him to a claim and entered him against statebred rivals in a first-level allowance. It was his turf debut and an obvious test, but the gelding handled the five-furlong sprint remarkably well, earning a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure in a close runner-up finish from post 6. “We were waiting for that race, the allowance with the right horses,” Barboza said. “It’s been good racing for him. The last race was a really good performance.” With a preferable post position and more familiarity with the turf, Sabian should be a strong contender in a similarly competitive sprint Friday. Only two horses in the field have a victory on grass, and Sabian could earn favoritism over both of them as he looks for his first score on the surface. Barboza also entered the 4-year-old gelding Coffee at K J’s, who will try turf for the first time after 10 straight starts on synthetic. The stablemates are owned by Vicente Stella Stables and Barboza said he considered Sabian the stronger contender of the pair. “Coffee’s in very good condition, but Sabian is the horse with much better action now,” Barboza said. Fear earned considerable hype in the local juvenile ranks last year, but the 3-year-old gelding has not yet lived up to those lofty expectations. He entered Carlos David’s barn in late February and improved second time out for his new trainer, winning a $25,000 claiming race on synthetic with a 75 Beyer on April 12. He earned his maiden victory on turf last August. Cajun Gold, a 4-year-old gelding trained by Heather Smullen, finished fourth behind Sabian in March, flattening late in his first start against winners. He earned his maiden victory on turf in gate-to-wire fashion in February and could have another chance at the early lead this time. Last-out maiden winners Night and Gray Astray will both switch from synthetic to turf after similarly decisive victories last time out. Night has some class and experience, having won a $55,000 maiden special weight on Tapeta after three prior starts on the grass. Gray Astray will try the surface for the first time after winning a $25,000 maiden-claiming race in February. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.