Saraguaro cranked up for 2017 debut
If Saraguaro runs as well as he has been working, he is going to be a handful when he returns to the races in a $16,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park on Friday. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as race 8 on a nine-race card which begins at 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Saraguaro will be making his first start since Nov. 12, when he finished third in the $100,000 Millions Classic Preview, won by Grade 3 winner Mr. Jordan.
A two-time stakes winner with $224,314 in earnings, Saraguaro has been tearing up the track while preparing for his return. He earned a bullet for his five-furlong work in 58.60 seconds on July 23, and he was probably telling us something when he worked a best-of-the-day half-mile in a rapid 45.80 seconds over a wet-fast track last Sunday.
“I usually don’t crank them up this much when I bring horses back from this kind of layoff,” said Joseph. “But it’s been difficult finding a race for him, so I’ve trained him a little harder. He’s ready.”
Joseph said the reason for the layoff was twofold.
“He did have a minor injury, but we were planning on giving him the winter off anyway,” he said. “He’s not a Grade 2 horse or anything like that, and the winter meet is pretty tough.”
Saraguaro is getting substantial class relief and should be in the mix early if he breaks alertly from post 2 with leading rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard.
KEY CONTENDERS
Saraguaro, by Express Tour
Last 3 Beyers: 91-72-72
◗ If he comes back as good as he left, and his workouts certainly suggest that, he is going to be tough to beat. Joseph hasn’t won with the last five horses he brought back from a layoff of 180 days or longer, but none was favored or ridden by Gaffalione, who over the past two years has won with 30 percent of his mounts from the barn.
Majesto, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 75-68-85
◗ Trained by Gustavo Delgado, he has just a single win, but he was the runner-up to Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist in the Grade 1 Florida Derby last year.
◗ He is coming off a runner-up finish going 1 1/16 miles in a $25,000 optional-claiming race July 30 and could be sitting on a peak performance in the third start of his form cycle.
◗ He will break from post 3, with Edgard Zayas retaining the mount.
Moonshine Martini, by Full Mandate
Last 3 Beyers: 66-81-80
◗ The Luis Luna trainee is a seven-time winner, and he might not have cared for the sloppy conditions in his dull effort July 14.
◗ He looked good winning a $12,500 starter optional-claiming race at a mile June 30, and a repeat of that performance puts him in the mix.