Savoy Stomp will try to rebound in Wednesday one-mile feature
It may or may not become one of those races that draws scrutiny as the Kentucky Derby chase unfolds, but that’s the baseline potential of any given allowance race every winter at Gulfstream Park.
The Wednesday feature at the south Florida track is a $37,000, first-level allowance with a $75,000 claiming option, to be run at the testing distance of a one-turn mile, and the connections of some of the starters might be justified in believing that their 2-year-old might eventually become a stakes-caliber 3-year-old.
Savoy Stomp, a maiden winner in September at Belmont Park for Todd Pletcher, and Frammento, a maiden winner at Keeneland in October for Nick Zito, are among the more viable prospects among 11 colts and geldings in the ninth of 10 Wednesday races.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Savoy Stomp. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 19-8-1-2 with a $3.17 ROI over the past five years with juveniles in routes at Gulfstream Park with Javier Castellano aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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First post Wednesday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 4:27. One other first-level optional claimer (race 8) comes a half-hour earlier, with a sizable field of 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
KEY CONTENDERS
Savoy Stomp (Beyers: 55-76)
◗ It would not be unreasonable to blame the mud and the abrupt hike in class for his no-show effort in the Grade 2 Nashua last out. He does draw the tricky rail post, but assuming he rebounds with a more representative try, jockey Javier Castellano should be able to work out a decent trip.
Bluegrass Singer (Last 3 Beyers: 83-64-76)
◗ This gray gelding earned a field-high 83 Beyer Speed Figure with a solid showing in an ungraded sprint stakes across town at Gulfstream Park West, and Orlando Bocachica should have him forwardly placed when stretching back out to a mile for Marcus Vitali, who continues to enjoy his best season in 25 years of training.
Frammento (Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-66)
◗ His Keeneland triumph around two turns was absolutely done the right way, and he followed that with a respectable fourth in a tough two-turn optional claimer at Churchill Downs in his lone subsequent attempt. Now, he shows three nice recent works, including back-to-back bullets, since being sent south by his Hall of Fame trainer.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Frammento. Trainer Nick Zito is 10-2-1-0 with a $6.34 ROI over the past five years in routes at Gulfstream Park with juveniles. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Glenville Gardens (Last 3 Beyers: 67-61-50)
◗ Aside from being the lone stakes winner in this field when making full use of the race conditions (“never won two”), this Melnyk homebred is an unknown quantity, having made all three prior starts over Polytrack at his home base of Woodbine. Trainer Josie Carroll shows outstanding percentages in all categories that apply here.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Glenville Gardens. Trainer Josie Carroll is 9-3-1-2 with a $4.53 ROI over the past five years going synthetic to dirt in routes with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Dukin’ With Dale (Last 3 Beyers: 56-80-66)
◗ Like a few other contenders in here, this cleverly named son of Indian Charlie was a last-out disappointment after a career-best effort. Derby-winning trainer John Servis will slap on some blinkers while sending the colt on a stretch-out.