Sharp Azteca on edge for Gulfstream Park Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jorge Navarro said he’s never seen Sharp Azteca look or feel any better than he does coming into Saturday’s $350,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, a statement that sounds like bad news for the connections of the eight others faced with the task of catching the likely favorite in the Grade 2 fixture for older horses.

Sharp Azteca is coming off perhaps the best race of his career, a second-place finish behind Mind Your Biscuits going seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Sharp Azteca earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure for the race, his final performance at 3. He won 4 of 8 starts last year, including the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.

Edgard Zayas has ridden Sharp Azteca in eight of his nine races and will be aboard again for the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap.

“Zayas worked him the other day and said this is the best he’s ever felt him,” said Navarro. “And the horse looks amazing. I don’t know what the trip to California did to him, but it appears he got wider and bigger since coming back from out there.”

Sharp Azteca has proven to be at his best when on or near the lead, and Navarro makes no bones about what his strategy will be Saturday.

“I think a mile suits him best because the pace is a little slower than at seven-eighths, and he’s already proven he can run all day,” said Navarro. “I looked over the race, and there’s not that much speed in there other than Awesome Banner, and I don’t really know what he’s going to do. But I expect to be in front, and I got to tell you, I like our chances.”

Sharp Azteca will carry 118 pounds, two fewer than highweight Tommy Macho, who will break from the rail out of the one-mile chute. Tommy Macho also exits perhaps his best race, a 5 3/4-length triumph going a mile in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope here four weeks ago. He also won the one-mile Fred Hooper with similar ease over this track a year ago.

“He seems to like it here, he’s running well, and it appears right now he’s as good as he’s ever been,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “I love his two one-turn-mile races here. It’s a good opportunity for him.”

Pletcher also will start the lightly raced Zulu, who was second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here last winter and has started just twice since. He returned from an eight-month hiatus to win the restricted Tamarac Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 18.

Blofeld is the defending Gulfstream Park Handicap champion, having rallied to a head decision over former stablemate Stanford in this event 11 months ago. Blofeld was trained by Pletcher then and has since joined trainer Rusty Arnold’s stable.

Trainer Mark Casse will send out the uncoupled pair of Awesome Banner and Awesome Slew. Awesome Banner finished fifth, 4 1/2 lengths behind Sharp Azteca, in the Malibu.

Awesome Slew has also made a barn change since his last start, joining the Casse outfit from Eddie Plesa Jr. shortly after finishing third behind Hy Riverside following a wide trip as the 3-5 favorite in the Sunshine Millions Classic.

Completing the lineup are Realm, third last fall in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile; Squadron A, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here on New Year’s Day; and Hy Riverside, who will make his fourth start in four weeks.

Key Contenders

Sharp Azteca, by Freud

Last 3 Beyers: 106-101-90

◗ Navarro said he’s using the Gulfstream Park Handicap as a stepping-stone to the Godolphin Mile at Meydan on March 25 before moving Sharp Azteca on to his major goal for the first half of the year, the prestigious Met Mile.

Tommy Macho, by Macho Uno

Last 3 Beyers: 105-87-78

◗ His inside draw could prove a major advantage since post 1 has yielded 15 winners from just 63 starters going a mile at this meet, easily the best percentage at the distance.