Souper Tuscan looks to rebound from excuse-filled effort
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Souper Tuscan had enough excuses in his last start that bettors may want to give him another chance in Sunday’s second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claiming feature at Gulfstream Park.
Souper Tuscan finished third in a four-horse field in this same condition going seven furlongs here Jan. 25.
Souper Tuscan came out of that race with a case of the thumps, an electrolyte imbalance, according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Second, Joseph said the seven-furlong distance of that race is “probably stretching him a little bit.” Lastly, Souper Tuscan raced along the rail, which was the worst part of the track at that point in time of the meet.
Sunday’s race, which drew a field of eight, is run at 6 1/2 furlongs. Souper Tuscan is drawn in post 7.
“He should move forward from that race,” Joseph said. “He should have a very good chance. Six and a half is about as far as he wants to go.”
Trainer Bill Mott sends out the pair of American Monarch and Billal. American Monarch is seeking his first win in two years. He finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length by Jack’s Promise, in a second-level allowance/optional claimer on Dec. 24. Jack’s Promise came back to win the Gulfstream Park Sprint here Feb. 21 with a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Souper Quest, last in that Dec. 24 race, came back to win an allowance/optional claimer on turf here Feb. 7.
Billal, who is 0 for 5 since his last win in September 2024, was last in the same race in which Souper Tuscan finished third.
Rookie Card returns from a near five-month layoff for trainer Danny Gargan. Rookie Card won a Florida-bred allowance last February in his lone start at Gulfstream Park.
Naughty Rascal, a stakes winner at Gulfstream in 2024 for Tampa-based trainer Gerald Bennett; Tennessee Lamb, the Grade 3 Ben Ali winner last April for Rusty Arnold; and Pure Class complete the field.
Earlier on Sunday’s card is a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles. Thunder Chuck, a son of Good Magic, has faced some talented runners in three stakes tries going one turn. He finished last of four behind Ewing in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special last August, was second to Hammond in the Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream in November, and was third behind Commandment in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes on Jan. 3. Commandment was the likely favorite for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.
Day One Starter, second in an allowance at Tampa in his 3-year-old debut, will get blinkers for the first time. The son of Upstart has been firing bullets in the morning at the Payson Park training center for trainer Shug McGaughey, who entered the weekend a surprising 0 for 31 at this meet though he’s had 14 horses finish in the money.
Timeless Victory, trained by Eddie Plesa, finished third behind Nearly in a seven-furlong allowance Jan. 2. Nearly came back to win the Grade 3 Holy Bull.
Tripp’s Promise, sixth in the Mucho Macho Man, Hawk, Sure to Appeal, and Sir Newtons Laws complete the field.
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