Speedmeister tries to rebound from stakes loss

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A first-level optional-claiming event for 3-year-olds during the first week in January is the kind of race everybody looks forward to at Gulfstream Park. And Friday’s headliner is certainly no exception.

The ninth race is a seven-furlong dash that attracted no shortage of exciting prospects, led by Speedmeister and Alum, who is among four members of the field to have won his only start.

Speedmeister won his debut in extremely impression fashion this fall at Keeneland, drawing off to a 4 1/2-length victory over a solid field that included Warrior’s Club, a restricted stakes winner in his next start. Speedmeister, who earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure for his maiden win, came back three weeks later in the Street Sense at Churchill Downs and finished fifth as the 2-5 favorite after setting a contested pace from along a deep rail. The race was won by McCraken, the subsequent winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club.

“His first start was pretty special,” said Speedmeister’s trainer, Mark Casse. “We rushed him back a little quicker than normal, trying to make the Jockey Club, and it just didn’t work out. That’s the disadvantage of having a horse break its maiden first time out. It’s impressive to do that, but I don’t think they learn anything. Even though he ran back in a stakes and it turned out to be a really good field, we were still very disappointed with his performance, so we just regrouped. He’s training very well for this race, and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t run very well.”

Julien Leparoux will be in his regular seat aboard Speedmeister.

Alum launched his career with a 5 1/2-length victory going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 17.

“I thought his first race was very good,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “To be honest, he exceeded expectations, but he broke well, put himself in a good spot, and won convincingly. He’s trained fine ever since, and this is the next logical step in his development. It looks like a good, competitive race. We’ll just wait and see how he handles running against other winners for the first time.”

Among those other winners are First Step, Beasley, and Union Brass – all of whom won their debuts – and the improving Classic Rock.

First Step also won across town at Gulfstream West, rallying to a three-length decision in a race restricted to statebreds. Beasley withstood a race-long pace duel to register a nose decision over a muddy track at Aqueduct in race that produced next-out runaway maiden winner Small Bear. Union Brass switches to the dirt after rallying to a one-length win going 7 1/2 furlongs over the local turf Oct. 1.

Completing the field are Tale of Silence and Lookin at Blessing, both of whom have already had graded stakes experience, My Friend, Arrrecife, and Salute with Honor.

Friday’s card also includes a $46,000, entry-level allowance race for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs. The race lured a field of seven led by Lex Vegas, Town Policy, Lookin for a Kiss, and Izzy the Warrior.