Stablemates battle it out in Three Chopt Road
It’ll be Gold vs. Gold when stablemates Sing Praises and Hear That Tune square off as separate wagering interests Sunday in the $75,000 Three Chopt Road at Gulfstream Park.
Eight 3-year-olds are entered in the Three Chopt Road, the ninth of 11 Sunday races at the south Florida track, and much of the wagering in the seven-furlong race will focus on which of the Stanley Gold trainees will emerge best.
Gold conditions both Sing Praises and Hear That Tune for the Jacks or Better Farm of Fred Brei. Both homebred colts were sired by Hear No Evil, and while Sing Praises was more precocious and got a head-start on earnings when he won twice last year in the Florida Sire Stakes series, Sing Praises might have the better overall recent form.
A couple of go-to jockeys gave calls to Gold, with Eddie Castro riding Sing Praises from post 2 and Edgard Zayas on Hear That Tune in post 8.
First post Sunday is 1:15 p.m. Eastern, with the Three Chopt Road set for 5:41. Two allowances (races 7 and 10) also are on tap.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days before another four-day race week resumes Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Hear That Tune (Last 3 Beyers: 68-95-44)
◗ Finished less than two lengths behind Sing Praises when both were also-rans in the restricted Unbridled last month, but it’s that eye-popping 95 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in winning a July 11 allowance that makes him a very strong consideration.
Sing Praises (Last 3 Beyers: 72-64-71)
◗ Comes favorably drawn in the outside post with Zayas, who recently returned from a collarbone injury.
◗ Colt has been something of a disappointment and has been lightly raced this year, but there’s no doubting that his back class makes him viable here.
Unbridled Hero (Last 3 Beyers: 78-22-55)
◗ Of the other half-dozen in the field, this Ralph Nicks-trained colt might have the most upside, as he suddenly awoke to post a competitive Beyer in winning an Aug. 6 maiden race in his latest.