Stallwalkin' Dude back on short rest for turf route
Stallwalkin’ Dude is wheeling back Sunday at Gulfstream Park after just having put forth a big effort last weekend in the Claiming Crown. It’s the kind of move David Jacobson is not averse to employing.
The New York-based Jacobson has run horses back in seven days or fewer 290 times in his sometimes-controversial training career, netting 66 wins (23 percent) and 53 seconds. This eight-days-later attempt suggests that Stallwalkin’ Dude exited the Dec. 6 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit in fine shape, and now all the 4-year-old gelding needs to do is go out and run his race again.
Stretching out and switching surfaces while making his fifth start in just over seven weeks, Stallwalkin’ Dude figures as the horse to catch in the lone allowance on a 10-race Sunday card at the south Florida track. An oversubscribed field was entered in a $37,000, first-level allowance with a $20,000 claiming option scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf, with Jose Caraballo taking the mount on Stallwalkin’ Dude.
First post Sunday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the eighth-race feature going at 3:58.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for only one day, with a six-day week (Dec. 16-21) starting Tuesday. Dark days for the balance of 2014 are Dec. 22, 24, 25, 29, 30.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Stallwalkin’ Dude (Last 3 Beyers: 80-100-88)
◗ He got rubber-legged down the stretch of the Rapid Transit, weaving into an opponent, which led to his disqualification from third to fourth, but the tempo in this two-turn race surely will be far less hectic. Typical of his work in most categories, Jacobson’s numbers with this kind of stretch-out are far above average.
Munjaz (Last Beyers: N/A)
◗ Some fans just won’t be able to resist this obvious wild card, given his top-notch connections (Shadwell Stable, Kiaran McLaughlin, Julien Leparoux) and the fact that he’s a promising, fresh face receiving Lasix for the first time. He’s had seven recorded workouts since late September, ending with two useful moves over the Palm Meadows turf.
King of Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 79-73-75)
◗ He was knocking on the maiden door when tried at a variety of venues before finally kicking it down at Gulfstream Park West when adding blinkers last out for Mike Trombetta, who saddled three winners Thursday at Laurel Park, where he’s battling to be the leading trainer. This Live Oak homebred seems to have plenty of upside while continuing to learn the ropes.
Blarp (Last 3 Beyers: 68-73-44)
◗ This War Front colt has a funny-sounding name that race-caller Larry Collmus enjoys accentuating, which has nothing to do with the fact that he’s an in-and-out sort who might well benefit here from careful rating from Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. He just ran a decent fifth in one of those tough full-field turf routes at the Churchill Downs fall meet.