Stanford will get distance test in Islamorada Handicap
Whereas the Thursday card at Gulfstream Park didn’t offer so much as one allowance race, Friday is tilted in the opposite direction: a $60,000 handicap and three allowances are part of an alluring 11-race program at the south Florida track.
Because of its short field, the $60,000 Islamorada Handicap is carded early in the day as the third race. Two lightly raced Todd Pletcher colts, Stanford and Materiality, are among the top contenders in a field of six 3-year-olds set to go 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
Stanford, a sharp winner of a six-furlong optional claimer here Feb. 8, has been assigned the high weight of 121 pounds in the Islamorada. Javier Castellano has a return call for Pletcher.
The three allowances are all part of a Rainbow 6 sequence (races 6-11) that would be the true highlight of the afternoon, assuming a burgeoning jackpot was not swept when racing resumed here Thursday; the carryover from last weekend was $437,934. Those allowances are carded as races 6, 9, and 10.
First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stanford (Last 3 Beyers: 92-59-55)
◗ This son of Malibu Moon is a deserving highweight (on a scale ranging from 121 to 115 pounds) after returning from a six-month layoff with a terrific effort. Clearly, the 1 1/8-mile distance begs a question, especially considering that he has just the single race under his belt, but the distance is a hurdle for the opposition, too.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: In 2014-15, Pletcher shows outstanding numbers that apply to this situation, including a $3.46 return on investment with second-timers following a lengthy layoff and a $2.38 ROI with horses stretching out.
Materiality (Beyer: 88)
◗ If he wasn’t so far behind his more-advanced stablemates in racing experience, maybe this son of Afleet Alex would be included in Kentucky Derby discussions focusing on the Pletcher armada. As it is, he would do well to clear this level after having had just the one impressive start almost eight weeks ago in the Gulfstream slop.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Materiality. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 40-21-5-0 with a $2.83 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt in the second career start following a winning debut. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Tradesman (Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-72)
◗ This Godolphin homebred is actually still a maiden after having finished first in a one-turn mile here Jan. 8, only to be disqualified for stretch interference, portending a luckless meet for the usually proficient Tom Albertrani stable. Still, his running style, favorable post, and consistent Beyer Speed Figures suggest he could seriously contend here, especially if the favorites get leg-weary.
Quimet (Last 3 Beyers: 85-61-47)
◗ This Lucky Shamrock homebred gave another heavily favored Pletcher 3-year-old, Madefromlucky, a fairly good tussle in a first-level optional claimer here Feb. 4, earning easily a career-high Beyer while becoming the only horse in this field to have raced at 1 1/8 miles so far.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Quimet. Trainer Nick Zito is 26-8-2-3 with a $3.43 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes at Gulfstream Park in the third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Lucky Delfino. Trainer Jose Garoffalo is 24-0-4-3 over the past five years adding blinkers in dirt races. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan