Stat, part of Joseph pair, falls into easier spot

A couple of key scratches are expected to change the complexion of Thursday’s $92,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park.

Kuramata, the morning-line favorite for the one-mile turf race – and a beaten favorite in his last four starts – has a foot abscess and will scratch, trainer Chad Brown said. The 8-year-old Runningwscissors also is expected to scratch, said trainer Fernando Abreu, who has won with his last three starters at the meet.

The now six-horse field, in what will go as race 5, features a pair of runners from leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. He sends out the front-running Stat, who is coming off a narrow defeat in a similar spot Dec. 2. While he was beaten a neck by Sky’s Not Falling, he did finish in front of Atone, the 2023 Pegasus Turf winner. Stat was entered in a similar spot Jan. 27 but was scratched. This race looks easier.

“He needs to have things his own way,” said Joseph, acknowledging that this horse’s best races are when he’s able to dictate terms.

Stat, who is in for the optional $62,500 claiming price, breaks from the rail under Edgard Zayas.

Joseph also sends out Ramsey Solution, an 8-year-old who makes his first start since Sept. 21, 2022. He has been effective from on and off the pace.

“It’s hard to say he’s going to win first time coming off that kind of a layoff,” Joseph said. “He carries a lot of weight. You may think he needs a run, so we’ll see.”

Sharar is another coming off a layoff. He will be making his first start for Jorge Delgado after being purchased at the Keeneland November sale for $120,000 by Leas Farm.

Sharar went winless in five starts for Todd Pletcher, finishing second and then third in a pair of marathon turf races at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland, respectively, last fall.

Sandino Hernandez Jr. is 7 for 16 at the Gulfstream meet, a record that includes a victory by Burnin Turf, who is entered here after winning Jan. 19. Burnin Turf won for $50,000 that day, but was not offered for the tag because he was coming in off a 159-day layoff. He is entered for the $62,500 on Wednesday. He projects to get an outside stalking trip under Luis Saez.

Later on Thursday’s card, a full field of 3-year-old fillies is entered in a first-level allowance/optional $75,000 claiming heat scheduled for five furlongs on Tapeta.

Pretty Liam, a daughter of Liam’s Map, took advantage of a hot early pace to win by 3 3/4 lengths at first asking for Todd Pletcher. There does look to be ample speed in this field, topped by Imaboutago who scored a front-running debut win Dec. 8 on the turf.

Demar’s Legacy, trained by Mark Casse, won this allowance condition Nov. 24 and is now in for the optional $75,000 claiming price.

Bubbly Champagne, second in her last three starts after a maiden victory in September, gets blinkers and Lasix for the first time for Jose D’Angelo, who sent out four winners last Friday at Gulfstream.