Tatanka may get a much easier trip than last time

A cutback in distance and the possible shape of the race gives Tatanka an excellent chance of getting back to his winning ways Thursday at Gulfstream Park. But the seven-time winner is no cinch in a highly competitive $25,000 starter race that includes a $35,000 claiming option.

The one-mile turf event goes as the second of eight races.

Trained by Michael Maker, Tatanka is coming off a fourth-place finish going a sixteenth of a mile farther at the same level April 7. With Edgard Zayas aboard for the first time, Tatanka’s goose was cooked after he forced Smithwick’s Spice through a half mile in a blistering 45.19 seconds.

A Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents, Tatanka held on reasonably well to finish fourth while the favorite, Smithwick’s Spice, faded to seventh. There does not appear to be as much speed in this eight-horse field, and Tatanka could be tough to run down if he breaks alertly from post 7. Zayas retains the mount.

In the same April 7 race, the Jose D’Angelo-trained Space Launch took advantage of the hot pace to edge Runningwscissors by three-quarters of a length. With Miguel Vazquez aboard, Space Launch had one horse beat at the half-mile call. He made his presence known on the stretch turn and, after slipping through along the rail, outdueled Runningwscissors to the wire.

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The consistent 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bernardini has compiled a 4-4-6 record from 20 starts. Since arriving at Gulfstream last winter, Space Launch has won twice. His worst outing in five starts was a fourth-place finish in a $35,000 starter/$50,000 optional-claiming race on Feb. 22.

He did have a dream trip in his latest victory, and he will be saving ground early after breaking from the inside post with Vasquez up. It remains to be seen if he will be able to make up as much ground and get the same kind of break turning for home as he did last time.

Novol Sol, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., will appreciate the class relief following a fifth-place finish in a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option won by Grade 1 winner Far Bridge on March 31. Ridden by Paco Lopez, Novo Sol stalked a moderate pace in the 1 1/16-mile race on turf but couldn’t keep up when it mattered while facing much tougher competition than he meets Thursday.

The 7-year-old Brazilian-bred was in the mix early in his victory in a $50,000 conditioned claiming race in his previous start Feb. 17 and could get the same kind of trip here.

He breaks from post 4 with Teshawn Hazelwood riding.

The Jack Sisterson-trained Napoleonic War had a rough trip while finishing sixth in a $35,000 starter/$50,000 optional claimer April 21. Napoleonic War, who is Grade 2-placed, is dropping to a new low and could be dangerous from a stalking position.

Eyes On Target, who faded after being close to the fast pace in Space Launch’s victory, is capable of winning if he shows up with his best stuff.

Luca Panici rides for trainer Sandino Hernandez.

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