Tizzarunner has hot barn going for him in Saturday feature

Carlos David has been among the hottest trainers at Gulfstream Park, winning nine races over the past month. On Saturday, David will attempt to add to that impressive total when he sends out Tizzarunner as one of the favorites in the afternoon’s main event, a $47,000 allowance and optional claimer carded at one mile on the turf.

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David, who served as an assistant to Jason Servis for five years before going out on his own in 2017, claimed Tizzarunner for $16,000 on March 21 and got a quick return on the investment for his owner Summer Fall Racing Group when the 7-year-old stepped up to win a $50,000 starter-allowance race five weeks later. In two subsequent tries, Tizzarunner finished a distant second behind Renaisance Frolic in a race switched from turf to a sloppy main track, and fourth just two weeks ago when returning to the grass. Both of those starts came against $100,000 optional-claiming and allowance opposition.

“He ran great for me first off the claim and at least got a piece of the pie over the sloppy track the next time behind a horse that freaked that day,” David said, referring to Renaisance Frolic. “In his last start, there was no pace once Renaisance Frolic took back and let the winner get free on an easy lead. My horse made a little run at the end and the race really didn’t take much out of him, so I can bring him back in a couple of weeks. This is not an easy spot, but he should be tough. All he needs is a fairly decent pace. There is a lot of rain in the forecast so that becomes an uncertainty. I hope the race stays on the turf, although I might still run him if it comes off as well.”

David has 35 horses in his care at Palm Meadows, a dozen of them 2-year-olds, including Con Lima, a son of Commissioner who is entered in a maiden special weight dash earlier on the card.

“I learned you just need patience and to place your horses the right way,” said David when talking about his recent run of success. “I started with just four horses, but when you win, owners notice, and I have a lot of good clients right now. This has been my home for the last three years, and Gulfstream has been very good to me, although next summer, if I have the right horses, I might think about branching out a little bit up north.”

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Tizzarunner is one of 14 horses entered in the headliner, with six of those designated for the main track only. There is rain in the forecast over the weekend.

On the turf, Battle of Blenheim figures to vie for favoritism with Tizzarunner, having won three of his last four starts, including a similar event on May 9. Battle of Blenheim was claimed that day for $25,000 and is right back in for the same price on Saturday for trainer David Braddy.

Uno Emayo is the big question mark for handicappers. He comes off a long layoff for trainer Lilli Kurtinecz. Uno Mayo went to the sidelines after posting the second of two straight victories nearly 14 months ago. He earned a fourth consecutive 89 Beyer Speed Figure that day. Uno Emayo has had six works at Palm Meadows prepping for his return, including a bullet five furlongs over the turf course in 1:01.20 last Sunday.

Main-track-only runners Plato, Like You, and Crea’s Bklyn Law each exit a victory. Like You and Plato beat straight 3-year-old competition under $40,000 and $12,500 claiming prices, respectively. Crea’s Bklyn Law defeated open $12,500 opposition while reclaimed by trainer Peter Walder that day.