Trophy Chaser the standout in allowance feature

There is some rain in the weather forecast for the Miami area this weekend. The more the better for Trophy Chaser, who freaked the only time he ran over a sloppy track, which came in his second start as a 2-year-old. He is no one-trick pony, though. Rain or shine, he looks like a serious player in a conditioned allowance race at Gulfstream Park West on Sunday.

The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up has a $40,000 claiming option, but none of the eight horses entered are in for the price. It goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

Trophy Chaser is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx and returns to Florida, where he has won 2 of 4 starts and was beaten a neck in his losses, all at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Juan Avila, Trophy Chaser lost his juvenile debut by a neck before winning a maiden special weight by 15 3/4 lengths. He received a 96 Beyer for his romp in the slop.

After finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park and second to Improbable in the $100,000 Street Sense at Churchill Downs Nov. 2 he was turned out for the year.

In his first 3-year-old start, he held the lead at the eighth pole before giving way late to lose by a neck in the one-mile $100,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream on Jan. 5. Another layoff ensued, and he came back a winner going seven furlongs in a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream on Aug. 30.

He will appreciate the class relief after running against a tough field in the Gallant Bob and could be sitting on a peak performance in the third start of his form cycle.

Trophy Chaser will break from post 5 with Emisael Jaramillo up. Jaramillo was aboard for his win two back.

KEY CONTENDERS

Trophy Chaser, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 81-97-90

◗ His race in the Mucho Macho Man looks even better when you consider Code of Honor, 4-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finished fourth.

This guy has class and can sprint, and with three sharp interim works Avila appears to have him primed for a huge effort.

Zenden, by Fed Biz

Last 3 Beyers: 75-88-84

◗ He has been away since he finished eighth in the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland on April 13, but he is making his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher, who can have them ready to roll coming off any kind of layoff.

◗ He is perfect at the distance, and in his only other sprint he was the runner-up going seven furlongs in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream on Feb. 2.

◗ He has speed but can stalk, which will come in handy considering he drew the rail. Edgard Zayas is up.

Cool Arrow, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 82-82-93

◗ A two-time stakes winner with $439,815 in earnings, he figures to move forward in his second start for new trainer Terri Pompay following a runner-up finish going seven furlongs in a conditioned allowance race at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 3.