Uncle Armando drops in class, but must handle Tapeta

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Uncle Armando’s ability to handle the Tapeta course may go a long way toward deciding the outcome of Friday’s modest $31,000 feature at Gulfstream Park. The race is carded at a mile and 70 yards over the synthetic surface under mid-level starter and optional-claiming conditions.

Uncle Armando, one of only three horses in the field of 10 with multiple wins on his résumé, will be dropping in class while returning locally after finishing fourth against tougher starter-allowance foes 10 weeks earlier at Colonial Downs. Uncle Armando has made just one start on the Tapeta course, running sixth against even stronger starter-allowance competition on July 1. He has worked just four times subsequent to his previous start, and not since posting a 48.20-second half-mile clocking over the main track on Oct. 3.

Honesto and Tinker Tailer finished second and fourth, respectively, under similar conditions over the Tapeta behind the red-hot Tap Gold four weeks earlier and loom major contenders off those efforts.

Honesto overcame a poor start to finish just a half-length behind the winner while registering a career-best 77 Beyer Speed Figure, although he owns just one victory in 18 lifetime starts. Tinker Tailer set the pace, per usual, before weakening through the final furlong to finish another 2 1/4 lengths behind Honesto. He figures to show the way during the early stages once again Friday.

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Meteorito and King Nate – with three and five lifetime victories, respectively – are the only other multiple winners in the field. Meteorito stretches back out around two turns after finishing fourth going 5 1/2 furlongs in his last start, King Nate is another question mark trying the synthetic surface for the first time in his 26-race career.

O’Connor eyeing Pegasus

With the Breeders’ Cup on the horizon, it may be a little early to think about the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational here in January, but not for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who is already looking ahead to the big event with his Group 1 Chilean-bred winner O’Connor.

Making his U.S. debut going 1 1/16 miles under allowance conditions here Sunday, O’Connor rallied to a convincing six-length victory over multiple stakes winner and 3-2 favorite Octane, earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for a performance that has Joseph considering bigger and better things down the road for his latest star.

“It took him a while to acclimatize when he first came over here, although his last couple of works were as good as a horse could work,” Joseph said. “The horse has unlimited talent. I was a little concerned the race might be a little short for him, but he got the pace to run into.”

O’Connor was both a Group 1 and Group 3 winner going 1 1/4 miles earlier this year in his native Chile.

“I would say we would like to go to the Harlan’s Holiday next and then give him a shot in the Pegasus,” Joseph said. “Obviously, the Harlan’s Holiday is a big stepping-stone, but we think he’s that kind of horse. With a lot of the big guns retiring, it makes sense.”

The Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday will be decided on Dec. 31, four weeks prior to the Pegasus World Cup.

◗ Showgirl Lynne B turned in her penultimate Breeders’ Cup prep on Wednesday, going five furlongs in 1:01.71 over the Tapeta track. Showgirl Lynne B, undefeated in three starts, completed her final quarter aided by a tailwind in 23.22 under some late urging before easing up a bit prematurely on the gallop-out. Showgirl Lynne B’s first preference is the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but she also is expected to be pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies, trainer Bob Hess noted last week.

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