Uncle B could be hard to beat in allowance

Uncle B was coming off a layoff when he finished fourth in the $75,000 Mr. Steele on Sept. 29 at Gulfstream Park. If he takes the expected move forward, he could be a handful in a first-level allowance race that headlines Sunday’s 10-race card at Gulfstream Park West.

The one-mile race with a $35,000 claiming option drew nine horses for turf. Be Gone Daddy will start if the race is moved to the main track.

Uncle B went on a roll after trainer Lilli Kurtinecz claimed him on behalf of owner David Caprio for $16,000 on Jan. 13. He reeled off three straight wins and, after earning a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in a $16,000 starter race with a $25,000 claiming option, he ran a big race to finish third in the $75,000 Miesque’s Approval on April 28.

After just missing as the heavy favorite in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option June 7, he didn’t race until his decent effort in the Mr. Steele, which had six stakes winners in its eight-horse field.

“That was a real good race for him,” Kurtinecz said, referring to the Mr. Steele. “He was sharp and probably too close to the pace because the track was favoring closers. He didn’t have any physical problems, but he didn’t seem to like the heat, so we gave him the summer off. It did him a world of good and he came out of his last race so well I considered running him back in two weeks.”

Uncle B, who has tactical speed, should get a good trip from a forward position with Edgard Zayas retaining the mount. He will break from post 2.

If Uncle B doesn’t fire, it becomes a wide-open race.

KEY CONTENDERS

Uncle B, by Zensational
Last 3 Beyers: 85-90-92

◗ He improved dramatically for Kurtinecz, and that was a good effort in a tough spot when he came back from a lengthy layoff.

◗ The shape of the race should work for him, and it won’t hurt having Zayas, who is winning races at a 27 percent clip at the meet.

Erasmo’s Dream, by Brilliant Speed
Last 3 Beyers: 72-0-88

◗ He will appreciate the move back to his favorite distance after finishing fifth going farther than he wants in a key race at this level Sept. 21 at Gulfstream.

◗ Trained by Armando De La Cerda, he could also be sitting on a big effort in the third start of his form cycle, and he won the only time he ran over this course.

Your Only Man, by Creative Cause
Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-79

◗ The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred finished third in his debut in Ireland and has yet to run a bad race since he arrived in North America in December.

◗ He returns to Florida following three solid races in New York, including a third-place finish in a strong $25,000 claiming race at Saratoga in his last start Sept. 2.

◗ He will be making his initial start for trainer Marcus Vitali, who the past five years has a 17 percent strike rate with claimed horses running back the first time.

Son of Oahu, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-85

◗ The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred has improved substantially since being claimed for $10,000 by trainer Yvon Belsoeur on June 9.

◗ His last three Beyers, which put him in the mix in this spot, are the best in his 28-race career.