Unstoppable U goes for red-hot trainer in route

OLDSMAR, Fla. – A small but interesting field of six, including a graded stakes winner and a veteran with 14 career victories, will go to the post in Saturday’s optional-claiming route at a mile and 40 yards.

Unstoppable U, who came off a nine-week layoff with a game victory against slightly cheaper optional-claiming foes in his last start, is most likely to be the post-time favorite for trainer Sandino Hernandez. Hernandez, who is winning at a 35 percent clip at the current meeting, claimed the 6-year-old Exchange Rate gelding for $25,000 for Amaty Racing Stables at Indiana Grand last October.

After giving Unstoppable U a little more than two months away from the races, Hernandez brought him back off a light work pattern in an optional claimer at a mile and 40 yards. The Hernandez charge raced close up from the beginning, then drove to a clear lead in the stretch before holding off the late charge of Ghost Hunter by a half-length. That rival came back to win his next start.

The win was the seventh tally for Unstoppable U, and the Amaty runner should be prompting what could be a hot pace in a field with several entrants who possess strong early speed.

One of those who figures to try for the early lead is I’m Steppin’ It Up, who last saw action in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic. While the Anthony Pecoraro charge finished last in that stakes, he did lead in the early going. He has raced with some good company that includes Palace Malice and ran third last spring in the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont.

In a race with plenty of speed, Neck ’n Neck’s late running style might give him an edge as he moves from turf to the main track for this second start of 2015. A multiple graded stakes winner, Neck ’n Neck has had a limited schedule in the past two years but has raced almost exclusively against graded-stakes-level rivals and looks to have a class edge in here.

KEY CONTENDERS

Neck ’n Neck (Last 3 Beyers: 82-88-91)

◗ He should get a good trip sitting off what shapes up as a quick and contested pace.

◗ Trainer Ian Wilkes has a 22 percent success rate when moving from turf to dirt in 2014-15.

Unstoppable U (Last 3 Beyers: 81-72-80)

◗ He has by far the best recent form and should be sitting just off a hot battle for the lead.

◗ Trainer Hernandez is on fire at this meet, and his charges have finished first or second 14 times in 26 starts at the current stand.

Tairneach (Last 3 Beyers: 73-50-85)

◗ He was flying while going shorter in his first start since August last time out.

◗ He makes his first start for the Jamie Ness barn, which has won at a 33 percent rate first time off the claim in 2014-15.