Vees Boy adds blinkers for optional-claiming route

Vees Boy is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a $16,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park West on Wednesday. However, he could have his hands full with the multiple stakes winner Russian Greek, who is coming into the race off a sharp effort in his first start following a layoff just short of three months.

They are the standouts in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that drew six horses and goes as race 7.

Vees Boy, trained by Todd Pletcher, is eligible for the first-level allowance conditions of the race. In his most recent race, he finished third on a sloppy track in a one-mile, $16,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 30. In his two previous starts, he was an easy winner of a one-mile maiden special weight race at Monmouth Park on June 12 before finishing fourth as the odds-on favorite in a $50,000 optional-claiming race there July 16.

Excluding his debut, he has been close to the early pace in all of his races, and with blinkers going on for the first time, there is a good chance he will be mixing it up with Russian Greek soon after he breaks from post 4 with Edgard Zayas riding.

Russian Greek, trained by Efren Loza Jr., has used his good speed to win eight races for earnings of $252,062. In his most recent start Sept. 23, the 2014 California Derby winner won the duel with Chepstow but couldn’t hold off Cheech Thunder, who rallied from last in a one-mile, $10,000 starter allowance/optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park.

Cheech Thunder came back a week later to finish second in a $16,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream and in his last eight starts has six wins and two runner-up finishes.

Russian Greek was coming off a fourth-place finish in a one-mile turf race at Gulfstream on June 26.

He will break from post 5 with apprentice Lane Luzzi retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Russian Creek, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 77-65-72

◗ He figures to take a big step forward in his second start back and showed an affinity for this surface when he romped by 7 3/4 lengths going 1 1/16 miles in a $12,000 optional-claiming race last year.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Since 2013, Loza has a 35 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.

Vees Boy, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 77-65-83

◗ He rebounded with a solid effort after a dull performance as the heavy favorite and could be dangerous with the blinkers going on.