Vinnie Van Go looking tough off Barboza claim

Over the past five years, trainer Victor Barboza Jr. has a 42 percent strike rate and a $2.51 return on investment with claimed horses running back the first time. Given the strong numbers, Vinnie Van Go, a horse Barboza claimed for $16,000 on Aug. 2, is the horse to beat in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option that headlines the nine-race card Thursday at Gulfstream Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as the eighth race.

It would not be surprising if Vinnie Van Go went to another barn following the race. After all, the 4-year-old Florida-bred son of J P’s Gusto is a popular item and has changed hands in his last three starts.

He also is a very sharp horse right now, and with seven wins from 24 starts, he knows where the wire is. In his latest race, Vinnie Van Go romped in the slop for trainer Peter Walder. Ridden by Cristian Torres, he dueled through honest fractions before drawing away to win a first-level allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option for Florida-breds by 6 1/4 lengths on Aug. 2.

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It was his third win in seven starts running over wet tracks. There are storms in the Miami area, and with a 60 percent chance of thundershowers there is a good chance Vinnie Van Go will get to run over a surface on which he thrives. He will break from post 2 with Torres retaining the mount.

The main threat is Front Loaded, who is coming off an easy win on a fast track. With Edgard Zayas riding for trainer Rohan Crichton, Front Loaded came from a stalking position to beat South Sea by 5 1/2 lengths in a $30,000 conditioned claiming race on July 12. South Sea was given an 88 Beyer Figure for his next-out win at the same level on Aug. 6.

Front Loaded, a seven-time winner, also can handle a wet track. He will break from the inside post with Zayas retaining the mount.

Joe Di Baggio is a serious threat. A 4-year-old gelding by Brethren, Joe Di Baggio is trending in the right direction for trainer Carlos David, who is winning races at a 26 percent clip at the meet.

Acting on behalf of Daniel Feit, David claimed Joe Di Baggio out of a win for $8,000 on May 28. In his first start for his new connections, Joe Di Baggio rallied to win first-level allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option for Florida-breds on June 20. Finishing third in the six-furlong dash was Vinnie Van Go.

Joe Di Baggio showed surprising speed in his next start on July 19 when he dueled early before finishing third at the same level and distance as Thursday’s race. In all five of his wins, Joe Di Baggio either stalked or rallied from well back. Expect jockey Emisael Jaramillo to ease him off the pace after he breaks from post 5.