OLDSMAR, Fla. – The featured second race Friday at Tampa Bay Downs is likely to produce starters for the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes on Feb. 11, but War Correspondent has his sights set on an even bigger prize scheduled for the same day. A good effort in Friday’s no-conditions, $27,500 allowance likely would propel him to the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, a race in which he finished third in 2015. War Correspondent turned in one of his best performances in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, rallying to lose by just one length to Mshawish and earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure that is tied for his career high. Last year, he ran in the $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes instead and finished eighth as the favorite. Trainer Christophe Clement said War Correspondent could get another crack at the Tampa Bay Stakes but probably will go in the $350,000 Gulfstream race instead. “I’m not sure, but most likely the Gulfstream Park race,” Clement said. “The race came up tougher than expected at Tampa, but the turf course is so good over there, and it’s a great prep race. It’s a nice way to see where we are and give him an easier race than he’s had lately on a great turf course. I’m delighted with the way he’s trained.” Friday’s race, which includes an optional $100,000 claiming condition, covers 1 1/16 miles on the turf course, just like the Tampa Bay Stakes, and drew a field of six. Race 2 KEY CONTENDERS War Correspondent, by War Front Last 3 Beyers: 95-89-98 ◗ This Grade 3 stakes winner most recently finished a creditable fourth after encountering traffic trouble in upper stretch of the Grade 3 Tropical Park Handicap at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 26. It was his sixth consecutive graded stakes. “He was a bit unlucky last time,” Clement said. “He came out the race in good order.” Eirigh, by More Than Ready Last 3 Beyers: 96-101-88 ◗ He has been training solidly for his first start since November 2015, with four bullet workouts at Palm Beach Downs since Nov. 28. “He’s training well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “[He] looks like a quality horse. I have been looking for a place to get him started. The horse has some class and quality. Hopefully, he’s fit enough off the long layoff.” ◗ He will be racing as a gelding for the first time. He’s winless in four turf starts but is the only horse in the field besides War Correspondent to post a triple-digit Beyer, a 101 earned for winning a rich allowance on the old Woodbine Polytrack in October 2015. Flashy Chelsey, by Flashy Bull Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-82 ◗ He’s winless in seven starts at 1 1/16 miles on turf but almost ended that drought Dec. 3, rallying powerfully to finish second, beaten a neck by Keystoneforvictory, in the $125,000 Claiming Crown Express Stakes at Gulfstream Park. ◗ He turned in a sharp five-furlong workout in 1:01.20 here on Dec. 24, the second-fastest of 59 works at the distance that day. Coco Mon, by Monarchos Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-90 ◗ He defeated Flashy Chelsey two starts back when winning a rich optional claimer on the Churchill Downs turf, then finished a close sixth in the Grade 3 River City Handicap on Nov. 24. Note the bullet workout at Palm Meadows on Dec. 14. Bern’ James Bern, by Bernstein Last 3 Beyers: 88-83-76 ◗ Set the pace before finishing third in a high-end Keeneland turf allowance last out Oct. 19. Runner-up Western Reserve returned to win the $75,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial last month at Fair Grounds. Dubai Sky, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-91 ◗ He has lost four straight races since winning the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes on Turfway’s Polytrack in March 2015, but two of those races were graded stakes. – additional reporting by Mike Welsch