Gulfstream Park Notebook

GULFSTREAM PARK NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 21

by Dick Powell 

The bad-luck streak that this year's Gulfstream meet has had continued on

Friday when heavy rains and the threat of severe thunderstorms forced the

cancellation of the last four races. On Saturday, we got a chance to see how the

apparently-deep main track would play if wet and the running times were

dramatically slower than what we saw the first week.

Once again, the best racing took place in the maiden and first-level

allowance ranks. On Thursday, Mark Hennig sent out PLEASANT CHIMES (Pleasant

Tap) to a sharp one-length victory in a maiden race going seven furlongs despite

breaking from post 12. Considering that the Mark Hennig/Pleasant Tap combination

is not known for its first out prowess, this filly must have tons of natural

ability.

On Saturday's sloppy track, Hennig came right back with second-time starter

GIANT WRECKER (Giant's Causeway). After showing little in his career debut at

Aqueduct, the Gulfstream bettors let him off at nearly 10-1 with the Pat Byrne

trainee Wild About Jon (Wild Again) at 2-1 and looking like the controlling

speed.

Hennig added blinkers for the first time and Joe Bravo was able to get Giant

Wrecker away from the gate in good order chasing the pace while down on the

inside. When Wild About Jon began to tire turning for home, Giant Wrecker

rallied on the inside and drew away to a handy 2 3/4-length win while covering

the nine furlongs in 1:52.62.

Later on Saturday in the 8TH race, Todd Pletcher sent out HARLINGTON

(Unbridled), a colt out of the great racemare Serena's Song (Rahy). He won his

career debut back at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile on a sloppy track then

caught slop again on Saturday when he was able to settle off the pace and draw

off to an easy three-length win covering the nine furlongs in 1:51.13. The $2.8

million yearling purchase has shown in both career starts that he finishes his

races with authority and with his stout pedigree he should be showing up in a

stakes race going two turns real soon.

On Sunday, Pletcher continued on with a trio of winners; all ridden by John

Velazquez. In the 2ND race, Pletcher sent out first time starter PASSING STAR

(Cape Canaveral) to a game neck win over Song of the Saints (Saint Ballado)

going six furlongs in 1:12.41. A $160,000 yearling purchase by Overbrook Farm,

he broke a bit slow but showed terrific acceleration when Velazquez put the

pedal down and whether he was out of gas or not, he showed gameness in holding

on.

In the 6TH race, MONARCH LANE (Maria's Mon) drew in from the also-eligible

list and dominated a good group of maidens going seven furlongs in 1:25.11. Like

the others, this one came into the race off a series of five-furlong works up at

Palm Meadows and went off as the 5-2 favorite. He stalked the early pace set by

Spanish Mission (Coronado's Quest) and swooped by the field four wide on the far

turn en route to an easy win. It was the second impressive three-year-old performance

from a Maria's Mon foal at the meet.

In the nightcap on Sunday, Pletcher sent out MADDALENA (Good and Tough) to an

easy 6 3/4-length win over first-level allowance foes going six furlongs in a

quick 1:10.57. A romping winner in her career debut last April at Churchill, the

$425,000 two-year-old in training purchase from last February will have trouble

finding another allowance race to fill and stakes company going short should be

on her immediate agenda.

Pletcher looks loaded again for 2005 - male or female, short or long. What

else is new.

The other highlight on Sunday's card was the return to the races of the

enigmatic EDDINGTON (Unbridled). A winner of the Calder Derby (G3) in his turf

debut last October, he's always been highly-regarded but a bit of a

disappointment with a string of solid but unsuccessful races against top horses.

On Sunday, Eibar Coa got him to relax early and chased a very slow pace of

48.57 and 1:13.04 for six furlongs. When he asked him the question the answer

was sudden as Eddington exploded to a nearly nine-length win going the nine

furlongs in 1:49.93, culminating a good week of racing for Hennig.

On Monday, Pletcher showed he wasn't through with his parade of winners when

he sent out second time starter YES YES YES (Yes It's True) to a nearly

10-length maiden win going six furlongs in 1:11.34. The starting gate up at Palm

Meadows must be sizzling since all the Pletcher trainees have come from there

and smoked their opposition right from the start.

One thing to note is that Bobby Frankel has scratched many horses the first

two weeks and looks like he must have some sort of sickness going through his

barn. Until they show they can overcome the training and racing interruptions,

it might make sense to avoid the Frankel barn until proven otherwise.

Horses to Watch

Thursday (1/13)

Race 1 -- MY SWEET SAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint) was a game second in her career

debut despite a bad start and a rough stretch trip that resulted in her

disqualification. Dave Braddy only wins 11 percent first time out so expect

improvement next time.

Race 2 -- CALLSEVEN (Family Calling) may have been too sharp with blinkers

added and he went too fast too early. Don't ignore if they turn back in class and

distance.

Race 6 -- PASSIONATE DANCER (Cat Thief) improved some when Lasix was added

for the first time and we would like to see him go two turns.

Race 8 -- ONLY IN PHILLY (Polish Numbers) returned off a brief freshening

with a good effort despite being stuck behind horses for much of the run down

the backstretch.

Friday (1/14)

Race 4 -- MULLIGAN (Worldly Manner) lost all chance when he broke a step slow

from post 1 and then wound up chasing the early pace.

Saturday (1/15)

Race 5 -- SHY HARBOR (Boston Harbor) hit the gate at the start then raced

wide on the first turn in his two-turn debut on a sloppy track.

Race 7 -- PENNANT CONTENDER (Unbridled) couldn't overcome a bad post and a

stumbling start going nine furlongs on a sloppy track.

Sunday (1/16)

Race 2 -- SONG OF THE SAINTS (Saint Ballado) was a good second in her career

debut for Rusty Arnold, who only wins 5 percent first time out, so improvement

should come next time.

Race 4 -- ROYAL SANCTION (Royal Academy) rallied from dead last to get third

in her course debut. She's bred for turf top and bottom but how often will they

write a race for maiden claimers on the turf?

Race 6 -- SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup) was a rallying fourth in her career

debut for Bill Mott who rarely has them cranked up first time out despite the

fast gate workouts.

Race 10 -- FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman) lost all chance to set the pace when

she had early traffic problems but still ran well to the wire.

Monday (1/17)

Race 5 -- LADY IN PINSTRIPES (Yankee Victor) showed good speed in her first

start in two months when Frank Brothers added Lasix and blinkers. She'll be

tough next out if she draws outside.

Race 7 -- WAR PLAN (Fusaichi Pegasus) was out-sprinted for the lead from post

1 but still held on well. Look for Kiaran McLaughlin to stretch him out next

time.