Bandini back in action at Gulfstream on Wednesday

Bandini back in action Wednesday

Last year's Blue Grass S. (G1) winner BANDINI (Fusaichi

Pegasus), sidelined since surgery after his 19th-place

finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), returns to action in

Wednesday's 9TH and featured race at Gulfstream Park. The

one-mile allowance/optional claiming event has drawn a

stakes-quality field of nine, including another Grade 1

winner in SILVER WAGON (Wagon Limit).

Bandini first burst into prominence last winter at

Gulfstream as a promising sophomore. After a decisive maiden

victory, the Todd Pletcher colt destroyed an allowance field

by nine lengths. In his stakes debut, he finished a

fast-closing second in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2), beaten

a diminishing three-quarters of a length by subsequent

Florida Derby (G1) winner High Fly. Then it was on to

Kentucky, where he romped to a six-length victory over High

Limit (Maria's Mon) in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Following his disappointing effort in the Kentucky Derby, a

bone chip was discovered, which necessitated surgery and a

long layoff. Bandini has been working steadily at Palm

Meadows since mid-December and will be reunited with jockey

John Velazquez when breaking from post 3.

The Ralph Ziadie-trained Silver Wagon is exiting a third

in the Kenny Noe Jr. H. at Calder Race Course in December.

Although he has not tasted Grade 1 success since his

juvenile score in the Hopeful S. (G1), the five-year-old

gray retains plenty of ability, finishing a respectfully

distant second to Ghostzapper in last year's Metropolitan

Mile (G1) and third in the Forego S. (G1). Drawn just to the

inside of Bandini in post 2, Silver Wagon gets the services

of Cornelio Velasquez.

There are several other stakes-class entrants that

deserve mention.

Last year's Mineshaft H. (G3) winner, the lightly raced

WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold), recently returned from a

lengthy spell for conditioner Nick Zito and came in a solid

second in an optional claimer at this course and distance.

Rafael Bejarano will ride the five-year-old, who will jump

from post 5.

Another sparingly campaigned five-year-old, RECORD BUSTER

(Alphabet Soup), will race for the first time since August.

On a tear when capturing three straight at Belmont last

spring, the gelding set a wickedly fast pace in the Suburban

H. (G1), his stakes debut, before tiring badly to check in

last of eight. Javier Castellano takes the call for Brian

Lynch, who is Bobby Frankel's deputy.

DARK CHEETAH (Storm Cat), coming off a photo-finish score

in a six-furlong allowance, represents the Richard Dutrow

Jr. barn. The four-year-old was stakes-placed in Ireland

last season when in the care of horseman Aidan O'Brien.

Edgar Prado will be in the saddle.