Gulfstream Park Notebook

GULFSTREAM PARK NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 28, 2005

by

Dick Powell

There's an old joke about two elderly women who go to visit a

resort in the Catskills. When they get back, they compare notes about

what they didn't like. The first one says, "The food was

terrible." And the second one says, "Yeah, and such small

portions."

Gulfstream 2005 continues to struggle along while a new facility is

being constructed. I have no doubt that when it opens in 2006 it will be

spectacular. But for now, the racing has been weak and there's hasn't been enough of it.

It was only a few years ago that Gulfstream ran six days a week with

most race days having at least 10 races and usually at least 11 on

weekends. Now, they are running four days a week in January with 10 races a day. In February and March, Gulfstream is scheduled to run

six days a week, but you would think that they would have beefed up

the racing in January and try to gain some momentum while they

worked out the issues due to the reconstruction.

Any concerns that the horsemen in South Florida had about the new

main track and turf course were answered the first week with glowing

reviews. Yet, we have been dished up more cheap races than

expected and even with good weather, week 3 left me flat.

Week 3 saw fast and firm every day, but the main track played

much slower than it did in week 1. The turf course still yields some

unbelievably fast times but has been playing fair with all running styles

seeming to have an equal chance.

One source of frustration is the lack of information on where the

temporary rail has been set up on the turf course. None of the charts I

have seen indicate where the rail has been placed and even the

Gulfstream Park overnight does not list it. The only way is to watch the

simulcast broadcast when they announce the day's changes or

various web sites that have changes listed.

For the record, the rail was set at 60 feet during the first week,

for week 2 the rail was set at 48 feet and

for week 3 the rail was set at 72 feet.

The only graded stake of week three was the First Lady H. (G3), a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. The betting public

sent off SAVORTHETIME (Gilded Time) as the 17-10 favorite despite

coming off a 57-day layoff and no success in graded stakes company.

Behind her in the wagering was Ebony Breeze (Belong to Me) who

won the Endine H. (G3) last summer at Delaware Park for

owner/breeder Kinsman Stable (George Steinbrenner III).

Cologny (Go for Gin) gunned to the front and opened up a two-length lead through a quarter of

:22.38 and a half in :44.87. John

Velazquez had Savorthetime chasing the early pace while down

on the inside then pulled out to take dead aim at Cologny. The two

hard-knocking mares dueled to the sixteenth pole where Cologny

gave way and Savorthetime went on to a 2 1/2-length victory. Her

final time of 1:09.21 was terrific considering how slow the Gulfstream

Park main track has been playing.

The maiden star of the week was ARCH ENEMY (Arch) who made her

career debut in Saturday's 4TH race. A $230,000 two-year-old in-training

purchase last February and the most expensive of eight juveniles by

her sire, she was touted as the international good thing after a

sensational :58 1/5 five-furlong workout at Gulfstream on January 10

for trainer Steve Klesaris.

The public made her the 7-10 odds-on favorite and she didn't

disappoint when Edgar Prado gunned her to the front and she

outsprinted her 10 rivals going into the turn with a first quarter of

:22.41. She maintained that margin to the top of the stretch and held all

her rivals at bay winning by just under two lengths over a fast-closing

Golden Locket (Storm Creek) who got up for second at 56-1. For

people who like to wheel favorites, the exacta came back $89.80.

Arch Enemy's final time of 1:11.03 was very good and we'll see if the race

office can get a first-level allowance sprint to fill for three-year-old

fillies.

Todd Pletcher had three winners for the week giving him nine for the

first three weeks. Amazingly, two of the three were ridden by Chris

DeCarlo.

Edgar Prado had four winners and has 12 wins after three weeks - two

more than John Velazquez and three more than Eibar Coa. Prado has

been riding just about everything - cheap claimers and all, but I think

that is a positive. With Jerry Bailey talking about retirement in the near

future, Prado and agent Bob Frieze look like they are going to make a

major effort to try to fill the void but rather than just ride the Rolls

Royces of the world, they are also going to pile up wins.

Horses to Watch

Thursday (1/20)

1ST -- KUTENAI (Quiet American) dropped down to maiden claimers

for the first time but wound up being used hard trying to stay ahead of

the horses to his outside. Watch for him against this class level going

two turns.

5TH -- MYSTICAL TIME (Count the Time) was away slowly and then

was forced to rally out on the worst part of the racetrack.

7TH -- KEG TAP (Pleasant Tap) made his career debut going two

turns on the turf from post 11 and ran well to be third.

Friday (1/21)

1ST -- SPIDER JOE (Yes It's True) pressed the pace on the

outside and faltered late behind others who saved ground.

4TH -- T V HUNTER (Hunting Hard) had a sneaky bad trip when the

two outside of him broke well and he was forced to duel between

horses.

6TH -- SILVER MOOSE (Concorde's Tune) showed high speed

in his turf debut before weakening late and should be fit for a return to

the main track.

Saturday (1/22)

2ND -- PRIVAT GOLD (Arg) (Rudy's Fantasy) lost all chance when he

broke in the air at the start then was rushed up to try to press the pace

for his entry-mate.

4TH -- WILLFUL ABANDON (Unbridled's Song) was tightened

up going into the turn by the eventual winner and lost all chance.

Graham Motion debut runners always improve with a race under their

belt so she should be tough next time out.

5TH -- VECCHIA CITA (Chi) (Winning) dropped back to last early then

rallied hard to get third. He should love the one-turn mile races here

against high-level claimers.

8TH -- MOGADOR (Danzig) flew home for second going nine

furlongs despite being stuck behind very slow fractions.

Sunday (1/23)

2ND -- LAKES TUNE (Concorde's Tune) held well for second in

her career debut for Linda Rice who only wins 9 percent first out, but

she'll have to come back against maiden claimers.

3RD -- GOLDEN MAN (Suave Prospect) loomed boldly at the top of

the stretch but was no match for the odds-on favorite. He still held on

for second and has won going two turns so watch for him to stretch

out.

6RD -- BLUEGRASS BREEZE (Artax) broke a step slow from post

1 and was forced to rush up to the lead. He battled on gamely for

second and was much better than the rest of the field.