The Hunk makes stakes bow in Mr. Prospector

The Hunk extended his winning streak to four at Gulfstream Park on December

10, rolling to an easy wire-to-wire score in a six-furlong optional claiming

event, and the promising sprinter will make his stakes debut in Saturday's Grade

3, $100,000 Mr. Prospector

at the South Florida oval. Elvis Trujillo will retain

the mount on the Ben Perkins Jr.-trained colt.

A tough group of opponents will be awaiting the four-year-old.

In his last outing, The Hunk registered a career-best 100 BRIS Speed rating.

"He's improved and learned to relax more than when he was there (Gulfstream)

last winter and ran in the two allowance races (fourth and fifth)," Perkins said

Wednesday morning from New Jersey. "He's always had tremendous speed, but he was

very rank last winter and in his races at Monmouth early this summer. We'd love

to have him win a graded stakes that could make him a stud prospect."

A New Farm homebred, The Hunk is by champion sprinter Speightstown and owns a

7-4-3-0 mark at Saturday's six-furlong distance. The New Jersey-bred is a

half-brother to Grade 1 winner and successful sire Wildcat Heir.

The Hunk will face six rivals while taking a significant class hike in the

Mr. Prospector.

Trainer David Fawkes sent out 2010 Eclipse champion sprinter Big Drama to win

the Mr. Prospector by four lengths in mid-January when he ran six furlongs in

1:08 flat, and has a top contender for Saturday's renewal with Apriority, who

set a track record at Gulfstream for 6 1/2 furlongs in early March winning an

allowance race by 4 ½ lengths. Jockey Luis Saez picks up the mount.

Capt. Candyman Can is certain to attract strong support with two stakes

victories in three starts over the Gulfstream track. Jockey Calvin Borel will be

aboard the son of Candy Ride for trainer Ian Wilkes as the five-year-old gelding

makes his first appearance since finishing third in the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes

at Churchill Downs on June 4.

Indiano made his first two North American starts at Gulfstream early this

year, finishing second in an allowance race to Escort and second to Travelin Man

in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes. After reeling off three straight tallies at Calder

over the summer, including the Grade 2 Carry Back Stakes, he finished third last

out in the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx on September 24. The Marty

Wolfson pupil will receive a rider switch to Javier Castellano.

Completing the field for the Mr. Prospector are Zero Rate Policy, Immortal

Eyes and Nathan's H Q.

Zero Rate Policy won the Sunshine State Stakes on December 4 for trainer

Terri Pompay, although against a lesser field. Immortal Eyes has five wins and

three seconds in his last eight starts for trainer Jimmy Toner. Nathan's H Q

just missed when second by a half-length in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight last out

at Aqueduct on November 24 for trainer Clyde Martin.