Gulfstream Park Sprint: Speed Meets Pressure at Six Furlongs
By: Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power
Saturday’s $125,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes brings together a compact but highly competitive field of eight seasoned sprinters, and the six-furlong distance over the Gulfstream Park main track should ensure a fast and tactical affair from the moment the gates open. The Sprint Stakes is carded as Race 10 of 12, with a 4:50 PM ET post time.
Let’s review the field.
With several runners preferring to race on or near the lead, the outcome may hinge less on raw speed and more on which horse can withstand early pressure and still finish strongly through the lane.
At the center of the discussion is Damon’s Mound, whose recent form and overall profile make him the horse to beat. A perfect 2 for 2 at Gulfstream, he’s the only graded winner in the race and tuned up for the Sprint with a 2 1/2 length victory in the restricted Sunshine Sprint Stakes. While several rivals possess early foot, the Bill Mott trainee has tactical speed and can sit just off the pace. Win contender.
Beeline pits the younger Riley Mott against his dad. Beeline won two of three at Gulfstream, including the 2024 Hutchenson Stakes. Since then, the 5-year-old horse has mostly struggled against optional claimers. Like most of the others in here, he does his best work on the lead. Sentimentally, I have to cheer for a Mott/Mott exacta.
Making his second start for the Jose D'Angelo barn, Wound Up, is a need-the-lead type who compiled a six-race win streak against Optional Claiming types at Santa Anita. However, he’s found the going tougher against stakes horses. In his last start, he was a distant third in the Mr. Prospector (G3), beaten 9 1/2 lengths. Wound Up could potentially improve in his second start off the layoff, as long as he avoids a speed duel. Exotics.
Rolando returns to his happy place, where he has a 6-3-1-2 record, including a victory in last year’s Hutcheson Stakes. He didn’t have much of an excuse for finishing fourth in Tampa Bay’s Pelican Stakes in his last start, although he was making his first start of the year. The Fausto Gutierrez trainee’s Brisnet ratings are generally in the low to mid 90s at Gulfstream, and while he’s another need-the-lead type, Rolando is worth a look for the Exotics.
Several runners offer intriguing underneath possibilities.
Jack’s Promise has tactical speed and can track the leaders before making a late move, a style that often proves effective when multiple speed horses engage each other early.
Great Navigator has never been out of the money going six furlongs but has been in the money only half of his ten starts here.
He could find himself in a favorable stalking spot if the early leaders begin to tire, turning for home.
Meanwhile, Con Compania, returns to sprint company after longer-distance assignments. He flopped in the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) after a wide trip, but shortens up. The far outside post position in the Sprint does him no favors and we could see a similar outcome since he has speed to his inside. Pass.
Ajaayb hasn’t seen the winner’s circle since last August at Ellis Park. He came the closest to seeing the finish line first in his last start, a optional claimer at Tampa for his new trainer, Victor Barboza, Jr., but still wound up fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Additionally, he’s winless in seven starts at Gulfstream and has won three of 12 at six furlongs. Pass.
Analysis
From a pace perspective, the Gulfstream Park Sprint looks like a drag race. The kind with cars.
Damond’s Mound has tactical speed and class.
Beeline has only won on the lead, but he showed a new dimension in his last attempt, rating in fourth before rallying to finish third in a blanket finish. He’s stepping up, but has the second-highest late-pace figure in the field.
Wound Up has dangerous California speed. 21 and change speed that he’s able to carry. No one else has consistently flashed that kind, and if Irad Ortiz, Jr. lets him run, he could be gone.
6. Damond’s Mound (7-5)
4. Beeline (12-1)
5. Wound Up (4-1)
No comments:
Post a Comment