Gulfstream Park hosts six stakes races on their New Year’s Eve card highlighted by a prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup.
A field of eight line up in the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday with several players eyeing the rich prize of the Pegasus on Jan. 26. Among those is the Chilean import O’Connor, who is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Harlan’s Holiday.
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Let’s head out to Gulfstream Park for a look at the stakes action. Our very own Michael Dempsey provides his analysis and selections for today’s stakes:
Race 3 The Sugar Swirl
5 Edie Meeny Miny Mo 6-1
4 Frank’s Rockette 4-5
6 Coppelia 9-2
Edie Meeny Miny Mo bounced back from getting vanned off two back at Colonial Downs with a solid effort last out. Against non-conditioned allowance foes at Laurel Park the filly dueled for the early lead through sharp fractions and could not match strides late with the winner in a runner up finish. The third-place finisher in the race was Swayin to and Fro came back to win the Safely Kept at Laurel Park on Nov. 26. Looks as if she has the best shot of beating the imposing favorite who makes her first start since her clunker on Breeders’ Cup Day.
Race 6 The Rampart
7 Maryquitecontrary 3-1
4 Colorful Mischief 5-2
2 Allworthy 3-1
Maryquitecontrary should appreciate the added furlong here. Last out the filly stalked a moderate early pace while wide and made a good move to take over the lead and draw clear to beat handicap foes by 2 ½ lengths at even money. She has won four of her five starts with a second. She should get an honest pace to track. Colorful Mischief is better than her well beaten seventh in the Raven Run (G2) last out. Pletcher geos for his sixth win in this race. Irad picks up the call and she will appreciate the stretch out to a mile.
Race 7 The Suwanee River
10 Lady Rockstar 4-1
4 Keeper of Time 12-1
3 Bay Storm 3-1
1 Scottish Star 5-2
This race is top heavy with early speed and that should set things up nicely for lady Rockstar. She is making her first start since finishing evenly in a paceless matchmaker (G3) at Monmouth Park in July. She won her first two starts after landing in the U.S. with the Walsh barn. She should be fit and ready to go off the bench off works at Palm Meadows.
Race 8 The Mr. Prospector
7 Prevalence 9-2
3 Sibelius 3-1
8 Uncle Ernie 6-1
4 Pappacap 4-1
Prevalence came off a 5 ½ month break last out at Keeneland where he prompted the early pace and ran out of gas, weakening to finish fourth as the beaten favorite. This guy ahs done some of his best running over the main track here, four back beating optional claimers with a 99 Beyer. He showed that was not a fluke by winning the Commonwealth (G3) at Keeneland in the slop in his following start. He should move forward second off the bench for Walsh and should end up a fair price in this spot.
Race 9 The Ft. Lauderdale
7 City Man 9-2
12 Colonel Liam 8-5
8 Winfromwithin 15-1
3 Pao Alto 12-1
City Man has the best shot of beating the chalk in here. The NY bred is coming off a sharp score in the state bred Mohawk last out. He has run well in graded stakes company, winning the Forbidden Apple (G3) at the Spa back in July and running second in the Bernard Baruch ‘Cap (G3) three back. He should get a good tracking trip with the favorite has to overcome the outside post. Colonel Liam has won off the bench but draws a tough post and the Pegasus World Cup is the real target.
Race 10 The Harlan’s Holiday
2 Pioneer of Medina 6-1
1 O’Connor 8-5
4 Simplification 5-1
Pioneer of Medina stalked the early pace and finished gamely to beat second level optional claimers last out at Churchill Downs at this distance. The third-place finisher Dropping G;’s returned to beat Alw-2 foes in his next outing at Turfway Park on Dec. 21. This guy was in the mix in a couple of Derby preps early this year before getting outrun in the Run for the Roses. He looks as if he may be back on track and the 6-1 morning line looks fair enough. O’Connor looked really good winning his U.S. debut here against Alw-2 optional claimers. The runner up Octave came back to win a stake at Tampa Bay Downs in his next start. He is a G1 winner in his native Chile, with the main knock here is light price.
