The position on the calendar marks the Gulfstream Park Derby as “the first derby of the year”. This year the Gulfstream Park Derby has a distinct “Florida” feel to it with five Sunshine State based horses entered and four new shooters entered in this 100K non-graded stakes affair.
Best Plan Yet is the most accomplished runner in the field with 2 stakes wins and over 300K in earning, the Florida Bred, drew off to an authoratative victory in his last race a dominating 5 length victory in the Florida Stallion Nominated Reality stakes. In 6 career starts Best Plan Yet has placed in 5 of 6 starts and looks for the hat trick off two-month layoff. Best Plan Yet enters fresh, and 3 stamina building workouts at Calder should have him fit off the layoff.
Gone as Wind finished 3rd in a highly rated Allowance race at one mile on December 15th and may have some upside with Smart Strike as the sire out of a Pulpit mare. Gone as Wind won his debut race at 6 furlongs at Calder and flattened out after making a menacing 3 wide move into a solid pace in his last start, entered back in two weeks and making his 3rd lifetime start, are plusses, stalking running style should have him positioned within 4 lengths most of the race, drew an inside post and figures is very usable in all vertical exotics.
Pablo Del Monte makes his first dirt start: Take a gander at his partial Brisnet past performances:
The speedy son of noted all weather and turf sire Giant’s Causeway opened his career with a pair of dominating victories on the Keeneland surface winning a maiden race by 5 lengths and then crushed an allowance field off the layoff winning by 7 lengths.
Pablo Del Monte shipped out West last race to Betfair Hollywood Park and finished a disappointing 5th place on the turf as the even money favorite. A couple of notes about that race was that new ownership purchased an interest in Pablo Del Monte and he also went into that race without a published workout in 25 days. Pablo has worked out twice on the Gulfstream surface including 5 furlongs on December 24th.
Wildcat Red enters the starting gate undefeated with three straight wins (he was disqualified in one race) over the Gulfsteam surface including a couple of races that produced high-speed figures. Wildcat Red ran his 3 races at Gulfstream Park in the newly created “weekend” summer and fall meet, so the quality of competition is hard to measure, but a dominating maiden win by 8 lengths is a positive sign and with the 1st post position he figures to be sent early and see how far the speedy son of D’wildcat can take the rest of the field.
General A Rod finished 2nd to Conquest Titan in a speedy allowance race in 2nd lifetime start. This son of Roman Ruler out of stamina influenced Dynaformer mare came from off the pace and won by 2 lengths in his career debut at Keeneland. Stamina Pedigree, competitive speed figures and “The Truth” Joel Rosario add to the appeal.
Projected Pace:A one-turn mile with a long run down the backstretch should produce an honest pace, Wildcat Red figures to lead after 4 furlongs with some possible pressure Pablo Del Monte. Grand Arrival on the class drop adds fuel to the fire.
Selections:
General A Rod, Gone as Wind, Pablo Del Monte