Hal’s Hope kicks off 2009 Gulfstream Park meet
January 2, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Trainers
The highly anticipated 2009 Gulfstream Park meet begins on Saturday with a wide open renewal of the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Handicap.
Former Louisiana Downs racing secretary Doug Bredar takes over that same post at the Gulf. He did a great job for us last year, and look for more of the same in Florida. Good luck Doug!
The Hal’s Hope will be run at a flat mile around one turn, and early/pressing types from middle to outer posts dominated at this distance last year. Bribon (5-1) fell too far back in the Cigar Mile (G1) last time. Alan Garcia rides the versatile sort well, and expect him to be within striking range throughout.
Gulfstream Park
In the $100k Spectacular Bid (race 4) for three-year-old sprinters, You Luckie Mann figures to take the bulk of the action based on high fig Calder romp when last seen in October. Sapling (G3) hero Silent Valor returns with a bullet for Pletcher, and note that he is 2-2 on conventional dirt.
National Kid (8-1) is an interesting contender in the grassy 5th. He earned a strong late pace rating in his romping Kentucky Downs bow and hails from the profitable 21% Kent D/McPeek team.
Let’s stick with the grass theme and tab Mott returnee Celestial Comet in the 7th. He cleared his entry level at this course/distance last February, and his only two below par effort last year were in the graded ranks.
Photo Credit: Newscom
