JEFF SIEGEL’S GULFSTREAM PARK BLACK BOOK

(December 9-13, 2015)

Sunday December 13 – It certainly wasn’t the strongest two-year-old filly maiden special weight race you’ll see during this meeting, but today’s seventh race probably had handicappers who backed CONQUEST DYNASTY pulling their hair out when the daughter of Court Vision missed by a diminishing nose after encountering several lengths of trouble along the way.  This was her fifth career start but her first on turf, and the Mark Casse-trained Canadian-bred filly looks to have found her preferred surface.  She was forced to take up early and then had to alter course sharply when running into a roadblock in mid-stretch; with any kind of clear trip she certainly would have won by daylight. 

Next Start:  Conquest Dynasty doesn’t have a noteworthy turn of foot – she’s more of a grinder – so we’d expect she’ll benefit from any added distance.  She’ll likely return in a similar maiden turf race after the first of the year; however, even with a clean trip she’ll probably have to improve a bit to beat what figures to be a stronger field than what she faced today.

Watch the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuYfwLNo724

Saturday, December 12 – CALI STAR had left her previous form behind in her first start since changing trainers to Marty Wolfson when she earned a career top speed figure in a five length two-turn mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park West last month.  Two exceptionally sharp half mile breezes since that race, including a (fastest-of-79) 47 2/5 seconds drill just five days ago indicated she was continuing to progress, so it was not surprising that the daughter of Street Cry produced another forward move in defeating her Wolfson-trained stablemate (and favored) BEST BEHAVIOR in today’s third race, the one-turn mile Rampart S.-G3.  It’s hard to believe that she had won just two of her first 16 starts (when trained by Alice Cohn) prior to the trainer switch.  ‘Behavior ran her race but was no match late while STIFFED finished with interest to be a distant third while never a factor.

Next race: There’s nothing at Gulfstream Park on dirt for Cali Star until the $200,000 Royal Delta S.-G2 at a mile and one-sixteenth Feb. 13 so that could be her next start.  If so, the group she’ll face in that race should be considerably tougher than this field and the 89 Beyer speed figure earned in this race will have to be improved on.  Perhaps her connections will take her on the road to find an easier spot.

Watch the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_SzzAPYBB0

The seventh race, a maiden special weight affair for juveniles over seven and one-half furlongs, offered two expensive Pletcher first-timers, KISMET’S HEELS and GIMLET, and it wasn’t difficult to believe that the winner would be one or the other.  However, URBAN BOURBON, with four prior runs, (all sprinting) and second in his last pair, managed to capitalize on a perfect ground-saving, stalking trip to earn his diploma, doing so after the red sea open for him along the fence entering the lane.  The Eddie Kenneally-trained son of City Zip, after building a four length lead at the furlong pole, survived over the Pletcher duo in a race that certainly flatters him.  Kismet’s Heels, a $900,000 two-year-old in training purchased by Tapit, walked out of the gate, settled nicely, commenced his rally very wide on the turn and kept on strongly before running out of ground.  He’s the one you want to own out of this race.  Gimlet was widest of all – and we’re talking eight or nine wide – entering the lane while producing a decent bid before running out of steam close home. 

Next Race: Urban Bourbon probably is a bet-against when he returns vs. non-winners of two next month.  He’ll never get a better trip.  Kismet’s Heels and Gimlet – assuming they both came out of the race in good order – could very well meet again in a two-turn turf maiden event in January.  Both have plenty of improvement in them, with ‘Heels the one that should really benefit greatly from added distance.

Watch the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZY67rIwNME

Wednesday, December 9 – The featured ninth race appeared to be an unusually competitive affair for a first-level allowance/optional $25,000 claimer, and with a field of 13 competing over seven and one-half furlongs the race seemed likely to be decided by trip.  That THE IMPOSTER managed to get there first despite leaving from the extreme outside post and then having little go right for him throughout a rugged journey makes his performance especially impressive.  And it’s not a coincidence that in three starts since being claimed for $35,000 by Joe Sharp in early September the son of Wilko has improved markedly.  In his first outing for Sharp in October at Belmont Park, The Imposter was beaten a neck in a solid effort while being dropped to nw-3 $25,000 claimer.  In his next start a month later at Aqueduct the grey gelding won a $50,000 nw-3 seller in brave fashion by a neck.  Now, no longer eligible to restricted claimers, The Imposter returned to the $25,000 level but in this optional claimer was clearly facing a deeper, stronger field than he had just beaten.  His victory, accomplished with a career top speed figure, gives indication that he can win again for Sharp, even if raised a notch or two.

Also worth noting is the fifth place effort by the old pro CONCERT STAGE, who was finishing fastest of all to wind up fifth, beaten two lengths after failing to secure room when launching a bid along the rail in the upper stretch.  There’s no doubt that had he gotten through, the winner of 12 career races would have been right there.

Next Start – Since joining the Sharp barn The Imposter has raced once a month, so we’ll expect to see the gelding back in the entries sometime in mid-January, perhaps vs. $35,000 open claimers.  Concert Stage has shown the ability run very well off short rest, so it would not be surprising if he returns before the end of the month, though it would have to be in an extra since no suitable race appears in the condition book.

Watch the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLelPhgxeiI