Happy Holidays horse racing fans. Over the Holiday weekend enjoy a great Saturday, December 26, stakes competition from across the country. Gulfstream Park kicks off the stakes races with an 11 race card that includes 3 Stakes Races with the arrival back of Sole Volante after his 11th place finish in the Kentucky Derby in September.
Race 8 @ Gulfstream Tropical Park Derby
1 1/16 Miles on the Turf
Sole Volante making his comeback off his disappointing run in the Kentucky Derby and his 6th place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He will be trying the Turf for the 1st time in his career in the Gulfstream Tropical Derby. Connections feel Sole Volante may take to the Turf really well and wont hurt to try something new after struggling in his last 2 starts. He will definitely fave tough competition in this race with horses that have been very successful on the Turf.
Todd Pletcher is sending out a 3 year old son of Liams Map, Colonel Liam who is 4-2-0-1 lifetime with past races on the Turf. His last race was the Saratoga Derby where he finished 4th where he he bumped hard at the gate and couldn't rally. Colonel Liam posted some big Equibase Speed Figures in his last 2 starts and looks to be a favorite in the Tropical Park Derby.
Another contender coming in here would be 1 of 4 Mike Makers trainees, Fancy Liquor. The son of Lookin at Lucky has finished 1st or 2nd in his last 3 starts, with the biggest being the American Turf Sprint where he finished 1st and posted a 101 Speed Figure. With a loaded field of 10 probable runners, it looks to be a great race for the card. With the race being on Turf it could be anyones to win.
Image by Equibase