Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship
Gulfstream Park, ninth race. Grade 3. Purse: $150,000. 7 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up. Post: 4:29 p.m.
LOWDOWN:
Fort Loudon, whose best races have come from off the pace, dueled for the early lead coming off a layoff in the Sunshine Millions Classic at 1 1/8 miles, then tired late but still was easily third. That race should serve as a perfect workout for this one. The Nick Zito-trained colt has run well in all three races at this distance, including a near-miss last summer in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, and the cutback from two turns to seven furlongs is a powerful angle.
TV: HRTV, NYRA Channel 71
SUWANEE RIVER
Gulfstream Park, 10th race. Grade 3. Purse: $150,000. 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares. Post: 4:59 p.m.
LOWDOWN:
Channel Lady was closer to the pace than her preferred style in the Marshua’s River at 1 1/16 miles last out, which detracted from her late kick. She made the lead in the stretch, but was caught in the closing yards making her first start in over six weeks. With that race under her belt, and today’s added distance, Channel Lady should outfinish them all.
TV: HRTV, NYRA Channel 71
DONN HANDICAP
Gulfstream Park, 11th race. Grade 1. Purse: $500,000. 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up. Post: 5:32 p.m.
LOWDOWN:
Take Charge Indy returns to the scene of his victory in last year’s Florida Derby, making his first start since finishing second, beaten just a length by Shackleford, in the Nov. 23 Clark at Churchill Downs. He has been training well for his return, and in new jockey John Velazquez has a rider who can rate him just off the other speed in the race, then get the jump on the deep closers like Flat Out and Pool Play. TV: HRTV, NYRA Channel 71
LAST WEEK: At Aqueduct, Revolutionary won the Withers paying $3.50, $3, $2.10; at Santa Anita, Flashback won the R.B. Lewis paying $3, $2.40 (no show betting); at Tampa, Dynamic Sky was second in the Sam F. Davis, beaten a neck, paying $3.20 to place, $2.40 to show.