Robert Gerczak’s 5-year-old gelding
Action Andy and Stud El Aguila’s
4-year-old
Indiano look like the horses to beat in a field of six drawn
for Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) going six furlongs at
Gulfstream Park.
The two met three weeks ago in the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay
Downs with Action Andy the winner by 2 ¼ lengths over Indiano. But there
are several differences in play for the rematch, including the fact
that Action Andy will be the one shipping for the race from Tampa Bay
while Indiano makes the short shuttle trip from Calder.
Trainer Carlos Garcia shipped Action Andy to Gulfstream earlier
this year when he finished a dull sixth in the Sir Shackleton March 31.
"This year we shipped in the day before and he didn’t run very
well,” said Garcia. “For this trip we’ll come three days out to give him
a chance to settle in.”
Jockey John Velazquez picks up the mount on Action Andy as the
Maryland-bred son of Gators N Bears bids for a fourth straight stakes
victory after scoring in the Maryland Million Sprint and $350,000 Frank
J. DeFrancis Memorial in October at Laurel Park.
Jockey Luis Saez rides Indiano for trainer Marty Wolfson in his
second start following a four-month layoff, his second extended absence
from the races this year. “The last layoff was because of a bad lung
infection that took a lot of time to get over,” said Wolfson. “I think
he ran a very good race in Tampa considering I only had time to work him
four times before that race.”
A Kentucky-bred by Indian Charlie, Indiano is highly-consistent
when he is in action with a 16-9-4-2 record. He came to Wolfson early in
2011 after winning his first five starts in Panama and finished second
twice over the Gulfstream track, including the Swale Stakes (G2). Next
out he posted the only ‘off-the-board’ finish of his career when fifth
attempting a mile in the Derby Trial (G3) at Churchill Downs in late
April.
Indiano came back with impressive scores in the Unbridled Stakes, Carry
Back Stakes (G2) and and Eillo Stakes in the summer of 2011 at Calder.
After finishing third in the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx in late
September, Indiano ran a big race to finish third, beaten a half-length
for it all by Apriority in the Mr. Prospector here last December prior
to six months on the sidelines “when he just needed a break after a hard
campaign,” said Wolfson.
An intriguing contender in the field is Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s
4-year-old gelding
Bull Dozer, claimed for $62,500 when winning his last
start over the track and distance by two lengths on Dec. 7. The son of
Trippi had finished a good third in the Jack Dudley Sprint at Calder on
Nov. 10 and won his three previous races in starter/allowance events
there. Jockey Javier Castellano gets the call for trainer Mike Maker.
Richard Malouf and trainer Edwin Broome’s 5-year-old
Partyallnightlong
is entered to make his first start since winning the Dan Horn Stakes
going five furlongs on turf at the Meadowlands on May 5. That race was
his first since late July of 2011 when he finished fifth behind Force
Freeze in the Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth Park. Jockey Jose Lezcano
will have the mount.
Shivananda Racing’s 4-year-old gelding
Off the Jak ran a respectable
second last out behind Bernie the Maestro in the $100,000 Rapid Transit
Claiming Crown Stakes over the track on opening day, Dec. 1. The son of
With Distinction is fast and races on the pace in most of his races.
Jockey Jose Alvarez will be in the saddle for trainer Shivananda
Parbhoo.
Frank Calabrese’s 3-year-old
Dreaming of Nemo would appear to be the
outsider in the field after only three career starts, although he has
won twice. Jockey Francisco Torres rides the son of Exclusive Quality
for trainer Luis Ramirez.
Dreaming of Nemo won his career debut here in January before a dull
seventh-place try behind Politicallycorrent in a February allowance in
his second start. He didn’t run again until posting a three-length
allowance victory at Calder on Nov. 11.