Visually impressive Holy Bull (G3) hero
Dialed In faces four rivals in an Optional Claiming route at Gulfstream Park on Sunday.
The nine furlong event is for 3-year-olds and up also drew William's Kitten, who rallied for the show in the 2010 Holy Bull.
Dialed In made a splash in a late running Churchill debut victory last November and he was even more impressive in the Holy Bull on Jan 30. Mucho Macho Man, 4th in the Holy Bull, came back to capture the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, and show finisher Gourmet Dinner returned to land the place in last weekend's Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).
Dialed In, a three-year-old Mineshaft colt conditioned by Nick Zito and owned by Robert LaPenta, is using Sunday's race as a prep for the Florida Derby (G1) on April 3. He worked a five furlong bullet at Palm Meadows on Feb 25 and this will be his first try over a route of ground. Julien Leparoux rides.
Nick Zito desperately wanted this race to fill and also entered four-year-old Elusive Quality colt
Equestrio. The patient Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable runner is on the upswing and is bred to handle two turns. His is probably the biggest threat to his well-regarded stablemate.
William's Kitten captured the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs as a juvenile and landed the place behind Super Saver in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) later that year. His lone start as a 3-year-old was the aforementioned show finish in the Holy Bull and he blew the start in his flat mile return at Gulfstream Jan 23. The late runner does not own the same dazzling display of foot as Dialed In but can earn a minor award with an expected forward move.
Ian Wilkes sends out recent Tampa Bay Downs winner
Valerius. He has run multiple times for a tag and seems overmatched.
Reprized Halo, 9th in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, rounds out the compact field. The outsider figures to set the pace from the inside post but is very light on speed ratings.
