Darley Stable’s 4-year-old Florentino appeared headed
toward a big season in the 3-year-old turf division last spring after finishing
third in the Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in early April and winning
the Jefferson Cup (G2) at Churchill Downs in mid-June. But the colt failed to
duplicate that form in three subsequent stakes outings for trainer Kiaran
McLaughlin.
Florentino is set to start over again in Wednesday’s
allowance feature going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Gulfstream
Park
with jockey Alan Garcia aboard in a field of seven. It will be his first start
since finishing eighth in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill on Nov. 14.
Florentino is a Japanese-bred son of Swept Overboard who broke
his maiden over the Gulfstream course last January after three main track tries
as a 2-year-old in New York
and Kentucky.
After his maiden score he finished second and first in two allowance races here
before the good effort in the Transylvania.
A definite threat in Wednesday’s race could be Earle Mack’s
7-year-old Argentine-bred Star Plus, although he will be making his first start
in more than 14 months. Star Plus finished a solid fourth in the River City
Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28, 2008 for trainer Ken McPeek. He
returns Wednesday in the care of trainer Angel Penna, Jr. with jockey Rajiv
Maragh getting the call.
Completing the field are Augustin Stable’s Auction Watch,
Jesus Castanon; Bruce Lunsford’s Valtrus, Jose Lezcano; Barry Golden and Peter
Callahan’s Sr. Henry, Kent Desormeaux; Dogwood Stable’s Slambino, Javier
Castellano; and Nelson Clemmens Lessee’s Sam P., Julien Leparoux.
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