Mr. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s
4-year-old Munnings, ranked among the nation’s leading 3-year-old sprinters
last year with victories in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Saratoga and Tom
Fool Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park, is set to make his 2010 debut as the likely
favorite in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on
Saturday.
The Mr. Prospector is among five stakes worth a total of
$475,000 to be run on the first ever Gulfstream Sprint Showcase card. Regular
jockey John R. Velazquez will be aboard Munnings for trainer Todd Pletcher as
he makes his first start since finishing third in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) over
a ‘sloppy’ track at Belmont
on Oct. 3.
A chestnut colt by Pletcher-trained Eclipse champion
sprinter Speightstown, Munnings was tried once around two turns last season and
finished a respectable third behind Rachel Alexandra and Summer Bird in the
Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth
Park
in early August after defeating older horses in the Tom Fool.
Munnings faces eight rival older horses in the six-furlong
Mr. Prospector with Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farm’s 4-year-old Custom for
Carlos certain to attract his share of support with jockey Julien Leparoux in
the saddle for trainer Eddie Kenneally. He is making his first appearance since
a sharp 3 ¼ lengths victory in the Bet On Sunshine Handicap at Churchill Downs
on Nov. 21.
A son of More Than Ready, Custom for Carlos made the first
three starts of his career here early last year, including a respectable third-place
finish in the Swale Stakes (G2) in late March with trouble early in the race as
established stars Big Drama and This Ones for Phil battled to the wire in track
record time.
Custom for Carlos later went on to win the Jersey Shore
Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park by 6 ¼ lengths in early July and finish a game
second by a nose in the Gallant Bob Handicap at Philadelphia Park on Oct. 10
prior to the Bet On Sunshine.
Completing the field for the Mr. Prospector are Darley
Stable’s Past the Point, Timothy O’Toole’s Gentleman James, Kevin Bogart and
partners’ Peace Chant, Winning Move Stable and partners’ Starforaday, Susan
Moore’s Presto Change O and Rose Family Stable’s uncoupled entry of Prince
Joshua and Make Me Zach.
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