Photo: MEC
Trainer Marty Wolfson appears to hold a strong hand for the $150,000
Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (G2) and $150,000 Hurricane Bertie
Stakes (G3) among five stakes to be run on Donn Handicap weekend at
Gulfstream Park, Feb. 9-10, respectively.
“I’m planning on both Swagger Jack and Indiano for the Sprint
Championship,” said Wolfson Thursday morning after Indiano breezed an
easy half-mile in 50 3/5 at Calder.
“I love the way Swagger Jack is doing right now. I’d rather the race
was a flat mile like his last two races, but he should be fine at
seven-eighths.”
Silverton Hill LLC’s 5-year-old Swagger Jack has already made four
starts at this Gulfstream meet, winning the last two in allowance races
going a mile on Dec. 29 and Jan. 17. The son of Smart Strike defeated
Ever So Lucky and Spring Hill Farm in the first and Easter Gift in the
second.
Stud El Aguila’s 5-year-old Indiano also won his last start here,
capturing the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) going six furlongs on
Dec. 29 over Off the Jak with Action Andy third. Off the Jak came back
to win the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint on Jan. 19. A Kentucky-bred
by Indian Charlie, Indiano has a 17-10-4-2 record, winning his first
five starts in Panama prior to joining the Wolfson barn.
Wolfson has a trio of fillies and mares nominated to the Hurricane
Bertie, but will “probably just go with Golden Mystery,” he said.
Farnsworth Stables’ 7-year-old Golden Mystery has made three starts at
the meet, winning the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint
on Jan. 19 over Emma’s Encore in second.
A daughter of Awesome Again with earnings of $460,000, Golden
Mystery had previously finished second to Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare
Sprint (G1) runner-up Dust and Diamonds in the Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3)
here on Dec. 8 and second to Successful Song in the Ocala Stakes on Dec.
30.
Golden Mystery is consigned to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter
Mixed sales on Mon., Feb. 11. “I wasn’t thinking of running her back in
here until I found out that Dust and Diamonds was retired. She’ll leave
for Kentucky the night of the race,” said Wolfson.