Horse Racing – Showcase of Speed at Gulfstream Park on Saturday

Speed will be king at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, with five stakes races worth a total of $475,000 on the card in the inaugural running of the Gulfstream Sprint Showcase.

Four of the races are on the main track, with the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes the lone stake carded for the turf course, which will be contested at five furlongs.

All four of the dirt races are at six furlongs, and one thing all five races have in common is that they are outstanding betting races, and will be over in a hurry.

Among the horses competing on Saturday is Munnings, the Todd Pletcher trainee who won the Tom Foot Handicap (G2) and Woody Stephens (G2) last year, and was third behind Kodiak Kowboy in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) in his last start on Oct. 3.

Kodiak Kowboy returned to win the Cigar Mile (G1) in his next outing on Nov. 28.

Pletcher decided not to run Munnings in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which was contested over a synthetic surface.

The four-year-old colt figures to be a major play in the Sprint division this year.

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Here is a look at the five stakes on today’s card:

Race 5 $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes
Westover Wildcat is one of two in this race trained by Tony Dutrow. The colt was a smart looking winner last out winning the Bold Lad Stakes, and while he only had to beat three rivals, he looks capable of moving forward off that effort.

He has worked quickly and note this guy has been prepping at Palm Meadows in Florida for over a month. He is the first foal to race out of the stakes winner Bronze Abe ($520K), who could really motor, winning 11 sprints in her career.

His main rivals will be the Wesley Ward trained Grand Times and Discreetly Mine, who is a half brother to stakes winners Discreet Cat and Pretty Wild.

Race 6 $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes
Bold Union draws the rail and this filly is very quick. She owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and with a good break should get the jump on her main rival, who will be Thunders Dove.

If the two hook up, it could set things up for a closer like Pretty Prolific, who should be rolling late and is worth a good look if she goes off near her 8/1 morning line odds.

Race 7 $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes
Munnings is likely to go off as the favorite but the colt has not raced since October and he has done his best running at seven furlongs. At a short price, I’ll try to beat him with Custom for Carlos, who was a sharp winner of the Bet On Sunshine Stakes in his last start at Churchill Downs. Two runners came out of that race to win stakes in their next starts.

Two back this guy was beaten just a nose in the Gallant Bob at Philadelphia Park behind a quick runner in Pachito the Che, who won the Dudley Sprint in his next start, then was beaten a nose in the Gravesand Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec. 26.

Prince Joshua looks like he may be sitting on a good one here in his third start of his current form cycle, and appears to be the best shot of breaking up a chalky exacta with Munnings.

Race 8 $75,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes
Hockeythehayman is perfect in four career starts, two on turf, and one each on poly and dirt. The gelding earned a career top speed fig last out beating allowance company at Keeneland over soft turf. The gelding seems to be able to handle anything, gets his fourth different jockey today, and Velazquez looks like he can shoot to the lead or sit back, the gelding has done both.

T.D. Vance is now eight years old but since coming back from a long layoff and going to hall of fame trainer Bill Mott, he has won back to back races and looks like a good fit in this spot.

Race 9 $100,000 Old Hat Stakes
Three year old fillies complete the stakes action today, and the aptly named Female Drama looks like she can be a player at a decent price. The Todd Pletcher trainee was a good looking maiden winner in the slop in her debut, then came back to win the Wings Jove Stakes in her first start against winners. The filly has been working quickly at Palm Meadows for her three year old debut and her 8/1 morning line looks generous.

Both Cuff Me and Dances With Ashley are undefeated and look like major exacta threats in the race.