Blackjack Baby keeps improving

Blackjack Baby will be gunning for his fourth straight win in a $25,000 optional-claiming race that headlines Friday’s nine-race card at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old gelding is coming back at the same level and distance of his latest win and is clearly the one to beat in the five-furlong turf dash that drew eight horses.

Blackjack Baby was purchased for $40,000 by Steve Klesaris in March 2015 at the Florida Fasig-Tipton select sale of 2-year-olds in training, and it looked like a poor investment for the veteran trainer and Richard Burnsworth. After finishing seventh when he debuted in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race on the grass at Gulfstream last July 26, he went on the shelf until Oct. 23, when he won a $10,000 maiden-claiming race on the main track at Gulfstream Park West.

He wasn’t much of a threat in his next four races, but everything changed after he came back from a layoff of slightly more than two months. With Jorge Ruiz riding, he reeled off three straight wins going five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream. His first win came in a $10,000 claiming race for non-winners of two on April 29, followed by a four-length romp over nextout winner Bermuda Triangle in a $10,000 conditional-claiming race on May 19. He took a big step up in class in his latest score over Axtell and Sherpa, who are both entered in Friday’s race.

“He got a little sick, so we gave him a little R & R,” said Klesaris. “He did a lot of swimming when he was off, and he came back a different animal. He’s maturing and just learning how to run. He keeps stepping up and answering the bell. To say the least, I have been pleasantly surprised.”

Klesaris is taking none of the credit for the dramatic turnaround.

“I’ve been up north,” he said. “We have a great crew in Florida headed by my wife, Lil.”

Blackjack Baby drew post 5, with Ruiz retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Blackjack Baby, by Lonhro Last 3 Beyers: 83-77-72

◗ Despite getting shuffled back early, he won his latest at this level going away. No reason he can’t keep the streak going.

◗ A late bloomer, his sire was a champion in Australia.

Prudhoe Bay, by Songandaprayer Last 3 Beyers: 74-66-94

◗ None of his eight wins came on grass, but his trainer, Luis Ramirez, is perfect in three starts at the meet and over the past five years has a 26 percent strike rate and a $2.25 ROI with claimed horses running back the first time.

Axtell, by Tale of the Cat Last 3 Beyers: 77-55-78

◗ Trained by Mark Casse, he was full of run in the stretch in his runner-up finish behind Blackjack Baby, and the laterunning 4-year-old should have an honest and contested pace to work with.