Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Our Way can hit reset in Turf
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A year of promise ultimately became one of disappointment for Our Way after the gelding surged to victory last January in the Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park.
Just three starts followed, all of them defeats, and now trainer Jim Bond essentially finds himself back at the beginning. Our Way returns Saturday in the 16th running of the $150,000 Turf with a series of workouts designed to get 2018 off to another successful start, only this time with greater production on the back end.
“So far he hasn’t missed a jump,” said Bond, who trains Our Way for longtime client William Clifton. “He’s been right on his game and his works kind of show it. He blew out really good the other day, so we’re cautiously optimistic.”
Our Way, with Jose Ortiz riding from post 1, figures as one of the main contenders in the Turf, which drew eight older Florida-breds. The same goes for Enterprising, who was beaten just a neck by Our Way in the 2017 renewal of this 1 1/16-mile race and will have Luis Saez riding from post 6. Meanwhile, the two-time Turf winner Manchurian High (post 4, Albin Jimenez) provides further intrigue after most recently competing in steeplechase events.
The Turf goes as the seventh of 12 races on a Saturday card that starts at noon Eastern, with post set for 3 p.m. Its sister race, the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, is set for 90 minutes later as race 10 (post, 4:30).
Enterprising, a stone-cold closer trained by Mike Maker for the Maxis Stable, had a very eventful 2017 when knocking out more than $380,000 in nine starts. He was sometimes overmatched, competing mostly in graded races, but his last-tofirst score in the Nov. 11 Turf Preview at Gulfstream West strongly suggests he could be tough to hold off in the final furlong on Saturday.
Among those finishing behind Enterprising in the Preview was Galleon Mast (post 5, Irad Ortiz Jr.), whose fondness for the local surface is well established. Using a reliable run from just off the pace, the gray gelding won three ungraded stakes in a row from early August to late September leading into the Preview.
“I think he’ll be sharper for being off for a bit, but he’s very ratable,” said trainer David Fawkes. “He’ll do whatever you ask. He seems to like this course. I didn’t think he’d win three stakes in a row. He’s just an easygoing, quiet horse who’s great to have around.”
Tyler Gaffalione usually rides Galleon Mast but is serving a three-day suspension (Friday to Sunday) stemming from a riding infraction earlier this month at Santa Anita.
The rest of the Turf lineup comprises Charlie Mops, Spring Up, Second Mate, and Swagger Jagger.
The Filly and Mare Turf, also set for 1 1/16 miles, certainly won’t lack for early pace, given the presence of the speedy Daddy’s Boo and several others with similar tendencies. The field of 10 has no overwhelming favorite, although Starship Jubilee (post 4, Jose Lezcano) is a six-time winner over the Gulfstream turf and looks like the horse to beat. She probably needed her last start, a thirdplace finish in the Claiming Crown Tiara on Dec. 2, opening day of the championship meet.
“We’ve been a little bit more aggressive with her training for this race,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “This is something we’ve been kind of pointing toward. She had a great blowout the other day and she seems to be coming up to the race in good shape.”
Other players in the FillyMare Turf include Bonita (post 2, Edgard Zayas), winner of two ungraded turf stakes here last summer; Surprise Wedding (post 8, Jesus Rios), an improving Fawkes-trained filly; and Josdesanimaux (post 10, Jose Ortiz), a late-running mare exiting the Grade 3 My Charmer.
The rest of the lineup is Elizabeth Aurora, Bitacora, Katinka, Graceful Heart, and Eva London.