Favorable Outcome likely

HALLENDALE BEACH, Fla. – Back from California and returning to a track at which he’s unbeaten and at a distance at which he’s never lost, Favorable Outcome looms the one to beat Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint, which drew a bulky field of 11.

Favorable Outcome was third most recently in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita, his third start following a lengthy layoff. He cuts back from seven furlongs to 6 1/2, the distance at which he won a second-level allowance last fall at Aqueduct, and he makes his first start at Gulfstream since one of the best races of his career, a late-running win in last year’s Grade 2 Swale Stakes.

“After the Swale, he got injured and needed time off, and he came back with a couple of really good races,” his trainer, Chad Brown, said Thursday morning at the Palm Meadows training center. “And we know he likes the track at Gulfstream.”

Favorable Outcome faced a strong field in the Malibu. The winner, City of Light, has developed into one of the best horses on the West Coast, and runnerup Edwards Going Left already has returned to win.

“He had every chance,” Brown said. “He was in a good position. He just wasn’t good enough.”

Favorable Outcome faces a weaker field in the Gulfstream Park Sprint, but it’s by no means an easy field. His 10 rivals include the speedy Classic Rock, winner of 4 of 5 at Gulfstream, and Extravagant Kid, who scored a freakishly fast win when moving from turf to dirt in his last start and was claimed by Brendan Walsh.

The Gulfstream Park Sprint goes as race 12 on the 14-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Favorable Outcome, by Flatter Last 3 Beyers: 96-104-94

◗ He owns three wins and three thirds in his six dirt races, all of which have been around one turn.

◗ Javier Castellano, aboard for two of those wins and his rider in the Malibu, is back aboard.

Classic Rock, by Maclean’s Music Last 3 Beyers: 94-74-38

◗ He returned from a 5 1/2-month layoff to score a front-running win going six furlongs against a second-level allowance field last time out.

◗ Luis Saez, in the midst of a sensational meeting, won aboard him last time and has the return call for trainer Kathy Ritvo.

Extravagant Kid, by Kiss the Kid Last 3 Beyers: 100-82-94

◗ After a series of decent efforts in turf sprints, he was dropped in class and moved to the dirt last time. He responded with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure, making him appear to be a timely claim for $75,000.

Eight Town, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 63-90-86

◗ He ran into trouble early in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper when stretched out to a mile last time, but he had won three straight, all at shorter distances, prior to that race, and figures to bounce back, especially with Jose Ortiz climbing aboard for the first time.