Three Rules set for seven figs

With a good effort, Three Rules could go over the $1 million mark in earnings in the $75,000 Big Drama on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. He will have to be on his toes, though, as a solid field of seven older horses, all stakes winners, is entered in the seven-furlong dash for Florida-breds, which goes as race 11 on a 12-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

Three Rules earned most of his $964,160 in earnings as a 2-year-old when he swept the Florida Sire Stakes series. Trained by Jose Pinchin, he won just once lst year as a 3-year-old, but he had a productive season and his win came in the Grade 3 Carry Back going the same distance as the Big Drama.

This will be his first start since he finished second as the heavy chalk in the inaugural running of the $125,000 Marion County Florida Sire Stakes on Dec. 16 at Tampa Bay. He can fire fresh, though, as evidenced by his winning debut and a runner-up finish coming off a layoff in the Grade 2 Swale last year.

He has speed, and being a fresh horse it is likely he will want to use it after he breaks from the inside post with Nik Juarez riding.

Mr. Jordan, trained by Edward Plesa Jr., would be a short price if the race were being held across town at Gulfstream Park West, where he is perfect in four starts. However, the classy 6-year-old has a 0-5-1 record from 12 tries on the local surface. His career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure was earned in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream in 2016, though, and as recently as last Dec. 16 he received a 100 Beyer for finishing second in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday there.

KEY CONTENDERS

Three Rules, by Jose Pinchin Last 3 Beyers: 82-92-84

◗ He has been working like he’s ready for a big effort, loves this track, and has a solid 2-2-0 record from 4 starts at the distance.

Mr. Jordan, by Kantharos Last 3 Beyers: 68-84-94

◗ An eight-time winner with $677,800 in earnings, he was in the mix early in his last outing, the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile, but couldn’t keep up and then had to steady sharply on the turn. He’ll appreciate the easier company Saturday.

◗ The last time the good-looking gray ran in a race for statebreds he finished second in the Sunshine Classic Millions on Jan. 20.

Kroy, by The Factor Last 3 Beyers: 101-83-90

◗ He is coming off a huge effort where he almost took them all the way on his preferred surface of turf in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

◗ Trained by Armando De la cerda, he hasn’t been worse than second in his last five stars, and the only time he ran on dirt he won the $100,000 Bear’s Den for Florida-bred 3-year-olds on Sept. 24 at Gulfstream. The seven-furlong race, contested over a track labeled good, was originally scheduled for turf.