Galleon Mast seeking rebound in Soldier’s Dancer Stakes

Galleon Mast will try to make amends for his narrow loss as the 4-5 favorite in the $100,000 Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs when he runs in the $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-yearolds and up bred in Florida drew nine horses for turf.

If the race gets moved to the main track, the classy 6-yearold Mr. Jordan, fresh off a win in the $100,000 Big Drama on May 12, becomes the one to beat. Deland and Beneficiary would also race with the surface switch.

Post time for the first of 12 races on Saturday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

A win by Galleon Mast would give trainer David Fawkes his second stakes win this week at Gulfstream. Fawkes knows how it feels to be on both ends of a photo finish. Florida Fuego got up in the last jump to win the $75,000 Liza Jane by a nose for Fawkes on Wednesday, and after closing resolutely in the stretch Galleon Mast lost by the same margin to Swagger Jagger going 1 1/8 miles in the Turf Classic on March 25.

Prior to his heartbreaking loss in Tampa, Galleon Mast was the runner-up in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream on March 3.

The 5-year-old son of Mizzen Mast does his best running late, and with an honest pace expected the shape of the race should work for him.

He will break from post 3 with Miguel Vasquez riding.

Tropicat, trained by Ralph Nicks, had been off for almost a year when he won a $25,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream on April 28. He is stepping up in class, but could take a significant step forward after winning the one-mile race on turf.

Tropicat has tactical speed and will likely use it breaking from post 2 with Luca Panici retaining the mount.

Monmouth: Surface is key

Competition runs deep in the $75,000 Miss Liberty Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth. If the 1 1/16-mile race remains on turf, a case can be made for many of the nine horses entered. But if it gets moved to dirt there isn’t much doubt Tequilita will be a strong favorite.

She is one of five horses entered for the main track, and the two-time graded stakes winner is coming off a runnerup finish for trainer Michael Matz in the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont on May 6.

Party Boat and Team of Teams will be among the favorites on turf.

The Graham Motion-trained Party Boat will appreciate getting back on the grass after just missing as the odds-on favorite running over a sloppy track in the washed-off $60,000 Politely at Monmouth on May 19. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief, Party Boat was making her initial start as a 4-year-old, and it was the first time she ran against older horses.

She is a multiple stakes winner on grass and was good enough to finish second in the Grade 3 Lake George and Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga last year.

With Joe Bravo retaining the mount, she could take a big step forward in her second start back. She should also be rolling late in a race where speed will be coming back to her.

Team of Teams was an easy winner the last time she ran in a non-graded race, in the $100,000 Sand Springs at Gulfstream on March 3. The James Jerkenstrained 4-year-old set the pace before finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont Park on May 12 in her last start.