Gran Malbec’s streak on line as he faces tougher test

It is hard for handicappers to go past and it’s been hard for horses to get past Gran Malbec, who will be gunning for his sixth straight win in a firstlevel allowance race that will serve as Wednesday’s feature at Gulfstream Park West.

The five-furlong dash with a $25,000 claiming option for 3-year-olds and up on turf drew 11 horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:15 p. m. Eastern.

Gran Malbec didn’t impress anyone when he debuted in a $12,500 maiden-claiming race on the Gulfstream Park main track for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. on Feb. 25. The 3-year-old Florida-bred showed some speed, but faded after a half-mile to finish ninth in the six-furlong race. He showed a snippet of what was to come when he chased Southern Sea the whole way while finishing second going five furlongs on turf in a $12,500 maiden claimer on April 27. Since then he has not seen a tail, leading at every call in his next five races, all at five furlongs on the Gulfstream turf course.

His latest win came in a first-level allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option for Florida-breds on Sept. 13. He set moderate fractions, and though his three-length advantage at the eighth pole diminished to three-quarters of a length at the wire, he never looked like he was losing.

He will break from post 3 with his usual rider Emisael Jaramillo aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gran Malbec, by Bucket Head Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-77

◗ He is stepping up in class but he has met every challenge so far. He makes his first start in more than six weeks, and his best race, a win in a $30,000 conditional claimer on Aug. 23, came when he was coming off a similar layoff. Catch him if you can.

Tenacity Zip, by City Zip Last 3 Beyers: 84-78-84

◗ He broke a step slowly when he finished third as the favorite in Gran Malbec’s win on Aug. 23, and he came back with a strong third in the $75,000 Tamiami, a five-furlong race on turf at Gulfsream on Sept. 16.

◗ The Yvon Belsoeur-trained 3-year-old is versatile, and with other speed in the race could be dangerous from a stalking position with Paco Lopez riding.

Gran Saman, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 79-72-63

◗ Trained by Steve Klesaris, the late-blooming 4-year-old is on a streak of his own with three straight wins.

◗ He was coming off a 2 1/2-month layoff when he rallied late to edge Starship Wildcat by 1 1/4 lengths in a similar race on Sept. 27, and with plenty of potential speed lined up this race could set up nicely for him.

◗ His Beyer Speed Figures are rising, so he may not have reached his peak, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue to move forward in his second start back.