All signs point to Race Me Home

Race Me Home figures to be a short price when he makes his first start for trainer Michael Maker in a $35,000 starter allowance race for 3-year-olds and up at Gulfstream Park West on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race drew eight horses and goes as race 9 on a 10-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Acting on behalf of David Staudacher, Maker claimed Race Me Home for $50,000 on Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old Irish-bred finished fourth in a one-mile race that day that has produced a couple of next-out winners. Line Judge, who edged Heavy Roller by a neck to win Sept. 14, earned an 85 Beyer for his win in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Indiana Grand on Oct. 13. Sir Genghis, third on Sept. 14, won the $100,000 Gold Cup at Delta Downs on Oct. 20. He received an 85 Beyer for his front-running victory in the one-mile race for Louisiana breds.

Race Me Home went into the Sept. 14 race off back-toback wins at Indiana Grand. He finished full of run to win a $16,000 starter race on the grass Aug. 14, and he stalked the pace to win an off-the-turf second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option on July 20.

There are lots of arrows pointing to Race Me Home, who will break from post 4. Maker brings him back in a race from which he can’t be claimed, he runs well fresh, and he should get a nice trip from a forward positon with Edgard Zayas riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Race Me Home, by Oasis Dream Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-87

◗ His recent Beyers stand

out and he will find these easier than he faced in his last race. There is some rain in the forecast and he ran okay over a sloppy track when third in a $32,000 claiming race at Churchill on June 21.

Royal Holiday, by Blame Last 3 Beyers: 79-72-75

◗ Trained by Oscar Gonzalez, he is coming off a runner-up finish as the even-money favorite in a $35,000 starter with a $50,000 claiming option at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 11 and could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of his form cycle.

◗ He drew the rail and should get a nice trip from a stalking position. With a win and runner-up finish in two starts over wet tracks, he should be fine if it rains.

The Best Candy, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 68-81-79

◗ The Jaimie Mejia-trained 3-year-old won his third straight when he beat Royal Holiday two back, and he had an excuse when he got hung out seven wide on the first turn in his fifth-place finish in a first-level allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option on Oct. 26.

The Scotsman, by Sky Mesa Last 3 Beyers: 78-84-75

◗ He’s improved in three starts since being claimed by Gonzalez, who moved him from turf to dirt, and considering all three of his siblings are route winners he could thrive in his first route attempt on the main track. He earned his best Beyer on turf going a mile in his second start, which came in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream Park on July 1.