Navarro can pad his statistics

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – They say that all good things must end, and so it is with a longstanding tradition at Gulfstream Park.

Into Wednesday, and with just nine days remaining at a 2018-19 championship meet that runs through March 31, Jorge Navarro led Todd Pletcher by a 50-41 count atop the trainer standings – meaning Pletcher’s remarkable reign of 15 straight winters (2004-18) as the top trainer at Gulfstream is about to end.

Navarro runners were entered in seven races here Wednesday (versus zero for Pletcher), while Navarro is represented in three Thursday races and Pletcher in two. Those numbers partly reflect the fact that Navarro has overtaken Pletcher with greater numbers (204 starts versus 171 going into this week).

Navarro might well add to his win tally Thursday with the newly acquired Unbridled Holiday, a prime contender among a field of six older horses in the featured ninth of 10 races, a $51,000, first-level allowance with a $35,000 claiming option. As one of four entered for the optional tag, Unbridled Holiday will be returning to turf – assuming rains forecasted for Tuesday and Wednesday in this region don’t force the race to the main track – with Luis Saez aboard from post 3 in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Claimed by Navarro on behalf of Final Turn Racing Stable from a Feb. 13 triumph over the main track, Unbridled Holiday looks like he will suit either surface – as well as the company. The 5-year-old gelding has a decent turn of foot that should serve him well in a lineup noticeably lacking in speed.

The lone open allowance of the day anchors a Thursday program that starts at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. Also part of a solid card are two $44,000 allowances restricted to Florida-breds (races 3 and 8) and a $38,000 starter-optional for 3-year-old turf fillies (race 7).

The nominal feature is part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence that spans races 5-10. Into Wednesday, the carryover jackpot stood at $1.9 million.

KEY CONTENDERS

Unbridled Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday Last 3 Beyers: 83-62-59

◗ Out of sorts in two earlier starts at this meet, this bay Florida-bred seems to have been haltered at an opportune time following that last-out reawakening. Devamani, by Dubawi Last 3 Beyers: 83-85-86

◗ Gelded since his most recent start in June, this late-running French-bred returns to action for Christophe Clement when seeming to match up class-wise and otherwise with this brand.

Tusk, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 74-79-81

◗ This gray gelding has seen his form tail off since being claimed last summer, but he does get a measure of class relief here and would be competitive with a forward try.

Bern’ James Bern, by Bernstein Last 3 Beyers: 75-87-84

◗ The leading earner in the lineup with a bankroll of nearly $380,000, this Pennsylvaniabred has traded hands quite often through the years and now makes his 51st start when in for the optional tag.