Reservenotattained on a roll

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Starter allowances were conceived many years ago as yet another way for racing offices to cobble together competitive action for the wagering public. They’ve morphed into terrific concepts such as the Claiming Crown and other events of a lower profile, and they’re occasionally the glue that holds an otherwise mundane card together.

Such is the case Friday at Gulfstream Park, where three such starters are the highlights of a 10-race card that starts at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Race 6 is a $34,000, sevenfurlong race in which Reservenotattained will go for a fourth straight victory when he faces six other older horses. Two starts back, on Jan. 8, the 5-year-old gelding earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, which often is fast enough to win at higher class levels.

Paco Lopez has a return call from Michael Yates on Reservenotattained, who figures to get his sternest threats from Miles Ahead and Joe Di Baggio. Race conditions require that every runner has been risked for a claiming tag of $16,000 or less since Sept. 1, 2019.

Race 8 is a $50,000 starter with a $42,000 purse in which Well Done West could be favored, even when facing winners for the first time. The gray 4-yearold colt turned in a big performance when dominating a Dec. 18 maiden-special race straight off the Danny Gargan claim and seems to fit well against the seven other older horses he’ll face going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Race 9 is a turf sprint with a $35,000 purse in which Exchange Day, comfortably drawn in the outside post with Luis Saez riding, should be favored in a field of eight 3-yearolds after winning three of his last four starts for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. The Florida-bred colt should have Ensign Parker and leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. among his top challengers in a lineup restricted to those who have raced for a $25,000 claiming tag or less.

All three starters are part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 5-10), which was expected to offer a pool guarantee of about $250,000, assuming the jackpot was not swept Wednesday or Thursday by a solo winning ticket. The Rainbow 6 was emptied Sunday by forceout.

Gulfstream races typically are part of the Stronach 5 crosscountry wager every Friday, but the Stronach 5 will not be held this week because of the cancellation of the Laurel card due to an equine herpesvirus outbreak. The bet is scheduled to resume next Friday, March 19, with a $154,931 carryover.

Mostly sunny skies and a high near 80 are in the local forecast, so all five turf races on the card should proceed as scheduled.