Gatsby has stronghold on feature

Gatsby figures to be a short price when he runs in an allowance race with secondlevel conditions that will serve as the feature race at Gulfstream Park Sunday. The sixfurlong dash on dirt drew six horses and goes as the eighth race on a nine-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Horses that have not won a race since May 7 are eligible for the race and there is an $80,000 claiming option available.

Trained by Carlos David, Gatsby is coming off a couple of sharp efforts, and the 95 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his runner-up finish in a race with similar conditions and a $62,500 claiming option Oct. 2 stands out. With Edwin Gonzalez aboard, the Arindel homebred set fast fractions under pressure and held on well in the six-furlong dash, but could not hold off Went West, who stalked the pace and got through on the rail at the top of the stretch. The pair hooked up midstretch with Went West prevailing by three-quarters of a length. It was another 7 3/4 lengths back to Pudding, who finished third. With Chantal Sutherland riding Gatsby in his previous start, the son of Brethren came from a stalking position to win a first-level allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option Sept. 9.

Gatsby is an improving 3-year-old who might not have reached his peak. He drew the outside post, and with other speed in the field he could get a nice trip from a stalking positon.

Poppy’s Pride appears to have one way of going and he will need to use his substantial speed breaking from the inside post with Jesus Rios riding for trainer Michael Yates.

The Stonehedge homebred was coming off a layoff and making just his second start as a 3-year-old when he set the pace before settling for third going seven furlongs in an overnight handicap Sept. 18. In his previous start, the son of Khozan also set the pace but faded badly in the Grade 3 Swale June 30.

As a juvenile, he reeled off four straight wins, which included front-running wins in the $75,000 Armed Forces, $60,000 Juvenile Sprint for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park West, and the $100,000 Inaugural at Tampa Bay. This will be the first time he will be facing older horses, but he could be dangerous if he gets the jump on the other speed.

Pudding was favored in the same race Gatsby exits, but after looking like a serious threat at the top of the stretch, he flattened out. Prior to his fourth-place finish in a similar race Sept. 3, the 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Two Step Salsa won four races in a row. His last win in the streak came in a $60,000 overnight handicap Aug. 8 in his first start for trainer Elizabeth Dobles. The veteran trainer claimed him on her own behalf out of a first-level allowance race that had a $25,000 claiming option July 25.

In his last two wins, he came from a stalking position with Sutherland riding and she will be aboard when he breaks from post 2. With plenty of potential speed in the field, Pudding could get the right kind of trip.