Bourbon War favored to start season with a win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The last of three straight allowances Friday at Gulfstream Park has a certain look, one that could produce a Kentucky Derby hopeful or two.

Bourbon War, fourth in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in just his second start, will be favored to advance his cause when trainer Mark Hennig gives Irad Ortiz Jr. a leg up before the ninth of 10 races.

Bourbon War has not raced since the Dec. 1 Remsen.

“He’s doing great down here,” Hennig said. “We kind of threw him to the wolves after his maiden win by running him in the Remsen, but he responded well to it. He’s really

transitioned well to Florida. I couldn’t be happier with him now.”

Bourbon War will break from post 6 as one of nine 3-year-old colts in the $51,000 first-level race at 1 1/16 miles. The main competition for the son of Tapit figures to come from a pair of last-out maiden winners, Cutting Humor (post 3, John Velazquez) and Award Winner (post 4, Jose Ortiz).

First post Friday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the ninth going at 4:41. The two preceding allowances are both for older fillies and mares – race 7 (3:39), a $51,000 first-level race at six furlongs, has Yes Factor and Heavens Pulpit as top contenders, while race 8 (4:10) is a wideopen turf mile with a $52,000 purse and second-level condition.

Strike Power on way back

Last winter at Gulfstream, Hennig found himself with a live Derby prospect when Strike Power won his first two starts, including the Grade 3 Swale, and finished second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. But the colt eliminated himself from contention with a poor performance in the Florida Derby, and after three subsequent defeats, Hennig went into regroup mode. The Speightstown colt recently came back into his care after undergoing minor throat surgery and getting time at an Ocala, Fla., farm.

“He’s doing fine, and we’re hoping to have a good year with him,” he said.

Another stable star, My Miss Lilly, breezed a half-mile Monday at Gulfstream in 47.20 seconds and is nearing her 4-year-old debut. Winner of the Grade 2 Gazelle last April, the gray Tapit filly has not raced since finishing third in the Grade 2 Mother Goose in late June. She’s still eligible for second-level allowances.

“We haven’t decided on her first race back,” Hennig said. “It’s still a little early yet. But she is coming along nicely.”