Grade 1 hero SHAMDINAN (Fr) (Dr Fong) will make his 2008 debut on Saturday
against nine rivals in the $350,000 Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1). The
four-year-old chestnut ran third in last season’s Prix du Jockey Club (French
Derby) (Fr-G1) prior to shipping to the United States for a fall campaign. He
made a successful U.S. debut when taking the Secretariat S. (G1) by a
half-length, but wasn’t able to build on that one when fifth in the Jamaica H.
(G2) while making his first start under Angel Penna Jr.’s tutelage. He returned
to be best of the rest when second to English Channel in the Breeders’ Cup Turf
(G1), and will keep Julien Leparoux in the saddle.
Among those seeking to upset Shamdinan in his return are EINSTEIN (Brz)
(Spend a Buck) and ZANN (Dynaformer). The former runner made his final 2007
start in a spill-marred Dixie S. (G2), stumbling and unseating his jockey when
trying to avoid another fallen rider. He returned off an eight-month layoff to
take an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on January 11, but tired
when trying the Donn H. (G1) last out. Einstein, who captured the 2006 edition of
this race and was third in last year’s running, will get a rider switch to
Jose Lezcano for trainer Helen Pitts.
Zann is still looking for his first stakes score, but the five-year-old has knocked heads with some
good rivals in his five-year-old finales. The dark bay just missed by a nose in
the Oak Tree Mile S. (G2) before finishing a neck back of the winner of the
Citation H. (G1) in his final two starts. Zann will be making his first start
for new trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in this spot and will have Elvis Trujillo
aboard.
Other contenders on Saturday include STREAM OF GOLD (Ire) (Rainbow Quest),
runner-up in last year’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) and W.L.
McKnight H. (G2), and Group 3 victor NOTABLE GUEST (Kingmambo), who was last
seen finishing second by a neck in the Golden Gate Fields S. (G3).
The complete field for Saturday’s 1 3/8-mile test, in post position order
with jockeys, is DAVE (Ends Well), Joe Bravo; THORN SONG (Unbridled’s Song),
Kent Desormeaux; Zann; Einstein; DANCING FOREVER (Rahy), Rene Douglas; Stream of
Gold, Eddie Castro; Shamdinan; PALACE EPISODE (Machiavellian), John Velazquez;
Notable Guest, Manoel Cruz; and COUGAR BAY (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]), Eibar Coa.
Each starter will carry 123 pounds.