Ft. Lauderdale J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Fifteen horses, including an also-eligible, are entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Ft. Lauderdale
S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and we’ll take a stab with the speed, JET PROPULSION
(Double Honor), who will make his first start with Marty Wolfson on Sunday.
Claimed for $50,000 out of a front-running score at Calder last time, the Grade
3-winning gelding appears to be rounding back into top form and is a two-time
winner over the local course. Speed isn’t preferable this meet, but Jet
Propulsion could get clear from post 2 with Elvis Trujillo and lead all the way.

SOCIETY’S CHAIRMAN (Not Impossible [Ire]) just missed in this event last
year, finishing second by a neck after rallying stoutly to the lead in
midstretch, and the Roger Attfield pupil has shown an affinity for the local turf
in two previous starts. He performed admirably in Canada following the Ft.
Lauderdale, winning the Halton S. and placing in three stakes events, including
the Connaught Cup (Can-G3), and the seven-year-old registered a 110 BRIS Late
Pace rating in his last start, a third in the Sir Barton S. at Woodbine in early
December. He looks ready to fire his best shot with Jose Lezcano, and his 15-1
morning-line price is very attractive.

MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat) came up a little short last year, finishing sixth
by less than a length, following a troubled trip in this event, and the
five-year-old gelding figures to receive plenty of support off his last two
starts, a 3 3/4-length victory in the Spend a Buck H. (G3) and a close fifth in
the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The Phil Gleaves runner is a two-time winner
on turf, but he’s never been the most consistent performer over the green and is
winless in four starts at the distance. We’re not excited about the prospects of
backing him at short odds from post 11, but we’ll use Mambo Meister on the
bottom of our top three.

YATE’S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) wrapped up 2009 on a good note, just
missing in the 1 1/2-mile Sycamore S. (G3), and the Dale Romans trainee is
effective at shorter distances as well (8-3-3-1 at 8 1/2 furlongs). We like the
115 BRIS Late Pace rating he garnered two starts back and won’t be surprised to
see the dark bay enjoy a favorable trip saving ground from the rail with Kent
Desormeaux, so give him serious consideration for a top three finish.

DANAK (Ire) (Pivotal) is an intriguing darkhorse for Kiaran McLaughlin. A
Group 3 winner in Ireland, he looked like a promising turf runner stateside in
the summer of 2008 but was sidelined after being eased and pulled up as the
favorite in the Fourstardave H. (G2) at Saratoga. The seven-year-old didn’t make
it back to the races until last October, checking in a non-threatening fifth in
the Knickerbocker H. (G3) at Belmont Park, and while he’s difficult to recommend off
that effort, he figured to be a little short that afternoon. The dark bay has
worked steadily in South Florida since then, registering one bullet move, and is
eligible to improve significantly off the tightener. We’ll use him in some
exotics.

BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic) was a promising turf three-year-old early last
season and may make it back to a high level this year for Todd Pletcher. His
BRIS numbers are a little light, but Bittel Road has plenty of room for
improvement and is a threat to rally into contention with John Velazquez. DUKE
OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) broke his maiden on the turf at Gulfstream, but he’s
raced primarily on dirt since then. Conditioned by David Fawkes, the chestnut
shows some nice works for his return off a three-month freshening, and we like
the closing kick he displayed last season, garnering BRIS Late Pace ratings of
116 and 104. If he takes to the grass and avoids a wide trip from post 13, Duke
of Mischief looks capable of minor award.

Defending champion KISS THE KID (Lemon Drop Kid) also captured the Appleton
S. (G3) last season, but we question whether he’s sharp enough to get the job done
this year. The seven-year-old was supposed to be retired following the
Meadowlands Cup (G2) last October, but a surprising head second kept him in
training and the Amy Tarant trainee got drilled in his last start, finishing
10th on the main track in the Clark H. (G2). The veteran stakes performer looks
vulnerable to us here, but he’s got the back class to outperform our
expectations.

VACATION (Dynaformer), a Grade 3 winner on synthetics, hasn’t shown enough on
turf for us to recommend his chances. STAR PLUS (Arg) (Alpha Plus) might need a
race off the 414-day layoff. VALTRUS (Lemon Drop Kid) and also-eligible
WINGEDLIE (Winged Foot) don’t look fast enough to challenge. SAM P. (Cat Thief)
and WHEELS UP AT NOON (Outflanker) are a couple of old timers who haven’t
performed at a high level in a long time. They’ve never raced over the course
and can’t be recommended here.

Suburban H. (G2) winner DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) is our top selection if
the race is moved to the main track due to rain, but he’s winless in three grass
attempts and will have to beat us on the turf.