Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Richter Scale Handicap at Gulfstream Park on March 8
Posted on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
A highly anticipated first-time clash between Tracy Farmer’s 7-year-old gelding Commentator and Lazy F Ranch’s 5-year-old Chatain is set for Saturday’s $200,000 Richter Scale Handicap (G2) at Gulfstream Park on an outstanding card that will also include the $100,000 The Very One Handicap (G3).
Jockey John Velazquez will be back aboard Commentator for horse trainer Nick Zito in the seven-furlong Richter Scale Handicap after they teamed up to win an allowance race on Jan. 17 by 14 lengths in track-record time of 1:33:71 for a mile. It was his first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27.
Commentator shoulders topweight of 123 pounds against seven rival older horses with Chatain at 120 pounds expected to be his most formidable opponent. A New York-bred chestnut by Distorted Humor, Commentator has won 10 of 16 career starts, with his most notable victory coming in the 2006 Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga over Saint Liam, the latter going on to Horse of the Year honors.
Cornelio Velasquez has ridden Chatain in eight of the last nine starts for trainer Angel Penna Jr., most recently capturing the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 6, exactly a year after capturing that same race in then track-record time of 1:33.87 for the mile.
“It will be the toughest race of his (Chatain) career,” said Penna, Jr. Wednesday morning. “Commentator is on top of his game, and when he’s good, he’s good.” A son of Forest Wildcat, Chatain has won six of nine starts with a second and a good fourth last year in the Donn Handicap (G1) when beaten only 2 1/2 lengths by 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor.
A surprise entry in the Richter Scale was Team Valor International’s 4-year-old King of the Roxy with Rene Douglas named to ride for trainer Todd Pletcher. King of the Roxy was also entered to run in Saturday’s Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds.
King of the Roxy has been a high-profile stakes horse since capturing The Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park as a 2-year-old. The son of Littleexpectations won the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park early last year and finished a game second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), a Kentucky Derby prep race, in his next start. King of the Roxy’s seasonal debut is his first start since a seventh-place effort in the Kings Bishop Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in August.
Completing the field for the Richter Scale are Susan Moore’s Grand Champion, Javier Castellano; Oxbow Racing’s Steve’s Double, Jamie Theriot; Tucci Stable’s Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk, Jose Rivera II; Tom Walters’ Elite Squadron; Jorge Chavez; and Rose Family Stable’s Rexson’s Rose, Eduardo Nunez.
www.gulfstreampark.com
"Richter Scale Handicap at Gulfstream Park on March 8" was posted on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 8:49 pm and is filed under Gulfstream Park, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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