Recent Sunshine State Stakes winner Star Harbour again will try to carry his early speed to the wire when he faces an expected seven other sprinters in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 28, at Gulfstream Park.
Marco Thoroughbred Corp.'s Star Harbour returns to open company in Saturday's six-furlong, main-track test off a half-length victory against other Florida-breds in the $100,000 Sunshine State. The 5-year-old Indian Charlie horse dueled early in that seven-furlong test before opening a clear lead in the stretch and holding off veteran Jackson Bend at the wire.
Star Harbour, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, has won two of his past three starts, including an 11-length, front-end victory in a $35,000 claiming race Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course. Star Harbour was claimed from his owner-breeder, Peter and Anne Vegso, out of that race. He started once for Peace Sign Stable, finishing third in a stakes race at Belmont Park, before starting for his current owner in the Sunshine State.
Also entering off a victory at Gulfstream Park is veteran Apriority, a 6-year-old son of Grand Slam who improved to 4-for-7 at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track with a five-length romp in a Nov. 24 allowance-optional claiming race. Donald Dizney's Apriority won the 2011 edition of the Mr. Prospector.
Black Diamond Cat will start from the outside as he tries to add to his Gulfstream success. The 6-year-old Wildcat Heir gelding won a pair of stakes at Gulfstream in the summer and enters off a seventh-place finish in the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap Dec. 14 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
$100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III, race 9, approximate post time 4:33 p.m. EST) 3YO&Up, 6F
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, ML Odds
1. Fort Loudon (FL), J. Sanchez, 122, S. Gold, 6/1
2. Trinni Heart (PA), E. Prado, 114, B. Parboo, 20/1
3. Star Harbour (FL), P. Lopez, 120, B. Dibona, 5/2
4. Upgrade (KY), J. Rocco Jr., 118, M. Tomlinson, 12/1
5. Travelin Man (KY), J. Castellano, 118, T. Pletcher, 6/1
6. Singanothersong (KY), J. Leyva, 114, R. Pelligrini, 8-1
7. Apriority (FL), J. Bravo, 118, D. Fawkes, 4-1
8.Black Diamond Cat (FL), J. Chamafi, 122, L. Bates, 3/1
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