Action Andy and Indiano look like the horses to beat in a field of six drawn for Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park.
The two met three weeks ago in the Pelican at Tampa Bay Downs with Action Andy the winner by 2 1/4 lengths over Indiano. But there are several differences in play for the rematch, including the fact that Action Andy will be the one shipping for the race from Tampa Bay while Indiano makes the short shuttle trip from Calder.
Trainer Carlos Garcia shipped Action Andy to Gulfstream earlier this year when he finished a dull sixth in the Sir Shackleton on March 31.
"This year we shipped in the day before and he didn't run very well," Garcia said. "For this trip we'll come three days out to give him a chance to settle in."
Jockey John Velazquez picks up the mount on Action Andy as the Maryland-bred son of Gators N Bears bids for a fourth straight stakes victory after scoring in the Maryland Million Sprint and Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial in October at Laurel Park.
Jockey Luis Saez rides Indiano for trainer Marty Wolfson in his second start following a four-month layoff, his second extended absence from the races this year.
"The last layoff was because of a bad lung infection that took a lot of time to get over," Wolfson said. "I think he ran a very good race in Tampa considering I only had time to work him four times before that race."
A Kentucky-bred by Indian Charlie, Indiano is highly-consistent when he is in action with a 16-9-4-2 record. He came to Wolfson early in 2011 after winning his first five starts in Panama and finished second twice over the Gulfstream track, including the Grade 2 Swale Stakes. Next out he posted the only unplaced finish of his career when fifth attempting a mile in the Grade 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs in late April.
Indiano came back with impressive scores in the Unbridled Stakes, Grade 2 Carry Back and and Eillo Stakes in the summer of 2011 at Calder. After finishing third in the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx in late September, Indiano ran a big race to finish third, beaten a half-length for it all by Apriority in the Mr. Prospector here last December prior to six months on the sidelines "when he just needed a break after a hard campaign," according to Wolfson.
An intriguing contender in the field is the four-year-old gelding Bull Dozer, claimed for $62,500 by Ken and Sarah Ramsey when winning his last start over the track and distance by two lengths on December 7. The son of Trippi had finished a good third in the Jack Dudley Sprint at Calder on November 10 and won his three previous races in starter/allowance events there. Jockey Javier Castellano gets the call for trainer Mike Maker.
Partyallnightlong is entered to make his first start since winning the Dan Horn going five furlongs on turf at the Meadowlands on May 5. That race was his first since late July of 2011 when he finished fifth behind Force Freeze in the Teddy Drone at Monmouth Park. Jockey Jose Lezcano will have the mount.
Off the Jak ran a respectable second last out behind Bernie the Maestro in the $100,000 Rapid Transit Claiming Crown Stakes over the track on opening day, December 1. The son of With Distinction is fast and races on the pace in most of his races. Jockey Jose Alvarez will be in the saddle for trainer Shivananda Parbhoo.
Dreaming of Nemo would appear to be the outsider in the field after only three career starts, although he has won twice. Jockey Francisco Torres rides the son of Exclusive Quality for trainer Luis Ramirez.
