Mansell Stables' Quest Star will attempt his third straight win in the Pan American Handicap (gr. IIT) Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/2 mile-event, which drew a field of eight, is one of five stakes races on the Florida Derby (gr. I) card.
Trained by Elliott Walden, Kentucky-bred Quest Star enters the Pan American off an unplaced effort over 11 furlongs in the March 6 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT). His previous win came in a turf allowance race at Churchill Downs last November.
With Pat Day in the irons, Quest Star won the 2004 Pan American by a half-length over Request for Parole for his sole stakes win of the year. For his third try in the Pan Am, the son of Broad Brush will be reunited with jockey Edgar Prado, who led him to a 1 3/4-length victory in the 2003 event. The pair will break from the outside carrying 114 pounds.
Stage Call, a 6-year-old who will be making his first start of the season off a five-month rest, is now trained by Jonathan Sheppard for owner Mrs. Lawrence Ensor. The son of Sadler's Wells will break from post three under jockey Eibar Coa carrying 113.
Trained by Ken McPeek, 7-year-old Art Variety, a group I winner in Brazil, enters the Pan American off an unplaced effort going 1 1/16 miles in the March 13 Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream. Manoel Cruz will guide the son of Pleasant Variety from the inside. Art Variety races for Team Victory.
Three-times stakes winner Scooter Roach will be seeking his first added-money win since his Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (gr. IIIT) victory last October. Trained by David Kassen for Butterfly Stable, the 6-year-old son of Mi Cielo will break from position seven under jockey Cornelio Velasquez.
Pan American Handicap (gr. IIT), Gulfstream Park, $150,000, 1 1/2 miles, 3-year-olds and up, Saturday, April 2, Race 10, post time 4:38 p.m. PP -- Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 -- Art Variety (BRZ), 113, Manoel R. Cruz
2 -- European (IRE), 113, Brice Blanc
3 -- Stage Call (IRE), 113, Eibar Coa
4 -- Navesink River (KY), 114, John R. Velazquez
5 -- Gigli (BRZ), 116, Jerry D. Bailey
6 -- Deputy Lad (FL), 114, Ramon A. Dominguez
7 -- Scooter Roach (IL), 113, Cornelio H. Velasquez
8 -- Quest Star (KY), 114, Edgar S. Prado
