Eclipse Champion Shanghai Bobby Returns in Holy Bull
Reigning champion juvenile Shanghai Bobby put in his finale piece of work over the weekend and seems all set for his 2013 debut in this Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull s. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the unbeaten son of Harlan’s Holiday is five-for-five lifetime and proved he has the heart to match his class when taking the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his latest performance. Expect the colt to be hard to handle in this one.
Grade 2 hero Bern Identity was last seen finishing a solid second in the lucrative Delta Jackpot S. (G3) and could be a live one for Kelly Breen. The sophomore colt by Bernstein has never missed the board from six starts while facing top company, and he’s been training fast at Palm Meadows in advance of this one. Frac Daddy was a game second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his 2012 finale and has given trainer Ken McPeek the green light for this race with his morning works. Unbeaten stakes hero Purple Egg, Jockey Club fourth Tesseron, allowance winner Tulira Castle, Gulfstream Park Derby victor Itsmyluckyday and possibly Jockey Club third Dewey Square, add to the depth of this solid field.
Also slated for the Saturday card at Gulfstream is the $200,000 Forward Gal S. (G2) for sophomore fillies. A pair of fleet and accomplished fillies will lead the way, headlined by the three-time graded winning Kauai Katie. Also conditioned by Pletcher, this swift daughter of Malibu Moon was a dominant, eight-length vixen of the Old Hat S. (G3) here leading up to this and will surely be favored in this spot.
My Happy Face lost by a head in the Frizette S. (G1), the lone blemish on her four-race line to date. The Rudy Rodriguez-trained daughter of Tiz Wonderful was game in winning the Tempted s. (G3) most recently and could be the main threat to the favorite. The gray will be close or on the lead from the start. Spring Venture never fired in the Juvenile fillies Turf (G2), but was unbeaten leading up to that and could be dangerous in her dirt debut for trainer Mark Casse. The daughter of Spring At Last has been training fast on the dirt and must be considered against this field. Superb maiden winner Highestmaintenance gives Pletcher a second viable contender in here.