Pletcher, Casse Enter 3-Year-Olds in Texas Turf Mile

In addition to hosting the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) and $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) Jan. 31, four undercard stakes are a part of the Sam Houston Race Park program, including the $200,000 Texas Turf Mile Stakes.

An overflow field of 3-year-olds has been entered, including two horses from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher: Fighting Force and Winfromwithin.

A son of Air Force Blue , Fighting Force drew post 5 with Jesus Castanon in the saddle. The dark bay colt broke his maiden Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park and advanced into stakes company, finishing second in the Jan. 2 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream for owners Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith.

"Fighting Force has been very consistent," said Pletcher. "He faced tough company in the Dania Beach and gave a good effort."

Jim Bakke's Winfromwithin also raced Jan. 2 at Gulfstream, winning a maiden race in his fourth start. 

William Reed’s homebred Excess Magic brings a two-race win streak into the stakes and drew post 3 with jockey Miguel Mena up. 

"I love the post and Miguel will not have to worry about saving ground," said trainer Bret Calhoun. "Excess Magic was disqualified in his first start (at Evangeline Downs Aug. 21) and destroyed them on his turf start at Remington Park. This horse has a really good turn of foot."

Hall of Famer Mark Casse will ship in Palazzi, a colt by Pioneerof the Nile. Owned by John Oxley, he exits a maiden special weight win on turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last month.

Declan Carroll has the call and will break from the rail.

In other action Sunday at Sam Houston, Fast Boat is a narrow 7-2 morning-line favorite in the $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint Stakes, Nitrous is the 8-5 choice in the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint Stakes, and Catch a Bid is 7-5 odds on the morning line for the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes in the 10th and final race on the program.

The Turf Sprint appears closely matched. Besides Fast Boat, it drew Share the Upside from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen. Share the Upside has a 3-for-3 turf record for owners Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing.

Sam Houston's leading rider Stewart Elliott will guide the 6-year-old son of Maclean's Music  from post 2.

"He's won some really nice races," said Asmussen. "He's undefeated on the turf and as fast as he is, it doesn't matter where he draws." 

Conditioner Joe Sharp returns with Brad Grady's Fast Boat, a 6-year-old son of City Zip that invades from New Orleans. He has won seven of his 21 turf starts ran a second in this race last year to Real News.

"Brad and I discussed our options and just felt that Fast Boat had not shown an affinity for the Fair Grounds turf course," said Sharp.

Entries: Claiborne Farm Swale S. (G3)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 30, 2021, Race 6

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 2:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Likeable (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
2	2King's Ovation (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Dale L. Romans	12/1
3	3Ultimate Badger (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Dale L. Romans	10/1
4	4Poppy's Pride (FL)	Jesus M. Rios	120	Michael Yates	4/1
5	5Drain the Clock (KY)	Edgard J. Zayas	120	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	5/2
6	6By George (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Christophe Clement	2/1

Entries: Sweetest Chant S. (G3T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 30, 2021, Race 10

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 4:18 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Queen of the Green (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Jon G. Arnett	15/1
2	2Honey Pants (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Christophe Clement	3/1
3	3Candace O (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	H. Graham Motion	12/1
4	4Con Lima (TX)	Paco Lopez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	5/2
5	5White Frost (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	William I. Mott	9/2
6	6Domain Expertise (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Chad C. Brown	5/1
7	7Lionessofbrittany (FL)	Edgard J. Zayas	120	Steve Klesaris	10/1
8	8Director's Cut (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Mark E. Casse	6/1