Gulfstream Park will stage a $75,000 handicap for Florida-bred 2-year-olds on Saturday, with Stick Talk Gulfstream Park connections preparing for another test over a one-turn mile. The Carlos David-trained son of Girvin will carry the top weight of 124 pounds in a nine-horse field and will return to the track after gaining valuable stakes experience in his previous start.
Stick Talk will have shown promise through his first three career starts before stepping into stakes company. The Bell Racing LLC-owned colt will have finished runner-up in his first two outings against open company before breaking his maiden in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds on August 9.
He will subsequently finish fourth in the seven-furlong Express Tour Stakes on September 9. That race will have been won by Sum of Success, who will have entered Saturday’s programme after recording victories in each of his first three career starts.
Stick Talk will now return to Gulfstream Park with the benefit of that stakes experience and an additional furlong to handle. His connections will also introduce blinkers for the first time, with the equipment change expected to help the colt maintain better focus during the early stages.
Stick Talk Gulfstream Park Return Will Bring New Mile Test
Trainer Carlos David will look for Stick Talk to settle more comfortably while stretching out to a one-turn mile. The colt will not be expected to force the early pace, and the addition of blinkers will be intended to help him maintain concentration without requiring excessive encouragement from the rider.
Edwin Gonzalez will return to the saddle aboard Stick Talk after missing his previous appearance. Gonzalez will have partnered the colt in each of his first three starts and will bring familiarity with the son of Girvin into Saturday’s assignment.
The rider will also arrive following a Grade 1 success aboard Forged Steel in the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita. His return to Stick Talk will provide the colt with a familiar jockey as he tackles the longer distance.
Holy Warrior will provide another familiar presence in the field. The son of Jackie’s Warrior, owned by Mark F. Taylor, Rick Tattoli and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, will carry 123 pounds for trainer Rohan Crichton.
Holy Warrior will have finished third in Stick Talk’s maiden victory and will subsequently finish ahead of the David-trained colt in the Express Tour Stakes. He will have chased Sum of Success before settling for third, with Stick Talk finishing fourth. Diego Herrera will take the return mount.
Sir Angelus will also return to the Gulfstream Park main track after making his most recent appearance on turf. The son of Bucchero will have won a six-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds in his second career start, producing a front-running victory by 2 1/4 lengths.
The Angel Rodriguez-trained colt will have finished fourth in his debut in the maiden race won by Stick Talk. He will then have finished outside the placings in the Hollywood Beach Stakes on turf before returning to the main track for Saturday’s mile contest. Carlos Martinez will retain the ride.
Awesome Noah will step into stakes-level competition after recording a 3 1/2-length maiden victory in a $17,500 claiming event during his second career start. The son of Awesome Slew, owned by Blu Rey Racing LLC and Matty Dan Racing Stable, will carry 120 pounds for trainer Jose D’Angelo.
Awesome Noah will enter the feature with limited racing experience but will have already shown an ability to finish strongly. The move to a mile will give the colt an opportunity to demonstrate whether the added distance will suit his running style.
Thanks Charlie will also carry 120 pounds as he will seek his first career victory. The son of Roadster, owned by Skymac Stables LLC and trained by Beau Chapman, will return to a one-turn mile after racing over two turns on Tapeta.
Thanks Charlie will have shown speed into the stretch during his previous outing before fading late. The return to a shorter configuration will provide another test for the juvenile, while Samy Camacho will take the mount for the first time.
Slew Lady, owned by Ortega Stables, will also line up in the nine-horse field. Teresa and David Palmer’s Iolana, Patrick Scanlon’s Hot Rod and Debra Pesaturo and Kevin Joy’s Souper Athlete will complete the field.
The Saturday feature will bring together juveniles at different stages of development. Stick Talk will arrive with previous stakes experience and a new equipment change, while Holy Warrior and Sir Angelus will bring previous form against the David-trained colt. Awesome Noah and Thanks Charlie will meanwhile enter with opportunities to make further progress over the mile.
The Stick Talk Gulfstream Park return will see the Carlos David-trained colt carry top weight in a $75,000 Florida-bred juvenile handicap, with blinkers and Edwin Gonzalez set for the one-turn mile.
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