Vibe will target a return to winning form in the Mr. Jordan Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, October 24, as the four-year-old seeks to rebuild his campaign over a distance that has already brought him success. Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher, the son of Into Mischief will face an experienced field featuring recent Duke of Mischief Handicap winner Chrome Ghost, runner-up Pure Class and several other established competitors.
Owned by Repole Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Lane’s End LLC, Vibe will carry 120 pounds under jockey Diego Herrera. His two previous victories over Gulfstream’s one-turn mile will offer encouragement as he attempts to regain his earlier momentum following an interrupted campaign and two unsuccessful starts.
Vibe Seeks a Fresh Start at a Familiar Venue
Vibe’s record will have included impressive performances alongside setbacks since his debut. Purchased for $3 million at the 2024 Keeneland September Sale, he will have finished fourth in a six-furlong maiden contest at Gulfstream on March 15, 2025, before making a significant improvement in his next appearance.
A month later, he will have secured a commanding 9¾-length victory in a one-turn mile maiden special weight race. An 11-month absence will then interrupt his progress, but he will have returned to the Gulfstream winner’s circle with a 1½-length success in an optional claiming contest over the same distance.
Vibe will subsequently have strengthened his reputation with a three-length victory in a one-turn mile optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs. That performance will have earned him a start in the Metropolitan Mile (Grade 1) at Saratoga, where his campaign will have taken an unexpected turn.
Jockey Luis Saez will have pulled Vibe up in the stretch after sensing that the colt was experiencing distress. The incident will have interrupted the progress of a runner who will have appeared ready to take another step forward.
West Point Thoroughbreds executive vice-president Tom Bellhouse will have described the incident as unfortunate, explaining that Vibe will not have broken well and that Saez will have acted after sensing a problem.
Vibe will have returned to competition in an allowance race over one and one-eighth miles at Saratoga, where he will have set a contested pace before fading to fifth. His subsequent appearance in a six-and-a-half-furlong stakes race at Parx will also have ended without success.
His connections will have attributed those performances partly to the longer distance at Saratoga and the colt’s apparent difficulty handling the Parx surface. The return to Gulfstream will therefore provide a different test, with the one-turn mile matching the conditions under which he will have recorded his earlier victories.
Bellhouse will have indicated that the familiar venue and recent preparation will provide the basis for a fresh start. Vibe will have completed workouts at Gulfstream ahead of the Mr. Jordan Handicap, with his connections hoping the change of circumstances will help him regain consistency.
Chrome Ghost and Pure Class Bring Strong Handicap Form
Chrome Ghost and Pure Class will share top weight of 123 pounds, bringing recent form and experience into the Mr. Jordan Handicap.
J. J. Breven Stable LLC’s Chrome Ghost will arrive following a half-length victory over Pure Class in the Duke of Mischief Handicap on September 26. Trained by Gerald Bennett, the six-year-old gelding will have tracked the pace before moving into the lead at the top of the stretch and holding off his challenger to the finish.
Chrome Ghost will have prepared for his next assignment with a half-mile workout at Gulfstream in 46.8 seconds on Thursday. Bennett will have expressed confidence in the gelding’s condition ahead of another attempt over the one-turn mile.
The runner will also have recorded a fourth-place finish in a five-furlong turf handicap after returning from a two-month break. That performance will have preceded his successful return to winning form in the Duke of Mischief Handicap.
Pure Class will have another opportunity to reverse the result under trainer David Fawkes. The six-year-old Florida-bred gelding will have maintained a consistent record since being claimed back by Fawkes for $35,000 last spring.
Across his six starts since returning to Fawkes’ stable, Pure Class will have recorded two victories, one second-place finish and three third-place finishes. His consistency will have earned him a share of top-weight honours for the Mr. Jordan Handicap.
Leonel Reyes will have his first ride on Pure Class in the gelding’s 29-race career. Reyes will bring strong current form into the meeting after leading the Sunshine Meet jockey standings.
El Principito and To The Eastside Seek Improved Results
Bennett will also saddle El Principito, with Jonathan Ocasio named to ride the five-year-old gelding at 120 pounds.
El Principito will have finished third in the Duke of Mischief Handicap after encountering trouble during his late challenge. Bennett will have believed that the runner could have produced a stronger finish with a clearer passage, making the Mr. Jordan Handicap another opportunity for the stablemate of Chrome Ghost.
To The Eastside will also attempt to improve on his latest performance. Trained by Andrea Puckett for Robert Wayne Jacobs and Dwight Puckett, the gelding will have finished sixth in the Duke of Mischief Handicap after contesting the early pace before weakening in the closing stages. He will have finished four lengths behind Chrome Ghost.
His earlier victory in the Benny the Bull Stakes will offer a more encouraging reference point, and Edgar Perez will return to ride him. The gelding will face another demanding examination against experienced handicap performers.
Indecisiveness Returns to Dirt
Indecisiveness will return to dirt after spending much of the year competing on turf. Trained by Ruben Sierra, the son of Decisive Moment will have broken his maiden on Gulfstream’s dirt course in 2024 before progressing to the Florida Derby in 2025.
Rasheed Hughes will take the ride for the first time in the Mr. Jordan Handicap. The return to a surface on which Indecisiveness will have previously succeeded will provide another opportunity to assess his current form.
The remaining runners will include Fede, Fiveeyesonskystars, Moonstrocity and Awesome Train. Fede will represent Stephen Screnci, Fiveeyesonskystars will run for Dr. Pierre Malek and trainer Roderick Rodriguez, Moonstrocity will represent Blue Rose Farm LLC, and Awesome Train will carry the colours of Briannjenn Racing LLC.
With Vibe seeking to rediscover his winning form and Chrome Ghost and Pure Class bringing recent handicap performances into the contest, the Mr. Jordan Handicap will offer a competitive test over Gulfstream’s one-turn mile. Vibe’s previous success at the venue will make his return a key storyline, while the proven form of the leading weights will provide a strong challenge.
Vibe will target a winning return in the Mr. Jordan Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, with Diego Herrera booked to ride for Todd Pletcher. Chrome Ghost and Pure Class will share top weight after their close finish in the Duke of Mischief Handicap, while El Principito, To The Eastside and Indecisiveness will also seek strong performances.
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