NEWS
Prince Arch follows Hard Buck's path in Gulfstream Park Handicap
Posted: Friday, March 04, 2005
Prince Arch, a multiple Grade 3 winner as a three-year-old, will attempt to follow a path set by Hard Buck (Brz) last year when he starts in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (G1) on the turf.
Hard Buck won the Gulfstream Park Handicap last year for trainer Ken McPeek before finishing second in the $2-million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba racecourse.
McPeek has the same two races on the agenda for Prince Arch, a four-year-old son of Arch who has not raced since winning the Saranac Handicap (G3) on September 6 at Saratoga Race Course.
"He's developed going from age three to four, and we're using this as a prep for Dubai," McPeek said. "He's been training fantastic. My assistant, Helen Pitts, gets off him grinning from ear-to-ear every time."
Prince Arch also won the 2004 Jefferson Cup Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs by a head over eventual champion turf male Kitten's Joy.
Host enters Saturday's race off his first stakes win, a victory in the Mac Diarmida Handicap (G3) at the Gulfstream Park Handicap distance of 1 3/8 miles on January 30 at Gulfstream.
Mustanfar exits a 2 ¾-length win in a 1 1/8-mile allowance/optional claiming race on February 10 at Gulfstream. The son of Unbridled won the Sycamore Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3) at 1 ½ miles on October 9 at Keeneland Race Course.
Niigon will pursue his first victory since winning the Queen's Plate Stakes on June 27 at Woodbine.
The field in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Niigon (Unbridled), Robert Landry, 111, Eric Coatrieux;
2. Prince Arch (Arch), Brice Blanc, 119, Ken McPeek;
3. Swagger Stick (Cozzene), Cornelio Velasquez, 114, H. Graham Motion;
4. Rio Guapore [BRZ] (Cigano Road), Rajiv Maragh, 112, Delmar Biazoli Martins;
5. Host (Tabasco Cat), Javier Castellano, 115, John C. Kimmel;
6. Navesink River (Unbridled), John Velazquez, 113, Todd Pletcher;
7. Gigli [BRZ] (Clackson [BRZ]), Jerry Bailey, 113, Bobby Frankel;
8. Macaw [IRE] (Bluebird), Joe Bravo, 114, Angel J. Penna Jr.;
9. Demeteor (Dehere), Jorge Chavez, 112, Kenneth Hoffman;
10. Quest Star (Broad Brush), Edgar Prado, 113, W. Elliott Walden; and
11. Mustanfar (Unbridled), Jose Santos, 118, Kiaran McLaughlin.
