Hutcheson Stakes 2016 at Gulfstream Park

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, January 2 from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A purse of $100,000 will be on the line for newly turned three year olds willing to go six furlongs on Gulfstream’s dirt track.

A field of seven will take to the track in the Hutcheson Stakes – race 3 on Gulfstream’s Saturday card. Post time is 1:05 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 3 stakes – an early prep for the Grade 1 Florida Derby April 2.

Sheikh of Sheikhs – Wesley Ward trained colt recorded a win at first asking at Saratoga August 22 and went on to a sixth in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland October 3. Last time out he bounced back with his first ever stakes win – the minor Juvenile Dirt Sprint Stakes as favorite at Keeneland October 31. Sheikh of Sheikhs has won two of his three career starts and is expected to be in the mix again Saturday. Joel Rosario has the mount on the 120 pound co-highweight from the outside post 7.

Fall Salute – Edward Plesa trained colt has seven career starts with three wins and three second place finishes. Last time out was a nice win in the minor Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West November 28 which followed an uncharacteristic fifth after fading in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park October 17, a good win in the $150,000 minor Hall of Fame Stakes at Parx September 26 and a second in the minor Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park September 6. He has been competitive almost every time out and hopes to avenge an ugly effort in his only graded stakes start. Edgard Zayas has been tabbed with accomplishing that goal on the other 120 pound co-highweight from post 3.

Noholdingback Bear – has a win and a second place finish in two career starts for trainer Michael De Paulo. He arrives on the heels of a respectable runner-up finish – behind Sheikh of Sheikhs in the minor Juvenile Dirt Sprint Stakes at Keeneland October 31 after a maiden score by 5 3/4 lengths at first asking at Woodbine in September. Noholdingback Bear makes his graded stakes debut in decent form and will have Luis Saez aboard from gate 4.

Awesome Banner – has just one career start for trainer Stanley Gold and it was a good one – a 9 3/4 length maiden score on this track in record time for 4 1/2 furlongs way back in June. He hits the track for the first time in nearly seven months on Saturday hoping to make it 2-for-2 to start his career. Jose Carabello has been tabbed to ride from gate 2.

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While Ye May – has just one career start for trainer Dane Kobiskie with one win – that coming November 28 at Gulfstream Park West. While Ye May was impressive in his only career start and will look to keep the roll going from gate 6 with Rafael Manuel Hernandez in the irons.

Danbury – William Kaplan trained colt has just one win in six career starts – that coming in his debut – on this track in July. He has failed to place in five starts since – a seventh last time out in the minor Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West November 28 followed a fourth in the minor Juvenile Sprint Stakes on that track November 7, an eleventh in the minor Florida Sire In Reality Stakes in October and a fifth and a sixth respectively in a pair of minor stakes races on this track. Danbury hasn’t been great but hopes to change all of that around from post 5 with Javier Castellano aboard.

Union Grace – will bit the track for just the third time for trainer Kelly Jones having posted a win in his debut at Charles Town October 9 and a fourth last time out in the minor Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs December 19. Union Grace has been OK so far but looks for his first stakes win from the rail – with Huber Villa-Gomez in the saddle.

Race 3 on Gulfstream Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 1:05 PM.