Mr. Prospector Stakes 2013 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida will play host to the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes this Saturday, December 28. Horses three years old and upward will be chasing the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse when they dash six furlongs on Gulfstream’s dirt track.

A field of eight will line up in the Mr. Prospector – race 9 on Gulfstream’s Saturday card. Post time is 4:33 PM. Let’s take a brief look into the past performances of all eight entries for this Grade 3 stakes.

Apriority – won this race in 2011 and has had mixed results all over the country since. In 2013 Apriority has a win and a third place finish in seven starts – the win coming last time out over favored Travelin’ Man at 9-1 odds in an Allowance Optional Claiming here November 24. He has four graded stakes starts in 2013 but has placed in just one – a third in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita in April. He has 30 career starts with six wins, eight seconds and two third place finishes but hasn’t been great since his 2011 win – 13 starts, four on-the-board finishes and just 1 win. That win last time out has created a little optimism however and hopes that Apriority can return to form Saturday. He has four wins in seven starts at Gulfstream and should benefit from the drop in class but he hasn’t been great at the six furlong distance.

Star Harbour – makes his graded stakes debut Saturday for trainer Bobby Dibona in decent form. Last time out was a nice win in the minor Sunshine State Stakes ahead of Fort Loudon here December 8 after a third behind Caixa Electronica in the minor Duck Dance Stakes at Belmont Park in October and a Claiming score at Saratoga in August. He has six wins, five seconds and four third place finishes in 20 career starts and has the speed to make some noise here. Star Harbour just missed the track record at seven furlongs on this track earlier this year and should be in the mix Saturday.

Singanothersong – finished a good second on this track in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes here in March and has placed in all three starts since. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here November 17 after a second in a similar race October 20. He has placed in 11 of 13 career starts and enters the Mr. Prospector in decent form. He loves this track and this surface (he almost set the track record at this distance) and could emerge the surprise of the Mr. Prospector.

Fort Loudon – has eight starts in 2013 and has failed to place in his last five – a fourth last time out in the minor Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap at Calder December 14 followed a fifth in the minor Sunshine State Stakes here December 8, an eighth in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap in July and a sixth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in May. Also this year he had an OK third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap March 9 behind Swagger Jack and a very good win in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Stakes February 9. Fort Loudon has 27 career starts with eight wins, three seconds and four third place finishes but has just one win this year. He has struggled lately but races for the third time in 20 days Saturday looking to snap his funk – particularly in graded stakes company.

Mr. Prospector Stakes betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Black Diamond Cat – has three wins and two seventh place finishes in his last five starts overall with two minor stakes starts on this track the last three months. His last graded stakes start resulted in a seventh in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder in July. Black Diamond Cat has a stunning 51 career starts with nine wins, 11 seconds and five third place finishes but hasn’t won since August 2011. He has been inconsistent in his career and a tad difficult to trust.

Upgrade – has placed in six of eight starts in 2013 – three third place finishes including the Grade 2 Connaught Cup May 26 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Keeneland April 5. Last time out was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs November 23 after a Claiming score at Keeneland October 13, a fifth in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes at Woodbine in August and a disappointing seventh in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park July 4. Upgrade ended his 2012 campaign with a ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in a year that was highlighted by a win in the Grade 3 Jaipur Stakes in June. He has seven wins, nine seconds and five third place finishes in 29 career starts and is an experienced, intriguing entry for the Mr. Prospector.

Travelin’ Man – Todd Pletcher trainee has a win and a third place finish in five starts in 2013 – the win coming in the minor Sir Shackleton Stakes here back in March. He won the 2011 Grade 2 Swale Stakes but has failed to place in four graded stakes starts since – the last being as sixth in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship in February. Todd Pletcher’s name may raise a few eyebrows but the recent form of Travelin’ Man doesn’t.

Trinni Heart – makes his graded stakes debut Saturday having placed in just two of his last eight starts – an Allowance two back and a Claiming score at Calder three back. He did have a win on this track earlier this year – a MSW April 5 – his only other win in 14 career starts. Trinni Heart looks way overmatched in this one – not a whole lot is expected Saturday.

Race 9 on Gulfstream Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:33 PM.