Palm Beach Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida will play host to the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes this Saturday, March 1. A purse of $150,000 will be on the line for three year olds willing to go 1 1/16 miles on Gulfstream’s turf track.

A large field of 12 plus one Main Track Only Entry have been confirmed for the Palm Beach Stakes – race 10 on Gulfstream’s Saturday card. Post time is 5:41 PM. Let’s take a brief glance into the past performances of all 13 possible entries for this Grade 3 stakes.

Storming Inti – Chad Brown trained colt has been very impressive in his five race career – four wins and a third place finish. He enters this weekend on a four race win streak including three minor stakes scores in his last three starts – the Kitten’s Joy Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion over We Miss Artie January 19, the Pulpit Stakes November 30 and the Awad Stakes October 27 – the last two results on this track. Storming Inti breaks from the rail with Javier Castellano in the saddle as the likely favorite.

Gala Award – Todd Pletcher pupil broke maiden last time out January 20 in his second career start after a second in a similar race in his debut December 7 – both results coming on this track. Although lightly raced he has shown good form on grass – he hopes to record his first Palm Beach win in this race for Pletcher.

Pleuven – started his career in Europe where he had two wins, a second and a third place finish in four starts including his last two there. Pleuven debuted in North America December 21 and finished an OK third in the Grade 3 Dania Beach Stakes on this track. He has been training better ahead of his second North American start Saturday.

Mr Speaker – Shug McGaughey trained colt has looked terrific at the end of 2013 – an impressive 10 3/4 length win in the Grade 3 Dania Beach Stakes here on December 21 and a MSW score at Belmont Park in October. Last time out was a step backward however – a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes here January 25 in his only start on dirt. Mr Speaker will look to get back to his Dania Beach Stakes for Saturday and to erase the memory of an ugly outing in the Holy Bull as he moves back to a more favorable turf surface.

Cabo Cat – broke maiden in his career debut for trainer Mark Henning and finished second two back behind Mr Speaker in his graded stakes debut – the Grade 3 Dania Beach Stakes on this track December 12. He followed that with an OK third behind Storming Inti and We Miss Artie last time out in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes – January 19 on this track. He has been in there with some tough competition and has fared well. Now Cabo Cat needs to step up and break though against those foes.

Palm Beach Stakes betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Smart Cover – finished a very good second by a neck and just ahead of the impressive Tapiture last time out in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes way back in September for trainer Dale Romans after breaking maiden in his second career start – July 28 at Ellis Park and a fifth in his debut in a MSW at Churchill Downs.

So Lonesome – is coming off a win in the minor Virgo Libra Stakes in his first turf start at Aqueduct November 16 after an OK third in the minor Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park in October and a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming in September. He has two wins, a second and a third place finish in four career starts and steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday.

Two Jacks Wild – enters this weekend on a two race win streak – a Starter Allowance February 9 and a MSW January 12. His only other career start resulted in a seventh December 7 – all results at Tampa Bay Downs. He makes his stakes debut Saturday in decent form.

Can’thelpbelieving – Irish bred H. Graham Motion trained colt started his career and finished second at Roscommon before shipping to North America where he has two starts. He broke maiden last time out January 11 on this track after a second in a similar race in October at Keeneland,

Morning Calm – has just two career starts – a MSW score in his debut and a fourth last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming February 7 – both results on this track.

Patent – will race in stakes company for the first time for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin having recorded a win, a second and a third place finish in his six career starts. He finally broke maiden two back at Aqueduct November 16 but followed that with a fourth last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 12.

My Storm Trooper – has five career starts – all MSW races and finally broke through last time out – on this track February 1. He also has two seconds and a third place finish here. My Storm Trooper steps up Saturday in so-so form.

Ring Weekend – Main Track Only entry has five career starts – all MSW. He finally broke maiden last time out – on this track after a second and a pair of thirds. He has improved every time out for trainer H Graham Motion.

Race 10 on Gulfstream Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:41 PM.