Apostle key to strong maiden race

The $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1), which attracted a solid field of nine, serves as Saturday’s feature and the $150,000 Suwanee River H. (G3) on the green for fillies and mares is also part of the program, but it’s a Gulfstream maiden race that has piqued my interest most.

Race 7 is for sophomores going 1 1/16-miles on the dirt with some well-bred horses from top barns in the 13-horse field. And I am keying around a longshot named #7 APOSTLE (15-1).

Bay son of Medaglia d’Oro debuted here January 6th and was saddled with the outermost post slot in a 12-horse field. Eddie Plesa pupil was alert from the break, tracked a clear leader to the top of the lane, and then faded late in finishing a decent fifth under the wire. Apostle now stretches out to a route off of a seven-furlong bow and I think he is sitting on a big one at a price.

$900,000 two-year-old purchase is from a good immediate family, being half to a trio of stakes winners including Grade 3 hero Carve and Grade 1-placed stakes lass Apropos, as well as the talented Sloane Avenue, an unlucky second in the 2015 Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2).

Apostle took money at 5.70-1 in his debut which tells me he raised some eyebrows in the mornings. And improvement is more than likely today for a few reasons – a better post, more ground to work with and Plesa is a fine 24% with second-time starters. A trio of nice five-furlong drills in the interim on this course adds to the appeal.

Expensive colt ran evenly (89-88-90 BRIS Pace splits) in that loaded maiden heat and it tells me two turns will move him forward. Apostle retains pilot Edgard Zayas for today’s event.

#10 ORBED (7/2) was a fine second in exiting the same race as Apostle and the Jimmy Jerkens charge earned a healthy 104 BRIS Late Pace figure for his troubles. $525,000 juvenile buy has a pair of races under his belt and comes in with a bullet three panels in preparation of his route debut.

#13 SLOT (9/2) has never missed the top three from a quartet of lifetime races and despite his wicked post draw, Pletcher pupil could easily improve second time off the shelf. Regular rider Javier Castellano stays in the silks atop the son of Candy Ride.

#2 GAMBIT (6-1) posted a 100 BRIS Late Pace number in a six-furlong maiden race here last month in his seasonal bow and Rusty Arnold trainee will almost surely appreciate the stretch-out in trip from an advantageous post.

Wager

I will bet Apostle across the board, as well as in exotics wagers with the aforementioned trio.

$10 Win/Place/Show #7 APOSTLE = $30

$5 Ex 7 with 2,10,13 = $15

$.10-Super 7 with 2,10,13 with 2,3,4,6,7,10,12,13 with 2,3,4,6,7,10,12,13 = $12.60

$.10-Super 2,10,13 with 7 with 2,3,4,6,7,10,12,13 with 2,3,4,6,7,10,12,13 = $12.60