BY BROCK SHERIDAN
The Florida-bred pair of Prevent and Lord Eddard Stark will both go at least seven furlongs farther than ever when they race two miles on the turf in the $115,000 Allen Jerkens Memorial Handicap at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The Grey Wizard (Ire) has been assigned the top weight of 126 pounds under the handicap conditions, giving away between four and 13 pounds to his 10 rivals including Lord Eddard Stark with a 117-pound assignment and Prevent under 114 pounds.
The purse includes a $15,000 Top 3 bonus for Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Lord Eddard Stark will be in search of his first win since taking a first level, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf at Gulfstream in May. He then finished second in a $35,000 starter allowance, optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Gulfstream synthetic course in June before taking a 60-day break.
He returned to finish third in a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming on the Colonial Downs turf on Aug. 30 before finishing fifth in his last race against upper level, $62,500 optional claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Gulfstream turf on Oct. 18.
Lord Eddard Stark is by He’s Had Enough out of Rough Winter, by Macho Uno and was bred by owner Michael John Rowe of Reddick, Fla. He has four wins, four seconds and five thirds from 27 career starts with earnings of $165,629.
Leonel Reyes will ride Lord Eddard Stark from post six among the 11 3-year-olds and older.
BC Racing LLC’s Prevent has been second twice against stakes company but looks to break through for his first black-type victory Saturday. He finished second to fellow Florida-bred Crystal Quest in $110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs in March and was second to Freedom Principal in the $65,000 Armed Forces at Gulfstream Park in November of last year.
Last out, Prevent was seventh in the $79,000 Showing Up going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream on Nov. 2.
Prevent has won four with five seconds and two thirds while earning $253,547 from 17 starts. He is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, out of Bossy Gal, by Pioneerof the Nile and was bred in Florida by Katia Perez Ozuna.
Prevent has post four and jockey Luca Panici.
The Grey Wizard appears to be in his wheelhouse in the Allen Jerkens after winning the $150,000 John Forbes going two miles on the turf at Far Hills on Oct. 19. Trained by Graham Motion for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and the Estate of Albert Frassetto, The Grey Wizard set a course record in the Forbes, stopping the teletimer in a final time of 3:29.16 after coming off the pace to win by a half-length.
The 5-year-old gelded son of Caravaggio has won three of his last four races including the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup going two miles at Saratoga Race Course in June and the $200,000 Cape Henlopen over a mile-and-a-half on the turf at Delaware Park on Aug 21.
The Grey Wizard has six wins, five seconds and a third in 18 career starts while banking $832,531.
He will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post nine.
Completing the Allen Jerkens entries are Dean Martini with Edwin Gonzalez in the saddle, Edgar Perez rides California Frolic, Really Good and jockey Joe Bravo, Paco Lopez is named to ride Lord Flintshire, Six Minus will have Edgard Zayas aboard, Tyler Gaffalione takes the call on Utah Beach, Eldest Son and jockey David Egan and Hector Diaz Jr. will ride The Ginger Wizard (Ire).
