BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Long odds, whether in the program or on the tote board, are no discouragement for Florida-bred Lord Eddard Stark, who comes into Saturday’s William L. McKnight at Gulfstream Park off an upset victory against stakes horses. The 7-year-old gelding will face a full field of 4-year-olds and older at a mile-and-a-half on the turf in the $215,000 contest, which includes a $15,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Set at 30-1 in the morning line, the connections of Lord Eddard Stark see another opportunity after watching him win the $108,000 H. Allen Jerkens at odds of 60-1 last out over the Gulfstream grass on Dec. 7. Ridden by Leonel Reyes, Lord Eddard Stark came from 15 lengths back and four-wide on the far turn to win by head and pay $123 on a $2 win ticket.
Some saw the dismissal in the Jerkens as curious as Lord Eddard Stark was completing a productive campaign in 2024 that saw him finish in the top three in five of eight previous starts while steadily moving up in class.
After winning a first level, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf at Gulfstream in May, Lord Eddard Stark was second in a $50,000 optional claiming starter allowance going a mile-and-sixteenth on the Gulfstream synthetic in June. Trainer Joe Orseno then sent him to Colonial Downs in August where he was late running third in a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming at the same distance on the inner turf.
He stepped up to face top level, $62,500 optional claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Gulfstream turf on Oct. 18, finishing fifth in his last race before the Jerkens.
Lord Eddard Stark has won five with four seconds and five thirds in 28 starts while earning $233,149 for owner John Rowe of Reddick, Fla. He is by He’s Had Enough out of Rough Winter, by Macho Uno and was bred in Florida by John Michael Rowe, also of Reddick.
Reyes will again ride and they will depart from post six.
British trainer Charles Appleby has entered Bold Act (Ire), a homebred for Godolphin who makes his first start since Oct. 11 when second to Highway Robber in the Grade 3 Sycamore going a mile-and-a-half on the Keeneland turf.
A winner of five of 11 starts in France and Great Britain including the US$60,300 Prix Nureyev at Deauxville in August of 2023, Bold Act made his North American debut two months later winning that year’s Sycamore by three-quarters of a length. The globe-trotting son of New Approach (Ire) would next win the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold sponsored by Emirates.com at Meydan Racecourse in March of 2024 before returning to United States to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Louisville going 12 furlongs at Churchill Downs in May. In one start before the 2024 Sycamore, he was third in the Chorleywood overnight stakes won by Webslinger going a mile-and-three-eighths on the turf at Churchill in June.
Bold Act has won seven of 17 career starts with three seconds and four thirds with earnings of $656,532.
He has post 11 and will have William Buick aboard for the first time since the Prix Nureyev victory.
Rounding out the field are Limited Liability with jockey Frankie Dettori, California Frolic has Junior Alvarado named to ride, Cathkin Peak (Ire) will be piloted by Jose Ortiz, Goldeneye with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, Javier Castellano guides Anglophile, Edgard Zayas has the call on Harrow, Yamato and rider Luis Saez, Rockemperor (Ire) will have Dylan Davis in the irons, Utah Beach and jockey Tyler Gaffalione and Cash Equity will carry Irad Ortiz Jr. Dashman, Capture the Flag, Native Shaman and Lorenz (Brz) are on the also-eligible list.
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