Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out the undefeated Off the Tracks in Saturday’s Gulfstream Park Oaks.
With all the best in the division either waiting for the Kentucky Oaks (GI) or their last preps for the first Friday in May set to be contested over the next two weeks, a decent field of seven sophomore fillies will line up for the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII).
Paul Reddam’s Alcibiades Stakes (GI) winner Gomo returns off a lengthy layoff and surgery to remove ankle chips and, based on past performances alone, looks best if she returns to her juvenile form. The daughter of Uncle Mo is trained by Doug O’Neill and was given a nice, long rest to recover from her injuries and come back this year with a nice freshening under her belt. She has never finished worse than third in her five-race career and owns a versatile running style that will allow her to set all the early pace or sit off the speed and wait to launch a winning move.
Off The Tracks, a daughter of Curlin, makes her first start for Todd Pletcher since majority interest in her was purchased by Newtown Annerer Stud in late February. The bay filly is undefeated in three starts and counts last year’s Schuylerville Stakes (GIII) as her most notable victory. Though she has never raced beyond six furlongs, she certainly is bred to appreciate the added ground and has found a good spot to give it a whirl. Pletcher’s go-to rider John Velazquez will be aboard and the speedy filly will break from the outside, giving her clear running room to establish a preferred spot up on or right behind the early speed.
The Gulfstream Park Oaks is the seventh race on the card with the field set to break from the gate at 2:50 p.m. EDT.
