HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Biz Biz Buzz, who showed a surprising turn of early foot to get back to the winner’s circle following a prolonged absence earlier this month, will try to duplicate the effort when taking on 10 rivals under similar high-priced optional claiming and allowance conditions going five furlongs on the turf in Friday’s $97,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.
Biz Biz Buzz had gone winless for nearly 18 months, a span that covered 10 starts, before he made every pole a winning one en route to a 1 1/4-length victory over the 9-year-old veteran Xy Speed here on Feb. 2. Trained by Mike Maker, Biz Biz Buzz received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance, just two points lower than his career best, which he earned in a fourth-place finish in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs during the summer of 2023.
“I wasn’t expecting him to be on the lead last time and I don’t feel five furlongs is his best distance either, but it worked out well,” Maker said. “I’d love to be loose on the lead again this time, although that’s probably not going to happen in this field. But he is a classy old horse and I’m hopeful he’ll be able to duplicate that last result.”
As Maker noted, Biz Biz Buzz should have plenty of challengers for the early lead in a field that includes such speedsters as Extendo, Yes I Am Free, and Poulin in O T, all of whom figure to have a serious say in the early pace scenario.
Xy Speed bounced back from an atypically dull performance in the Janus Stakes in his 2024 finale to chase Biz Big Buzz most of the way before settling for place money in the pair’s previous encounter. Xy Speed is coming off arguably the best year of his career, having won four of nine starts last season, including a pair of overnight handicaps over the local course during the spring.
Trainer Joe Orseno will send out a pair of key contenders in Extendo and the stakes winner Mattingly, who finished third behind Biz Biz Buzz and Xy Speed in his seasonal debut four weeks earlier. Mattingly runs well on all surfaces. He captured the Hollywood Beach Stakes over the synthetic track and finished second in the Affirmed Stakes on dirt at 2 and is multiple stakes-placed on grass.
Abrir Caminos, a multiple stakes winner on turf in his native Chile, If Not for Luck, Bonus Move, and Urban Legend complete the lineup.
◗ Jody’s Pride, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up, breezed seven furlongs in 1:25.20 Wednesday at Palm Meadows in preparation for her next start, which is likely to be in the Grade 1 Azeri at Oaklawn Park on March 8. The work was her third at the training center since she finished third, beaten a neck by Mystic Lake, in the Grade 2 Inside Information here on Jan. 25.
“This was a serious work this morning. She went very well with Irad [Ortiz Jr.] aboard,” noted Jorge Abreu, trainer of Jody’s Pride. “We realize Thorpedo Anna is heading to the race, but our filly came out of her last race in good shape. She’s doing very well right now and she needs to run.”
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