The ageless Xy Speed, who has been scratched four times as a result of races being rained off the grass since his last start nearly three months ago at Saratoga, will hopefully get a break from Mother Nature on Sunday when he tops a field of seven entered to go five furlongs in the $58,000 main event at Gulfstream Park. The race is the best of three optional-claiming and allowance races on the card.
“If you need rain, just put up a race for this horse,” quipped Michael Lerman, who has trained Xy Speed since the winter of 2023. “I’ve been watching the weather reports, as usual, since the race was drawn. Unfortunately, they are calling for a 50 percent chance of rain here on Saturday and Sunday, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Xy Speed continues to perform at a high level even though his 10th birthday is only nine weeks away. Claimed by his present connections, the Clear Stars Stable, for $32,000 during fall 2022, Xy Speed has won 6 of 15 starts the last two seasons for earnings of more than $275,000.
He has won at the same $62,500 optional-claiming and allowance condition he competes for Sunday twice in 2025. He remains eligible for the race because he competed for the claiming tag on each occasion.
“I just try to keep him happy in between races, I don’t need to do much with him, and I believe he’s as good as ever now despite his age,” Lerman said.
Xy Speed made a rare trip out of town for his last start, finishing eighth while beaten less than five lengths in a slightly higher-priced optional claimer on Aug. 2 at the Spa.
“Although the course was listed as fast, it was soft up there for the race that day and when Irad [Ortiz Jr.] came back he said the horse really didn’t handle that kind of going,” Lerman said. “So all things considered he really didn’t disgrace himself by any means considering he struggled over the track.
“On paper, it looks like this race sets up for him nicely, he should get the ideal trip from just off the pace. As long as he gets a rock hard turf to run on, I expect him to run very well.”
As Lerman noted, there is plenty of speed signed on with Cruzin Man, Esperon, El Apagon, and Makeit to Cheyenne all seemingly at their best when on the front end.
Cruzin Man also has had trouble getting on the turf here of late, having made his last five starts over the Tapeta strip, the two most recent times as a result of races being switched off the grass due to track conditions. Cruzin Man contested a lively pace before faltering to finish fifth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths, as the tepid 5-2 favorite in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint when he last raced Sept. 20.
Like Xy Speed, Okira could benefit from the projected pace scenario while having returned to the barn of his former trainer Jose Garoffalo, who puts blinkers back on for the occasion. Okira, who would likely benefit most if the race is switched to the synthetic track, will try to snap a nine-race winless streak dating back to his come-from-behind, 2 1/4-length victory in Turfway Park’s Animal Kingdom Stakes during spring 2024.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.