Gulfstream’s Hutcheson Stakes Preview

By Emily Shields

With all eyes on the Fair Grounds and Sunland Park this weekend, and Santa Anita still canceled until next week, Gulfstream Park’s weekend stakes action has been a little lost in the shuffle. The $100,000 Hutcheson Stakes (G3) is one of two on the program and drew a field of five sophomore colts.

#1 In the Loop (3-1) is a Colts Neck Stables owned son of Super Saver out of a Mr. Greeley mare. He debuted firing to win by a neck under Irad Ortiz, Jr., but will now be ridden by Jevian Toledo. He goes the same distance on the same track today and has a big shot after three straight bullet workouts.

#2 Federal Case (9-5) is a Todd Pletcher-trained son of Gemologist. Seventh in the Holy Bull (G2) in early February, Federal Case had previously won two in a row, including over a mile on this track. The $650,000 purchase cuts back in distance today.

#3 Gladiator King (10-1) is a son of Curlin for Jaime Mejia. He will be making his 12^th start here, including seven straight stakes to date. He won one of those at Tampa Bay Downs but hasn’t been better than third since. His starts are all over the map, from 1 1/16 on the dirt last out to five furlongs on the grass before that. The only time he went this distance he was a stakes winner.

#4 Topper T (2-1) is a Bill Mott runner exiting the Swale Stakes (G3) where he was third. He has been top three in six of his eight lifetime starts, with his two off the board finishes coming in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and a Derby prep, the Kentucky Jockey Club last November.

#5 Lutsky (4-1) rounds out the field. The $135,000 son of Yes It’s True broke his maiden impressively first out at Belmont Park last summer, then was on the shelf until March 1 of this year where he was third, beaten only 1 ½ lengths for the win, in a Gulfstream Park sprint allowance. First run in 1954, the Hutcheson Stakes has a lengthy history at Gulfstream Park. Horses like Spectacular Bid, Swale, Housebuster, and Holy Bull all won it, and supersire More Than Ready dead heated with Summer Note in 2000. Last year it was won by Madison’s Luna, a Tapit colt.