Race of the Week: Gulfstream's La Prevoyante | Saturday, January 25, 2025

‍The Lead:
Gulfstream Park's massive Pegasus World Cup Day program Saturday boasts 8 stakes races on the 13-race card, including 7 in a row to end it. Get in-depth team coverage of the signature Pegasus World Cup races in the 1/ST Pegasus World Cup Wager Guide, free here. The undercard race that has me ready to fire is the Race 7 La Prevoyante Stakes for distance turf mares at 1-1/2 miles. It's Race 7 with a scheduled post time of 2:04 pm ET. The day's action gets underway at 11 am ET.

Horseplayers, be sure to take advantage of the 5 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split promotions on Gulfstream multi-race bets on the Pegasus World Cup card. Also note there will be up to a $10 money-back special on win bets that finish second or third in the Pegasus World Cup, PWC Turf and PWC Filly & Mare Turf.

​Field Depth:
Grade 3 winners CHOP CHOP, LA MEHANA and BEAUTIFUL LOVE have the signature wins, while the first pair also are Grade 1-placed. FOREVER AFTER ALL is Grade 1-placed. This quartet has held the strongest company lines in the La Prevoyante field. Note that BALLADO'S BEACH is a Group 1 winner in her native Argentina.
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Pace:
Modest pace as often is the case in turf marathons. MARKSMAN QUEEN may have the most interest in setting the tone, while SHILOH'S MISTRESS, WHATLOVELOOKSLIKE and CHOP CHOP are likely to maintain their inner-post advantages by leaving with the first flight. A deep closer could be compromised by the expected soft pace.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-SHILOH'S MISTRESS: Mike Maker has a penchant for making star turf marathoners out of experienced horses who move to his barn. This ex-Michael McCarthy trainee won a first-level Churchill allowance at first asking for Maker and now tries elders in stakes company for the first time. Jockey Luis Saez likely keeps her close with the rail advantage in play around 3 turns.

#2-WHATLOVELOOKSLIKE: John Velazquez-Todd Pletcher tandem will try to extend as much as they can out of this New York-bred. She's failed to finish late against open company and hasn't won since August 2023.

#3-CHOP CHOP: $900K purchase in November at Fasig-Tipton as a broodmare prospect, but kept into racing for now by Repole Stable and moved from Brad Cox to Todd Pletcher. She's proven over marathon trips and has a bullet workout for this at Palm Beach Downs. She hasn't run since October and note she's had only 1 layoff line in her career, returning a third-place finisher in a 6-horse allowance as the favorite. That's the only concern as her form stacks up very well vs. these.

#4-LA MEHANA: Amongst a field that is otherwise 0-10 on the Gulfstream lawn lifetime, her Via Borghese Stakes win and Orchid Stakes third in 2 attempts locally really stands out. Proven goods over the 1-1/2 miles grass trip as well at 4: 2-0-1. Consistently strong BRIS late pace figs help the cause. Lot to like about this French export who was Group 1-placed in her homeland before coming to the Christophe Clement barn.

#5-BEAUTIFUL LOVE (pictured): Expect bettors to flock to this Godolphin-Charlie Appleby trainee who exits a fourth-place finish (beaten only 1 length) in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. But note 2 starts back she was a no-excuse third to La Mehana, and I'm of the opinion this year's BC F&M Turf was a weak renewal by its own lofty standards. That said, respect this one under William Buick, but expect a shorter price than her real chances.

#6-MARKSMAN QUEEN: Expected pace player hasn't been able to take them all the way in about 13 months, but she should get a pretty easy trip here to take her shot. Graham Motion trainee exits a front-running third in the Via Borghese behind a couple of return rivals in this race.

#7-LADY FIREFOOT: No threat seventh in the Via Borghese at 43-1 and will be a massive price with 2 of 3 career wins coming for claiming tags.

#8-BALLADO'S BEACH: Argentine Group 1 winner returned locally Dec. 26 in the Via Borghese after 8 months away and was an even fifth vs. several of these. Trainer Ignacio Correas has had US success with improrts like this (Didia et al) and would be no shock to improve in this start. Prefer a few others.

#9-YATTA: Dropped all 5 stakes decisions last year vs. fellow 3-year-olds and now takes on elder stakes rivals for the first time. Middle-distance sort tested for the marathon in a difficult assignment.

#10-FOREVER AFTER ALL: Grade 1 Gamely third-place finisher last May at Santa Anita, this Brendan Walsh trainee has been well-traveled. Runner-up by a neck in the local Via Borghese last out in her first Gulfstream try. Runner-up is a key term with her -- as in 10 times from 21 starts with only 2 wins. Consistent and can handle the trip; just usually finds another more brilliant.

#11-QUEEN REGENT: John Gosden export from England has won 1 of 4 since teaming with Brendan Walsh, adding third-place efforts in the Maple Leaf at Woodbine and the Cardinal at Churchill. Deep closer shouldn't be impacted by wide draw, but a slow pace projection will provide the biggest challenge.

#12-AVENUE NIEL: $210K buy in November at the Keeneland sale as a broodmare propsect, new owner Larry Johnson has given this now 6-year-old a few shots at Gulfstream for new trainer Mike Trombetta. She was a no-excuse sixth in the Via Borghese and will have a tough draw to overcome against a tougher cast.

AE #13-GILDED EDGE: No threat sixth in the Tropical Park Oaks at 49-1 and would be among the longest prices on the board if able to draw into the field for Todd Pletcher.

Most Certain Exotics Contender:
LA MEHANA is proven over the course and distance and has pace versatility to keep close if things get too slow.

Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
MARKSMAN QUEEN would be a shock to wire the field, but not without a chance to hold onto a share at a big price in what looks to be an easy pace.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$90 win LA MEHANA. $5 exacta part-wheel LA MEHANA over MARKSMAN QUEEN and FOREVER AFTER ALL ($10).