(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -  E. Paul Robsham’s 4-year-old Kentucky homebred colt Travelin Man drove to a three-quarters length victory as the 4-to-5 favorite in Thursday’s third race allowance feature at Gulfstream Park in his first start since a disappointing last of seven-place finish in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

Jockey John R. Velazquez rode Travelin Man in all of his six starts last year and was aboard for Thursday’s 6½ furlongs test run over a ‘sloppy’ track as they sat in third until taking command at the top of the stretch. Good Friends Stable’s Golden Moka stalked in second down the backstretch and held that position at the finish as Kramer Stables’ Thank U Philippe finished another half-length back in third.

A son of Trippi trained by Todd Pletcher, Travelin Man made the first three starts of his career at Gulfstream early last year, breaking his maiden, finishing second in the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) and winning the Swale Stakes (G2) on Florida Derby Day. However, he tailed off after that to finish sixth in the Derby Trial (G3) at Churchill Downs and fourth in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) on Belmont Day before the Amsterdam.  

Thursday’s race also marked the return of Our Sugar Bear Stable’s 4-year-old Gourmet Dinner making his first appearance since finishing second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) here last year on Feb. 26. He was trapped down on the inside behind horses in the backstretch until coming wide into the stretch, finishing fourth in the field of seven. The winner was timed in 1:17:20.

Quote of the Day: Trainer Todd Pletcher after the victory of Travelin Man in Thursday’s third race: “He got off to a little bit of a rough start sandwiched between horses, but then ran a very good race from there. He got a little tired toward the end, but that could be expected off the layoff and over this sticky track. It’s great to get him back. There was never really anything physically wrong with him, but that last race was uncharacteristic for him and we decided to give him time off.”

Who’s Hot: Jockey Julien Leparoux won three races on the card beginning with Marylou Whitney’s 4-year-old Birdway to break his maiden in the fourth race for trainer Nick Zito and Joseph Sutton’s 3-year-old Maan to score in the eighth race allowance for trainer Eddie Kenneally, the latter running his record to two-for-two.

Leparoux got his third winner in the ninth race allowance after riding Green Lantern Stable’s Sea Level Drive to finish second in one-mile test for trainer Rusty Arnold. Farnsworth Stable’s favorite Canadian Mistress finished first but was disqualified to third by the stewards for bothering Joel Kligman’s third-place finisher Salary Drive
nearing the stretch.

Work of the Day: Fred Bradley’s 4-year-old Kentucky homebred filly Groupie Doll drilled a sharp five furlongs in :59 flat Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park for trainer and co-owner William ‘Buff’ Bradley, fastest of 18 horses timed at the distance, as she continues preparation for a start next in the $100,000 Sabin Stakes (G3) on Feb. 25.

A chestnut daughter of Bowman’s Band, Groupie Doll won the Gardenia Stakes (G3) last summer at Ellis Park and has been very impressive in two allowance starts at the meet going one mile. She defeated a good field of fillies and mares when scoring by 2½ lengths on Dec. 22 and finished a game second, beaten less than a length by the good colt Boys At Tosconova last out on Jan. 27.

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $4,104.77

Super Hi 5 Paid: $1,920.709

File photo
Travelin Man