(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -  Will’s Wildcat held off a stretch-long challenge by Tahitian Warrior to register a front-running victory by a head in the third race, a stakes-quality $60,000 optional-claiming allowance.

The 4-year-old gelding shot right to the lead under Julien Leparoux, closely stalked by Tahitian Warrior along the backstretch. The latter moved alongside the pacesetter turning into the homestretch, setting up a hotly contested battle to the finish line. Will’s Wildcat ($9.40) was successful in holding off one last lunge by Tahitian Warrior at the end of the 6½-furlong race, contested over a sloppy main track.

Will’s Wildcat’s last victory came over a muddy track at Churchill Downs in a six-furlong overnight stakes on Nov. 4, which was followed by a poor finishes in the 1 1/8-mile Clark Handicap (G1) three weeks later and an eighth-place finish in the one-mile Hal’s Hope (G3) at Gulfstream on Jan. 14.

Back to doing what he does best – sprinting – Will’s Wildcat ran 6½ furlongs in 1:15.74 after setting brilliant quarter-mile fractions of :22.20, :44.38 and 1:08.95. Tahitian Warrior, who was making his first start since July, finished 3¾ lengths ahead of Black Diamond Cat. Favored Arch Traveler finished last in the field of six.

Quote of the Day:  “It was pretty impressive. I guess it shows he’s pretty superior on an off track. That (the sloppy track) was his favorite track. It was impressive going a half in 44-and-1 (seconds). I thought he was going to be third turning for home, but he hung right in there,” said trainer James Baker following Will’s Wildcat’s impressive front-running score in the third race.

Workout of the Day: Gulfstream Park Derby runner-up Casual Trick, who finished eighth after stumbling at the start of a recent allowance race, breezed four furlongs in 48.02 seconds over a fast track at Palm Meadows Training Center. The Nick Zito-trained son of Bernardini turned in the fastest clocking of 36 recorded at the distance.

Who’s Hot:  Trainer Todd Pletcher moved to within one victory of 3000 career trips to the winner’s circle by saddling three winners on Friday’s card at Gulfstream before watching another trainee score at Aqueduct. Pletcher has horses entered in seven races at Gulfstream Park on Saturday’s Donn Handicap program.

The eight-time defending Gulfstream training champion scored with Shared Heart ($4) in the fourth, Springcourt ($4) in the fifth and Concorde’s Flight ($8.80) in the seventh.  

10-cent Rainbow 6 carryover: $9,348.42