Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Las Vegas, NV - Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida will be the scene of the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes this Saturday, March 23. Horses four years old and upward will be featured as they race 1 1/2 miles on Gulfstream's turf track in search of the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.
The Pan American has attracted a large field of 10 older horses for race 10 on Gulfstream's Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:35 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all 10 entries for this Grade 2 race.
2013 Pan American Stakes Race Favorites
Teaks North - came out of nowhere two back and won the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream in wire-to-wire fashion January 19 and followed that with another good result last time out - a second in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here February 16. This after a tenth in the El Prado Stakes and a fifth in last year's Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. He was terrific in the summer of 2011 with 2 graded stakes wins but outside of last two results - he hasn't been great. He has been injury prone in the past but when running right is a serious threat.
Ioya Bigtime - started 2012 off slowly but enters the Pan American having placed in five of his last six starts - a win in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington Park on July 14, a second in the American St. Leger Stakes in August, a win at the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup September 14, a second in the Grade 2 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in October and an OK third last time out in the Mac Diarmida behind Teaks North and Amira's Prince.
Pan American Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Twilight Eclipse - won his first two career starts but then fell off to a sixth in the Equalize Stakes, a fifth in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes and a second three back in the minor Temperance Hill Stakes at Belmont Park October 21. He bounced back in a big way two back with a nice win by 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade 2 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder November 24 but followed that with a fourth last time out in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here February 16.
Newsdad - is the course record holder here over 1 1/4 miles. He had an impressive victory over Simmard at last year's Pan American Stakes in March but struggled after that - a fifth in the Grade 1 Elkhorn in April, a fourth in the Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes in July, a fourth in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer and a fifth two back in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Belmont Park September 8. Last time out was a huge bounce back effort - a win in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland October 27. He is the defending champion in this race and looks to be in good form for this year's Pan American.
Mucho Mas Macho - stakes winner is coming off a great win on the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes here January 12 at 41-1 odds to follow a very nice second in the Grade 2 W.L. McKnight Handicap behind Twilight Eclipse at November 24 at Calder where he had been a mainstay for nine months. He had a couple of Allowance scores in 2012 as well as his best result last year - a win in the minor Needles Stakes September 15 all at Calder. He has five wins and four seconds in 20 career starts but his win last time out has Mucho Mas Macho firmly on the radar for the Pan American.
Ducduc - is a multiple stakes winner that ended a pedestrian stretch with a win in the Our Dear Peggy Stakes at Calder September 8. After that was a pair of fifths and a fourth. Since then Ducduc has looked OK - a second in the Grade 3 Spend a Buck Handicap October 13, a nice win in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder November 24, and a fourth in the minor Harlan's Holiday Stakes on this track December 16. Last time out was his worst result in quite some time however - an eighth in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap here February 9.
Pan American Stakes betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Belo Acteon - Brazilian bred entry had three seconds and two wins at home before shipping to North America. Belo Acteon was third in an Allowance at Keeneland in his debut in North America and followed that with another third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park in May. Last time out was his only stakes action in North America - a fifth in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here January 16.
Gossip Column - races in stakes company for the first time Saturday but is coming off consecutive third place finishes in Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track including last time out January 31.
Total Reward - has 35 career starts with just one win back in May 2011, two seconds and five third place finishes. Saturday marks his stakes debut after all this time. Needless to say, Total reward is a Total Long Shot in the Pan American.
Empire Builder - finished fourth in the minor El Prado Stakes here December 22 after placing in four straight - a win in the Naked Greed Stakes in August, a second in a pair of minor stakes races at Calder in the fall and a decent third four back in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Handicap at Calder November 30. His 2013 results haven't been great however -a sixth in the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes here January 12 was followed by a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming February 1 and another fifth last time out in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes here February 23.
