Pan American Handicap 2019: Entries & Odds
While the focus will be on classic contenders in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) Saturday, March 30 at Gulfstream Park, the $250,000 Pan American Handicap (G2) has drawn many of the country's top turf horses over its 58-year history.
Sadler's Joy, Hi Happy, Twilight Eclipse, Imagining, Rahy's Attorney, Fraise, Buck's Boy Jambalaya, Presious Passion, Awad...the list of Grade 1 winners goes on and on and on and on....
Saturday's Pan American, for 4-year-olds and up over a 1 ½ mile turf course, has attracted a strong group of nine older horses including Focus Group, Canessar, Village King, Bigger Picture and Soglio.
2019 Pan American Handicap Odds & Entries
Race 13 on Gulfstream Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:00 PM
| Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Focus Group | 4-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 Lbs |
Chad Brown |
| 2 | Melmich | 6-1 | Javier Castellano 120 Lbs |
Kevin Attard |
| 3 | Village King (ARG) | 8-1 | John Velazquez 120 Lbs |
Todd Pletcher |
| 4 | Canessar (FR) | 7-2 | Feargal Lynch 120 Lbs |
Arnaud Delacour |
| 5 | Nessy | 20-1 | Julien Leparoux 118 Lbs |
Ian Wilkes |
| 6 | Highland Sky | 12-1 | Manuel Franco 120 Lbs |
Barclay Tagg |
| 7 | Salute the Colonel | 15-1 | Luis Saez 118 Lbs |
Joseph Orseno |
| 8 | Soglio | 3-1 | Rafael Hernandez 118 Lbs |
Michael Maker |
| 9 | Bigger Picture | 6-1 | Tyler Gaffalione 124 Lbs |
Michael Maker |
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Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled Hi Happy to victory in last year's Pan American, will send out Angels of Catalina, Inc.'s Village King (ARG), a 5-year-old originally from Argentina who won the Red Smith Nov. 17 at Aqueduct in his third start in the country.
Since coming to South Florida, the 5-year-old has finished fourth over a sloppy track in the Harlan's Holiday (G3), seventh on a yielding turf course in the McKnight (G3) and fifth last time out in the Mac Diarmida (G2) after setting the pace.
"He ran hard last time. He was on the lead for most of the Mac Diarmida," Pletcher said. "It was a little soft the time before that [in the McKnight]. He's a pretty versatile horse. He shows up and runs hard every time."
John Velazquez rides Village King.
Soglio, a 5-year-old son of Scat Daddy, is one of two being sent out by trainer Mike Maker in the Pan American. Soglio has finished second in his last three starts - the McKnight most recently, and the H. Allen Jerkens Dec. 29 at Gulfstream and the Red Smith Nov. 17 at Aqueduct. Maker also sends out Bigger Picture, a winner last time out at Sam Houston in the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3).
Rafael Hernandez rides Soglio while Tyler Gaffalione has the call on Bigger Picture.
Canessar (FR), trained by Arnaud Delacour, was fifth in the McKnight when making his first start since July when finishing second in the Stars and Stripes (G3) at Arlington. Feargal Lynch rides. Focus Group, trained by Chad Brown, was last seen finishing third in the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine in October.
Rounding out the field is Melmich, Nessy, Highland Sky and Salute the Colonel.
