Gulfstream: Enterprising an Imposing Foe in Saturday’s $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer

By David Joseph —-

Enterprising an Imposing Foe in Saturday’s $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer
Multiple Graded-Stakes Winner Set for Florida-Bred Turf Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Maxis Stable’s Enterprising has returned to Gulfstream Park for Saturday’s $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer Stakes, in which the multiple graded-stakes winner is scheduled to drop from Grade 1 company to face 11 other Florida-bred runners.

The Mike Maker-trained gelding looms as an imposing favorite in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up after winning back-to-back stakes at Fair Grounds that earned him a start in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. After pressing the pace into the stretch, Enterprising tired to finish sixth in the race won by Grade 1 winner Divisidero over Grade 1 winner Beach Patrol.

“I don’t know if he was too close to the pace or he simply wasn’t that caliber. It was a pretty good race,” Maker said. “At the top of the stretch, he looked like he might be in the mix in the end, but he stopped.”

Enterprising had previously captured the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3) over Woodford Reserve third-place finisher Oscar Nominated before scoring in the Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2). The 6-year-old son of Exclusive Quality started off his 2017 season at Gulfstream with a close second-place finish in the Jan. 21 Sunshine Millions Turf.

“We ran out of Florida-bred options and we decided to try him where he best fit. Luckily, I got lucky and won a couple of photos with him,” said Maker, who is also slated to saddle stakes winner Get Away Farm’s Two Step Time for the Soldier’s Dancer.

Tyler Gaffalione has been named to ride Enterprising in his return to Gulfstream, while Emisael Jaramillo has the call on stakes-winning Two Step Time.

Patricia Generazio’s Keepthedreamalive is scheduled to make his stakes debut in the Soldier’s Dancer. The 4-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux has finished first in his last four starts, including a game photo-finish victory over Two Step Time in a May 4 optional claiming allowance in his first start since July.

Edgard Zayas has the return mount aboard Keepthedreamalive.

“He got tried a couple times and a fresh horse was coming at him and he dug in. For a horse that was coming off a 10-horse layoff, I was very pleased with that effort,” trainer Joe Orseno said. “Off that effort, she probably should go forward. I can’t say I had him 100-percent cranked up, but I liked to think I had him ready, and he proved it when he won. There were some really nice horses in that race.”
Todd Pletcher-trained Squadron, the winner of the Juvenile Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park last fall; Piloting, who finished second behind Enterprising in the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview as Gulfstream Park West last fall; and Mystic Sky, who finished third in the Home of the Brave starter handicap at Gulfstream last month; are among the most prominent contenders.

My Point Exactly, Tutti Sanno, Galleon Mast, Unbridled Holiday, Completely Bonkers and Favorite Heir round out the field. Chiseled, Sir Hannoun and Royal Squeeze are main-track entrants.

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.