Stick Talk Looking to Bounce Back in Gulfstream Feature

David 2YO Favored for Saturday’s Handicap for Florida-Breds

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Having held his own against exciting 2-year-old prospect Sum of Success in a recent stakes, Bell Racing LLC’s Stick Talk has been assigned highweight for his return in Saturday’s $75,000 handicap feature for Florida-bred juveniles at Gulfstream Park.

The son of Girvin, who has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of nine assembled for the one-turn mile feature, raced evenly to finish fourth in the seven-furlong Express Tour won by Sum of Success, who has run away with all three of his career starts by a combined 24 1/4 lengths. Stick Talk, to his credit, had turned in three promising efforts in his first three starts to earn a stakes appearance in the Sept. 9 stakes for Florida-breds.

After a pair of runner-up finishes against open company in his first two starts, the Carlos David-trained colt graduated in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for state-breds Aug. 9.

“Last time he ran against Sum of Success. I don’t know if he had triple [Beyer Speed Figure] digits, but he opened up every time he ran. It was just too hot of a pace to follow, and we’re also thinking he’ll do better stretching out,” David said.

Stick Talk will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in Saturday’s one-turn mile handicap.

“He lacks a little early speed. He doesn’t like to be forced to be on the lead, so I thought, ‘Put some blinkers on him, so we don’t have to encourage him so much in the beginning,’” David Stick Talk will be reunited with Edwin Gonzalez, who was unavailable to ride him in the Express Tour after being aboard for his first three races. The Puerto Rico native, who notched his first Grade 1 win on the U.S. mainland aboard Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Forged Steel in last Saturday’s Goodwood (G1) at Santa Anita, is enjoying a banner Sunshine Meet at Gulfstream, having won on 10 of his first 21 mounts.

“Edwin is great. We have a good percentage together,” David said. "He knows this horse well. He won on him, so we’re happy to have him back.”

Stick Talk will carry 124 pounds, one more than Mark F. Taylor, Rick Tattoli and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Holy Warrior and trainer Angel Rodriguez’s Sir Angelus.

Holy Warrior, who finished third in Stick Talk’s maiden special weight win, checked in ahead of Saturday’s morning-line favorite in the Express Tour, in which he chased Sum of Success before settling for third, three-quarters of a length ahead of the David trainee.

Diego Herrera has the return mount aboard the Rohan Crichton-trained son of Jackie’s Warrior, who is rated second at 5-2 on the morning-line.

Sir Angelus, who was off the board in his turf debut in last Saturday’s Hollywood Beach, is scheduled to return to Gulfstream’s main track, over which the son of Bucchero graduated in his second career start with a front-running 2 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight for state-breds. In his debut, he finished fourth in the maiden special weight won by Stick Talk.

Carlos Martinez has the return mount aboard Sir Angelus, who is rated third on the morning line at 7-2.

Blu Rey Racing LLC and Matty Dan Racing Stable’s Awesome Noah is set to make the jump into stakes competition while coming off a 3 1/2-length maiden score on the drop-down to $17,500 claiming company for his second career start.

“He got a decent number. I always believed that he could go two turns or one mile, so that’s why we are putting him in there,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “I’m pretty pleased with his workout [Saturday] so we are in good shape. He’s going into the race very well.”

Leonel Reyes has the return call on the son of Awesome Slew, who will carry 120 pounds, as will Skymac Stables LLC’s Thanks Charlie, a son of Roadster trained by Beau Chapman.

Thanks Charlie will be seeking to break his maiden while cutting back to a one-turn mile Saturday after showing the way into to stretch before faltering in a two-turn optional claiming maiden race on Tapeta. Samy Camacho is slated to ride Thanks Charlie for the first time Saturday.

Ortega Stables’ Slew Lady, Teresa and David Palmer’s Iolana, Patrick Scanlon’s Hot Rod and Debra Pesaturo and Kevin Joy’s Souper Athlete round out the field.