Vibe Back at Gulfstream for ‘Reset’ in Mr. Jordan Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Repole Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Lane’s End LLC ‘s Vibe has returned to Gulfstream Park, where the 4-year-old son of Into Mischief will seek to recapture his winning form in Saturday’s Mr. Jordan Handicap.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Vibe is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the one-turn mile overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and run on a Gulfstream main track over which he has won twice at a one-turn mile in the past.

Vibe, a $3 million purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September sale, disappointed on debut at Gulfstream while finishing a distant fourth in a six-furlong maiden March 15, 2025. A month later, he looked more the part of a pricey prospect while running away to victory in a one-turn mile maiden special weight by 9 3/4 lengths. Unfortunately, it would be the last we’d see of him for the next 11 months. Despite the layoff, Vibe didn’t’ miss a beat, returning to the Gulfstream winner’s circle following a 1 1/2-length score in a one-turn mile optional claimer.

Vibe finally appeared on his way to living up to his steep price-tag when he followed up his Gulfstream win with a sharp three-length triumph at Churchill Downs in a one-turn mile optional claiming allowance victory that earned him a start in this year’s Metropolitan Mile (G1) at Saratoga. Unfortunately, jockey Luis Saez pulled him up in the stretch, where the Pletcher trainee walked onto an ambulance.

“It was just an unfortunate race. He didn’t break well. Luis said he felt like he was in a little bit of distress so he pulled him up,” West Point Thoroughbreds executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said.

Vibe has raced twice without success since returning to action in a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Saratoga, in which he set a contested pace into the stretch before fading to fifth, and a 6 1/2-furlong stakes at Parx, in which he never leveled off.

“The race at Saratoga at the beginning of August I think might have been too long for him at this point. Todd felt he just never took to the Parx surface,” Bellhouse said.

The track and distance Saturday aren’t expected to be a concern for Vibe’s connections Saturday.

“We’re getting him back to the track where he’s won a couple races already, and he’s had a couple works down there,” Bellhouse said. “We’re hoping he can get it back together – like a reset.”

Diego Herrera has been named to ride Vibe, who will carry 120 pounds.

J. J. Breven Stable LLC’s Chrome Ghost will share co-highweight honors with Robert J. Mooney and Jeffrey Siskin’s Pure Class at 123 pounds. Chrome Ghost is coming off a half-length decision over Pure Class in the Sept. 26 Duke of Mischief Handicap. The Gerald Bennett-trained 5-year-old gelding stalked the pace before moving to the lead at the top of the stretch and holding off the David Fawkes-trained challenger to the finish of the one-turn mile handicap while carrying one-pound fewer.

“He’s doing good right now,” said Bennett, noting that 6-year-old gelded son of Shaman Ghost breezed a half-mile in 46 4/5 seconds under jockey Edwin Gonzalez Thursday at Gulfstream in preparation for the Mr. Jordan.

Chrome Ghost, rated third at 4-1 on the morning-line, came off a two-month freshening to finish a late-closing fourth in a five-furlong handicap on turf to set him up for a top performance in the Duke of Mischief. Winning Stables Inc. and Todd R. Bittiger’s El Principito, Chrome Ghost’s Bennett-trained stablemate, finished a late-rallying third in the Duke of Mischief, in which the 5-year-old gelded son of Accelerate was forced to alter course.

“My other horse actually could have won that race,” said Bennett of El Principito’s misfortune. “He got stopped by Fawkes’ horse and he tucked him in and tucked him back out.”

Jonathan Ocasio has the return call on El Principito, who will carry 120 pounds Saturday.

Veteran geldings like Chrome Ghost and El Principito take a lot of pressure off while training them.

“They know what they’re doing. Just go easy on them. They know how to get the job done,” said Bennett, who has saddled more than 4,200 winners during his career.

Likewise, Fawkes was so impressed with Pure Class’s veteran ways that he claimed him the first chance he got when the son of The Big Beast became available last spring. Fawkes had previously trained Pure Class for owners/breeders Alex and JoAnne Lieblong, from whom the Florida-bred gelding was claimed away for $75,000 last December. Pure Class became available for $35,000 three starts last, and Fawkes dropped a slip into the claiming box on behalf of his current owners.

In his six starts since being claimed back by Fawkes, Purse Class has won twice, finished second once and third three times, earning co-highweight honors for the Mr. Jordan, for which he has been rated second at 7-2 on the morning line. For the first time in his 29-race career, he will be ridden by Leonel Reyes, who is currently atop the Sunshine Meet jockey standings.

Robert Wayne Jacobs and Dwight Puckett’s To The Eastside will seek a rebound from his recent sixth-place finish in the Duke of Mischief, in which he set a pressured pace before weakening last and finishing four lengths behind Chrome Ghost.

The Andrea Puckett-trained Enticed Gelding, who will carry 120 pounds, captured the Benny the Bull Stakes in his previous start under returning Edgar Perez.

Just For Fun Stable’s Indecisiveness is scheduled to return to dirt for the Mr. Jordan after campaigning on turf most of the year. The Ruben Sierra-trained son of Decisive Moment broke his maiden on the dirt course at Gulfstream on 2024 debut before competing in the 2025 Florida Derby. Rasheed Hughes has been named to ride Indecisiveness for the first time Saturday.

Stephen Screnci’s Fede. Dr. Pierre Malek and trainer Roderick Rodriguez’s Fiveeyesonskystars, Blue Rose Farm LLC’s Moonstrocity, and Briannjenn Racing LLC’s Awesome Train round out the field.