Pants On Fire may get crack at Gulfstream Handicap

It took him a little while to get untracked over the sloppy footing, but once he did, Pants On Fire asserted his class to register an easy 5 1/4-length victory over Megamove in Friday’s $65,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.

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Pants On Fire, who ran a game race to finish third in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope earlier in the meet, was put under a drive down the backstretch by jockey Paco Lopez and did not respond until approaching the turn. But once entering the bend, Pants On Fire accelerated quickly through an opening on the rail inside the pacesetting Two Is to Many, quickly drew clear, and steadily increased his advantage while being geared down a bit nearing the wire.

“He doesn’t like the dirt in his face, especially mud, and Paco knows it,” said Breen. “He said he had to ride him to get him going and that he had one shot and he took it, then hoped he didn’t move too early.”

Breen said the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap at a mile could be next for Pants On Fire on March 9.

“I have to talk to George,” said Breen referring to owner George Hall. “But it’s definitely a possibility.”

Authenticity earns stakes shot

Authenticity is likely stakes bound after registering a 17 1/2-length allowance victory going 1 1/16 miles on Thursday. The start was only the fifth for the 6-year-old Authenticity, who began her career with trainer Ian Wilkes and was idle nearly 18 months before returning to finish third while with trainer Todd Pletcher for the first time on Jan. 21.

“I think the inside post going a one-turn mile hurt her the first time back,” said Pletcher. “She didn’t jump away from the gate well and kind of got jammed in behind horses the whole way. She’s a two-turn filly.”

Emollient overcomes rough trip

Emollient, who had an eventful trip when finishing second in her 2-year-old finale in the Grade 2 Demoiselle, found the going even tougher when launching her 3-year-old campaign under allowance conditions here Saturday. But to her credit, she overcame a world of trouble to run down the pacesetting Majestic River to win her local bow under jockey Joel Rosario.

“She had a rough trip,” was trainer Bill Mott’s first reaction after the race. “You hate to see them get banged up. It was rough on the first turn and rough on the second turn.”

Mott said he will consider the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks at 1 1/8 miles for Emollient’s next start on March 30.