Mary Rampellini, Daily Racing Form
Missed the Cut will be looking for the fifth stakes win of his career Saturday, when he takes on Group 1 winner Gran Oriente and fellow stakes winners Layabout, Tomasello, and Tank in a competitive $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
The 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up drew eight and shares a card with the $100,000 Smile Sprint.
Missed the Cut began his career in England and later was based in Southern California, where he won a trio of Grade 3 races. In more recent times, Missed the Cut has been competing at Gulfstream and in his last start was second to Gran Oriente in the Mr. Steele on May 16.
“He’s live,” trainer Bobby Dibona said of Missed the Cut. “The horse that beat him is in there, also. I didn’t have the greatest trip.
“We’ve breezed him a couple times [since] and he’s coming in good. He’s got some class to him.”
Missed the Cut is a son of Quality Road and the Sea The Stars mare Beauly. He is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Christmas Day, an earner of $1.4 million. Missed the Cut has earned nearly $600,000. He won a Gulfstream allowance in April.
Jose Morelos has the mount from post 3 for the partnership of TCC Stables, Michael Iavarone, and Jules Iavarone.
“I think we need a little pace to run at, and hopefully it will shape up,” Dibona said. “I think he’ll fire and make himself known in the race.”
Gran Oriente was a 2 3/4-length winner of the Mr Steele and the Beyer Speed Figure of 95 that he earned is the best last-race turf number in the Soldier’s Dancer. Earlier in his career, he was a Group 1 winner in his native Chile. Rasheed Hughes has the mount from post 8 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Joseph also will saddle Nemo, who is the first foal from Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner New Money Honey. Nemo last raced in December and won a first-level allowance at Gulfstream for eFive Racing Thoroughbreds.
Layabout is making his first start since the championship meet at Gulfstream, where he won the Grade 3 William L. McKnight Stakes in January. Keith Asmussen has the mount for trainer Patrick Biancone.
Smile Sprint
Dibona will saddle Con Compania in the Smile Sprint, which is for 3-year-olds and up over six furlongs. It drew a field of eight, including recent Big Drama winner Rolando and multiple stakes winner Guns Loaded.
Con Compania won a second-level allowance sprint at Gulfstream in his most recent start. He was prominent throughout the 6 1/2-furlong race en route to a 2 3/4-length victory May 23.
“He’s coming off a big race,” Dibona said. “He’s a good fit in here. He’s kind of versatile. He’s coming into this race good.”
Rolando won the Big Drama in a battle over Back Em Up, who was to have started as a top contender Friday in the Wildcat Red overnight handicap at Gulfstream.
