Barn Tour: Brian Lynch wins early on Gulfstream turf

Brian Lynch’s early success at Gulfstream Park might be a matter of right place, right time.

“We didn't really have the turf all fall through Churchill, so I have a lot of turf horses and they seemed to be ready to run when we got down here,” he told Horse Racing Nation Tuesday. “And they've all run really well.”

Lynch has had 10 winners from 32 starts at Gulfstream, along with six seconds and six thirds. His 31 percent win rate is highest among trainers with more than 20 starts.

Lynch has been training since the 1990s, and he knows better than to get cocky about it. “It goes in waves, this business,” he said. “We'll ride it while we can.”

Lynch winters in Florida and spends the summers in Kentucky from a base at Churchill Downs. He has about 40 horses at Gulfstream, and he provided updates on recent winners and other top horses for the latest in HRN’s Barn Tour series.

Carotari. The 7-year-old gelding was beaten by a half-length last month in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3). “Thought he ran really well,” Lynch said. “Close on the lead, was wearing him down but could never get to him. He'll come back in the Silks Run” on March 18 at Gulfstream."

Hitting Bombs. It took seven tries, starting in September 2021, but the 4-year-old gelded son of Gun Runner broke his maiden this month going 1 1/2 miles at Gulfstream. “I've always thought highly of him. And it was nice to see him win like he did the other day. And hopefully he's got a future in marathon races on the grass.”

Frozen Solid. The 4-year-old Frosted filly came back after an 8 1/2-month layoff to break her maiden and then won an optional claiming allowance Wednesday. “Had a few issues as a young horse, seems to be doing well. And she sort of found a niche there. Look forward to running opening day at Keeneland. … Just sort of step through her conditions, and hopefully she just keeps developing.”

Fast as Flight. The 5-year-old daughter of Air Force Blue won a November allowance at Churchill Downs, then was second and most recently a winner at Gulfstream. “We all hope that she can develop into a stakes horse. She seems to be doing really well at the moment. Probably going to run her in the Honey Fox (G3, March 4.)"

Royal Blush. The 4-year-old Kitten’s Joy filly broke her maiden Feb. 1 on her sixth try. “She's just been a solid little filly. Glad to finally see her break her maiden the other day, and she'll come back in a starter allowance.”

I’m So Sorry. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo broke her maiden in March and came back in December with sixth- and fifth-place finishes in optional claiming allowance races at Gulfstream. She’ll have her 2023 debut in a 7 1/2-furlong race at Gulfstream on Sunday. “This is her third start back. I felt like she might have needed the first start, and I ran her a little further than she wants to go in her second (at 1 1/16 miles). She cuts back in distance in a good spot on Sunday. Well, she's drawn the 12 post, that's never good.”

Gray’s Fable. This 8-year-old gelding had two stakes wins from eight starts last year and was beaten a half-length in a Gulfstream optional claiming allowance Feb. 10. “He's a nice little stakes horse. He'll run in the Appleton at the end of the meet.” Gray’s Fable was fourth in the Appleton last year.

3-year-olds

Grace Darling. After two starts in Ireland, this Ireland-bred daughter of Kingman broke her maiden at Gulfstream on Thursday. “Very impressive and look forward to bigger and better things with her along the way. And hopefully she's involved in some stakes action at Saratoga.”

Gipsy Chief. The Great Britain-bred colt got his start last year with three second-place finishes in France and finished third for Lynch in a Feb. 4 maiden special weight at Gulfstream. “I think he's potentially a very nice colt for the summer. He'll run back down here at Gulfstream, but I think he potentially could be a stakes horse as the year goes on.”

Ro Town. The Mo Town filly broke her maiden in her second start with a 6 1/2-length win at Gulfstream on Feb. 12. “Very impressive in her second start. She'll run opening day at Keeneland” on April 7.

Sure Can. The Mor Spirit filly broke her maiden Jan. 27 in her fourth start. “She'll run in a non-winners of two March 1, I think it is, at Gulfstream. Five-eighths on the turf.”