First look: Green Light Go, Got Stormy lead Gulfstream stakes

This week in racing feels like a calm before the stakes storm as options continue to emerge across the country, particularly at Churchill Downs and if Santa Anita Park is able to resume racing.

Three stakes races at Gulfstream Park on Saturday have also lined up some top horses. Running are the $75,000 Roar for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs; the $75,000 Powder Break for fillies and mares 3 and up at one mile on turf; and the $100,000 Musical Romance for Florida-bred fillies and mares 3 and up at seven furlongs.

Below is an early look at the prospective fields via the Gulfstream racing office with entries to be taken Wednesday.

Roar Stakes

Stronach Stables' Green Light Go will try to turn things around after finishing third in his only start this season, behind Mischevious Alex and Shivaree in the seven-furlong Swale (G3) in February. Since then, Mischevious Alex went on to win Aqueduct's Gotham (G3), while Shivaree ran second in the Florida Derby (G1). All the while, Green Light Go had to recover from a mild illness, but trainer Jimmy Jerkens says he's on track for this spot after firing a bullet four furlongs from the gate last Wednesday in 47.50 seconds.

After scratching from the local Big Drama Stakes back on May 2, With Verve is expected to land here as well, pursuing his third straight victory on the heels of his upset score in the Hutcheson Stakes in February. Trained by Larry Bates, the son of Kantharos rallied from dead last to best Shivaree, who went on to finish second in the Florida Derby.

Powder Break Stakes

Trainer Mark Casse said the Powder Break is "a step to the next big race" for Got Stormy, a 5-year-old mare who finished second to River Boyne in her last outing, the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) on March 7 at Santa Anita Park. The daughter of Get Stormy had a strong 2019, beating males in Saratoga’s Fourstardave (G1), running second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and finishing the year with a victory in Del Mar’s Matriarch (G1).

Four-year-old Valiance is going for her fourth win in as many starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. The daughter of Tapit broke her maiden last April at Gulfstream then went on to victories at Monmouth Park in an allowance race in May and the Open Mind Stakes in June. She'll exit a layoff dating back to that spot here.

Musical Romance

Another Casse trainee, 3-year-old Two Sixty is making her first start since a fifth-place finish in Tampa Bay Downs' Suncoast Stakes at a mile and 40 yards in February. That came after the daughter of Uncaptured won the 7-furlong Gasparilla Stakes by a neck in January.