Fresh Start for Florentino

Darley Stable’s 4-year-old Florentino appeared headed toward a big season in the 3-year-old turf division last spring after finishing third in the Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in early April and winning the Jefferson Cup (G2) at Churchill Downs in mid-June. But the colt failed to duplicate that form in three subsequent stakes outings for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Florentino is set to start over again in Wednesday’s allowance feature going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Gulfstream Park with jockey Alan Garcia aboard in a field of seven. It will be his first start since finishing eighth in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill on Nov. 14.

Florentino is a Japanese-bred son of Swept Overboard who broke his maiden over the Gulfstream course last January after three main track tries as a 2-year-old in New York and Kentucky. After his maiden score he finished second and first in two allowance races here before the good effort in the Transylvania.

A definite threat in Wednesday’s race could be Earle Mack’s 7-year-old Argentine-bred Star Plus, although he will be making his first start in more than 14 months. Star Plus finished a solid fourth in the River City Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28, 2008 for trainer Ken McPeek. He returns Wednesday in the care of trainer Angel Penna, Jr. with jockey Rajiv Maragh getting the call.

Completing the field are Augustin Stable’s Auction Watch, Jesus Castanon; Bruce Lunsford’s Valtrus, Jose Lezcano; Barry Golden and Peter Callahan’s Sr. Henry, Kent Desormeaux; Dogwood Stable’s Slambino, Javier Castellano; and Nelson Clemmens Lessee’s Sam P., Julien Leparoux.