Super Chow, owned by Lee Farms LLC, is set to chase his 10th stakes victory and fourth major title this Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The five-year-old colt, sired by Lord Nelson, will face up to seven competitors in the $125,000 Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes.
Super Chow’s odds of winning the seven-furlong sprint for horses aged three and older may hinge on the participation of the even-money morning favorite, White Avario, a decision expected by Friday. Trainer Jorge Delgado is hopeful for Super Chow’s comeback after a two-month rest following a fifth-place finish in the Delaware Park Stakes, where he struggled with his usual speed and lagged behind throughout the race.
“We’re encouraged about this race. After giving him some rest, he’s recovering well,” Delgado commented. “His morning workouts raise our hopes for a strong performance.” While Super Chow has mostly excelled at six furlongs, he placed sixth in last year’s Mr. Prospector after leading aggressively. However, Delgado remains confident that Super Chow can handle the seven-furlong distance on Saturday with jockey Jorge Luis, who has ridden and won with the horse twice.
Super Chow previously won a New York Graded Stakes over seven furlongs, and despite the different track and surface, Delgado doesn’t believe this will pose a problem. Rated 20-1 on the morning line, Super Chow benefits from a favorable post position and an experienced jockey in Jorge Luis.
Among a competitive field are other notable contenders: White Avario’s trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., is considering whether to run in the Mr. Prospector or bypass it to focus on the $3 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on January 24 at Gulfstream. White Avario finished second in the Pegasus and won last year’s Mr. Prospector.
If White Avario skips the race, Godolphin’s Knightsbridge, trained by Bill Mott, will likely be the favorite. Rated second alongside White Avario on the morning line, Knightsbridge aims for his first stakes win in only his fifth career start. The four-year-old son of Nyquist has already impressively won his first two races by large margins. After a nine-month break, Knightsbridge recently won a seven-furlong allowance race at Aqueduct with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard.
Other horses in the field include Playmare Tune, who recently claimed a seven-furlong synthetic surface win at Woodbine and finished fifth in last year’s Mr. Prospector, and McLean’s Music, praised by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Additional contenders are Wound Up, trained by Jose D’Angelo and ridden by Edgardo Zayas, Great Navigator, Hold My Bourbon, who led the pace at last Saturday’s Harlan’s Holiday, and Lethal Speed.
Fan Take: This race highlights the dynamic competition and strategic decisions that keep horse racing thrilling for fans. Watching Super Chow and emerging talents like Knightsbridge battle in the Mr. Prospector Stakes could shape the landscape for upcoming major events, adding excitement to the sport’s winter season.
