The Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park looks like a real free-for-all, and some of that might be due to the absence of XY Jet, who won it in two of the last three years.
Uno Mas Modelo is the 2-to-1 morning line favorite, but this one could go in many different ways, and that makes it a decent race in the late Pick 4. Trained by Anthony Quartarolo, Uno Mas Modelo has won two straight, including the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes at Gulfstream on Dec. 1 and the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs. He’s won five of his last 11 and has turned into an outstanding sprint. Other than being outrun in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, his recent form has been stellar.

However, he’s not the only one on the improve or the only one with some outstanding performances, and it makes for an exciting seven-furlong race.

Storm Advisory, also trained by Quartarolo, is the price play in the Mr. Prospector. There are a couple of races on his form that show bad losses, but he’s a big player much of the time and his best can make him a contender in this one. Loooch Racing Stables claimed Storm Advisory for $80,000 at Churchill Downs in September and followed with an easy win at Thistledown and then the unsuccessful appearance in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap. This will be Storm Advisory’s third race for the current connections.

Coal Front, trained by Todd Pletcher, should improve in his second start off a 14-month layoff. He won the Grade 3 Gallant Bob at Parx in September, 2007, and then was off until the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct on Nov. 2 of this year. He set the pace for a half-mile and tired, and since then he’s trained well during the past month and can be on or very close to the lead throughout.

Storm Advisory, Uno Mas Modelo and Coal Front are being used on this suggested ticket.

The Mr. Prospector is the third leg in the sequence and 10th of 11 on the card. Here’s the suggested ticket for the late Pick 4:
Race 8) #1 R Happy Ending, #2 Tap Tap Taparoo, #5 A Bit of Mischief, #8 Curluck, #10 First Appeal.
Race 9) #2 Revved Up, #7 Irish Strait, #9 Shakhimat, #10 Bricks and Mortar.
Race 10) #3 Storm Advisory, #8 Uno Mas Modelo, #11 Coal Front.
Race 11) #1 Race Me Home, #4 Who’s Your Drama.
50-cent Pick 4: 1-2-5-8-10 with 2-7-9-10 with 3-8-11 with 1-4 ($60).