Magna Saves Best for Last

The best race today in the Magna Five is the anchor leg, the $100,000 Very One Handicap from Gulfstream Park.

The Very One, a Grade III at 1 3/8 miles on the turf, has several contenders in a full field. Sixteen fillies and mares are entered, but only a dozen will be allowed to start.

The one to beat is Binya. A 5-year-old mare bred in Germany, she won by 3 1/4 lengths in her U.S. debut for owner Joe Allen and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin on Jan. 16. A winner of three of nine in France and Germany before coming to this country, she won going 1 1/8 miles on the grass that day.

This will mark her first attempt at 11 furlongs. John Velazquez will ride.

Race of the day: Gold Ruckus, a winner of four of his last five starts for Franks Farms and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, is among six scheduled to go a mile in the $55,000 San Carlos Handicap at Golden Gate. Dennis Carr will ride Gold Ruckus, who has won five of 11 on the main track.

One for the road: Buju was in tough in the Deputy Minister on Feb. 7 and also was hindered by a slow start that day, but he can rebound against softer company in today’s 10th at Gulfstream, a $36,000 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs. Jose Santos will ride the 4-year-old Maria’s Mon colt for Triple F Stable and trainer Allen Jerkens.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using French Selection in the third, Award Winning, Natural Route and Fourteen Roses in the fourth and Aclevershadeofjade and The Yellow Sheet in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/142. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.80/$764. Total money bet: $804.