Gulfstream Park hosts competitive Stakes action on Saturday, and the fourth race on the card is the Pulpit Stakes. This race is for horses aged two, and it will be staged over a distance of 7 ½ furlongs on the turf.

A purse of $75,000 has been made available for this race. This race has produced some standout horses in recent years, including 12 months ago, as Speaking Scout finished second in the Pulpit, before landing the G1 Hollywood Derby in 2022. But, who are the leading contenders for the Pulpit in 2022?

Lights of Broadway

Lights of Broadway looks to be an intriguing runner in the Pulpit this weekend, as he switches from synthetic to turf for the first time. He has won on each of his previous two starts for Mark Casse.

That includes an eye-catching display in the Armed Forces Stakes on his latest appearance. That run scored a career-best figure of 77, and he could be open to more improvement on the turf this weekend.

Congruent

Congruent is a two-year-old runner for Antonio Sano this weekend, and he should certainly be one of interest as he makes his turf debut. He was outclassed on his previous start, as he finished back in eighth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Before that, he won over seven furlongs at Gulfstream, and landed the Laurel Futurity over a mile; both on dirt. However, it’s interesting that they are now going down the turf route with this runner.

Dangerous Ride

Dangerous Ride is a very interesting runner back at Gulfstream this weekend, as both of his two career victories have been recorded at the track. The latest of those came on the synthetic in the Juvenile Stakes, as he won over a mile with a speed rating of 75.

However, the big concern is his record on the turf, as he finished sixth in the Tyro Stakes back in July. But, the distance could be better suited to this two-year-old than other runners this weekend.

Sendero

Sendero is a runner for Todd Pletcher in the Pulpit this weekend, and is the opted ride for Irad Ortiz. This two-year-old was fifth on his previous start at the end of October in the Awad Stakes over 1 1/16 miles, but there were some talented runners ahead of him that day.

Regardless, a speed rating of 94 was recorded, which is by far the best of any contender in this race. Sendero is also a previous stakes winner, as he landed the Jamestown Stakes over 5 ½ furlongs at Colonel Downs in September.

Pulpit Stakes Pick: Ari Gold

Ari Gold is the second of the Todd Pletcher runners in the Pulpit Stakes this weekend, and this contender makes a very compelling angle. The two-year-old was fourth on debut over 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on the turf, before being tested on dirt on his following start as he finished fourth over a mile at Belmont at the Big. That maiden was won by Dubyuhnell, who last week claimed the spoils in the G2 Remsen at Aqueduct.

Ari Gold then returned to the turf with a fine display in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct, winning over 1 1/16 miles and achieving a speed figure of 84. Luis Saez takes the ride, and I get the sense that there is much more to come from him now he is back on the turf.