HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Handicap, which was postponed due to inclement weather Dec. 16, came back nearly intact when re-drawn for Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The Jerkens will be decided as originally written at two miles on the turf, weather permitting, rather than at 1 5/8 miles over the Tapeta course, which would have been the case had the event been run last week – when races were taken off the turf – and not canceled less than 90 minutes before post time. The $125,000 Via Borghese for fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the turf was originally carded as the feature for Sunday but was drawn instead for Tuesday as the main event with a field of eight led by Grade 3 winner Romagna Mia. Perhaps the chief beneficiary of the Jerkens being rescheduled is the long-winded McLovin, who is already proven at two miles having won the John Forbes Memorial Stakes at that distance over a soft turf course at Far Hills in his most recent start on Oct. 21. Last weekend, he would not have had the services of Joel Rosario, who was unavailable, but Rosario will be back in the saddle Sunday seeking a third victory on the son of Animal Kingdom. McLovin won the Forbes for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, but is back with his former conditioner Arnaud Delacour at the present time. Delacour had McLovin briefly during the winter and spring of 2022, long enough to send him out for two consecutive turf wins, the first a maiden victory at Tampa Bay Downs, the second in an entry-level allowance race going 12 furlongs at Keeneland with Rosario aboard. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “Obviously being able to get back on the turf and go two miles is to our advantage,” Delacour said. “He’s been very good at a mile and one half, so the distance last week wouldn’t have been a problem, but he’s about the only horse in this field proven at two miles even though it was against lesser competition, and the Tapeta would have been an unknown. It’s also a real plus to have Joel back on him again. “I’ve been in touch with Rodolphe since right after the win at Far Hills, and this has been the goal for him right along since there aren’t many options at this kind of distance, especially this time of year.” Eight of the 10 original entrants in the Jerkens signed on for the second time, including the Mike Maker-conditioned trio of defending champion Value Engineering, Shawyshawdyshawdy, and Catch That Party. Value Engineering won this race by 1 1/4 lengths a year ago when it was taken off the turf and decided at 1 5/8 miles on the Tapeta course. The added distance could be a question mark for Value Engineering, although a return to turf will not, as the hard-knocking 7-year-old has posted four victories on grass, including the Grade 3 Mac Diarmida here last March. F Five is likely to play catch me if you can on the lead Sunday. Trained by Bryan Lynch, F Five has won twice in four starts on turf but exits a bit of a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Grade 3 River City at Churchill Downs in his last start. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.