The average starters per race at the Gulfstream Park meet is a solid 7.94. The average will likely increase when racing begins on the new Tapeta track beginning the week of Sept. 23. The base of the all-weather track was being laid late last week, and horses will start training over it after the safety rail is installed. Gulfstream is the first track in North America with three different surfaces: a 1 1/8-mile dirt track, seven-furlong turf course, and mile and 70-yard Tapeta track. Average field size should increase due to races scheduled for turf not being decimated by scratches when washed off and transferred to Tapeta. As seen at tracks with synthetic surfaces, trainers are more inclined to let horses run when turf races are moved to a synthetic track. In a press release issued last week Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of track owner 1/ST Racing said, “The three unique surfaces plus the new drainage system will allow many options for the horsemen, provide bettors interesting wagering opportunities, and protect our turf course during inclement weather. “We are very much looking forward to this new chapter in Gulfstream’s history and thank everyone for all their hard work in getting it done.” Florida HBPA president Stephen Screnci said, “The new Tapeta track is a significant advancement for Gulfstream Park. It creates flexibility that will benefit our horsemen in a number of ways. It will be easier to preserve the turf course. There will be more opportunity to run when races are rained off the turf, and more options in the condition book. :: DRF Bets players get free Daily Racing Form Past Performances and up to 5% weekly cashback. Click to learn more. “Perhaps most important, fewer scratches in off-the-turf races generates increased handle and increased purses. This is good news for South Florida racing.” Nice spot for Mister Luigi Mister Luigi will be among the favorites in a first-level allowance race for Florida-breds that will serve as Thursday’s feature. The six-furlong dash on the main track drew nine horses and goes as the seventh race on an eight-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern. Mister Luigi won his only start as a 2-year-old last September in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Laurel Park for trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon. He resurfaced at Gulfstream where he finished fourth in a key first-level allowance race that carried a $75,000 claiming option July 9 for trainer Antonio Sano. The Florida-bred son of Ghoszapper was thrown to the wolves in his next start in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga where he beat one horse in the six-horse field. It was not a bad effort considering the winner was Jackie’s Warrior, who repeated in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. Mister Luigi came back with another solid effort when he finished second by a neck in a $50,000 starter race at Saratoga Aug. 20. The lightly raced 3-year-old with just four starts could have some upside and figures to get a nice trip from a forward position. He will break from post 3 with leading rider Edgard Zayas up.