Added ground should aid Simply Stated
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Simply Stated picks up a tad more real estate for Friday’s seventh race at Gulfstream Park, and the added ground should serve her cause, according to trainer Michael Trombetta.
The seventh race is a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares on Tapeta. The conditioned allowance carries a $62,500 claiming option. The race drew a competitive group of six, including Ms. Tart, a winner at this distance last out at Gulfstream, and Time Passage, who leads the field in earnings with a bankroll of $361,502.
Simply Stated last raced over five furlongs on turf and rallied for second, beaten just three-quarters of a length in a second-level allowance March 2 at Gulfstream. Trombetta likes the additional distance Friday.
“I do think that would help because she had aim on the horse last time, but the speed was very good and it just didn’t come back at all,” he said. “So I do believe she’s got a decent chance with the horses that are in here.”
There could be a contested pace Friday. Etrurian brings a good deal of speed to the table, and Trumpets wired her rivals last out when winning a second-level allowance sprint at Gulfstream. Time Passage has natural speed and is a fresh horse, as this marks her first race since November.
Simply Stated could sit just off those runners, settling in striking distance when she breaks from post 3 under Jorge Ruiz.
“She got a good turn of foot,” Trombetta said. “She doesn’t have to be on the lead or anything, but she’ll put herself in a good spot either way.”
Simply Stated’s last win came at 5 1/2 furlongs on a muddy main track in September at Laurel. The race Friday will be a rare start on a synthetic track for the mare, who is a daughter of Warrior’s Reward.
“She trains good enough on it,” Trombetta said. “And I didn’t have her before, but I think she’s been successful on it at Presque Isle. So I’m not too terribly worried about that.”
Simply Stated, who was a stakes winner on dirt in the Penn Ladies Dash at six furlongs earlier in her career, races for Commonwealth New Era Racing.
“We were pretty happy with the way she ran last time,” Trombetta said. “I thought that was a good race for her. She’s been training good. We’re looking forward to getting to run her again.”
Ms. Tart will break from the rail under Leonel Reyes. She can take advantage if the pace is hot, as she rallied to capture a first-level allowance at this 5 1/2-furlong trip on Tapeta in her last start March 5. The Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that she earned is the best last-race synthetic number in the field Friday.
Ms. Tart, who was stakes-placed on turf earlier in her career, is a daughter of Maximus Mischief and a half-sister to stakes winner T D Dance. Kevin Rice trains the filly for River Oak Farm.
Gulfstream has moved into its Royal Palm Meet, and the nine-race card Friday also includes a $35,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds at a mile on the grass which goes as the finale. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
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