Adonis Creed should bring the speed in allowance

Adonis Creed has a chance to control the pace in Sunday’s ninth race at Gulfstream Park, one of two high-end overnight offerings on a program that also features the career debut of a 3-year-old half-brother to Rachel Alexandra.

Adonis Creed goes in an optional $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on the grass. He faces eight others, including Passport to Chaos, who is seeking his third straight win at this distance at Gulfstream, and Your Only Man, who won a $50,000 starter allowance over the local course March 17.

Adonis Creed is a confirmed front-runner who set some quick fractions at this same level on the grass last out. He finished second as the favorite in that race, run at 7 1/2 furlongs April 7 at Gulfstream. He ran the opening half-mile in 46.75 seconds and six furlongs in 1:09.46 before being overtaken in the race that went in 1:28.20.

Adonis Creed boasts a 3 for 9 record over the Gulfstream course. One of those wins came in a $40,000 conditioned-claiming race on Feb. 15, out of which he was haltered by trainer Robert Dibona on behalf of Final Turn Racing Stable. Adonis Creed will break from post 2 under Nik Juarez.

Passport to Chaos has used closing tactics to win his last two starts, a $30,000 conditioned-claiming race Feb. 25 and an optional $50,000 claiming race April 7. Your Only Man is shortening up in distance from 1 1/16 miles last time. He stalked the pace in that race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84, which ties him with Passport to Chaos for the highest last-race number in Sunday’s field.

The first race Sunday is an optional $50,000 claiming race for fillies and mares over 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, and Lisa Limon looks like a chief contender under Miguel Vasquez. She was third against similar last out and might get a decent setup behind Anabella Queen, a front-runner who breaks from the rail and who will add blinkers Sunday.

Late on the program, Rachel Alexandra’s half-brother Wooderson launches his career. He goes in the 10th on the 11-race program, a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up over 6 1/2 furlongs. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount for Let’s Go Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher.

Wooderson is a May foal and a son of Awesome Again. He shares the same dam, Lotta Kim, as Rachel Alexandra, the Hall of Famer and 2009 Horse of the Year who earned $3.5 million. Wooderson was a $400,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September in 2016. He has been working at Palm Beach Downs.