After sharp comeback win, Angelcents tries open company

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Filly-mare sprinters will take the spotlight Sunday at Gulfstream Park when another five-day week ends with a solid 11-race card.

Two first-level allowances, each worth $47,000, will go back-to-back on a Sunday program that starts at 12:40 p.m. Eastern. Race 8 goes at five furlongs on the turf, followed in short order by race 9 at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

Race 8 drew a field of eight, although one of those, R Prerogative, is unlikely to start as a main-track-only designate. Warm and dry conditions are continuing to trend in South Florida, so all six turf races scheduled for Sunday can be expected to go as planned.

The likely favorite in the eighth is Angelcents, who returned last month with an eye-catching score in statebred company following a layoff of more than 16 months. Now the 4-year-old Goldencents filly will try open company. She retains leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

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Angelcents began her career in June 2019 with a flashy maiden win at Arlington Park, after which she was the odds-on choice in the Arlington-Washington Lassie.

“Early on, we thought she could be really special,” said Larry Rivelli, who trains Angelcents for the Patricias Hope LLC of Vince Foglia.

But the filly faltered badly in the Lassie, after which Rivelli attempted to regroup her ahead of a 3-year-old season that never came about.

“She injured a tendon in a breeze when we were getting her ready last spring in Florida,” said Rivelli, whose stable is currently split among Gulfstream, Turfway, and Hawthorne.

“It was the kind of injury where you’re at the mercy of time, but obviously she’s come back good. I’ve given her a couple of maintenance works since her comeback and she’s doing fantastic.”

Race 9 also has a comeback element to it. Don’t Call Me Mary and Slam Dunk, the likely favorites in the field of six, both have been working steadily for high-profile trainers since having been away following subpar showings to conclude their respective 3-year-old campaigns. Don’t Call Me Mary will be making her second start in the care of Todd Pletcher, while Slam Dunk makes her first for Shug McGaughey.

Both co-features are part of the Rainbow 6, which was expected to offer a pool guarantee of about $750,000, assuming the jackpot was not emptied Friday or Saturday by a solo winner. The Rainbow 6 was last forced out Feb. 13.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before another five-day week starts Wednesday. The Fountain of Youth card on Saturday is the next major highlight at the four-month championship meet.