Allowance feature salty on turf or dirt

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The uncertainty in regard to the weather has already had a profound effect on Sunday’s 12-race program at Gulfstream Park. The forecast for potentially heavy rain likely prompted track officials to withdraw their original request from the state to offer a mandatory disbursal of the ever-growing Rainbow 6 pool on the second half of the card.

Wet weather could have a major impact on the afternoon’s featured 11th race as well, a $52,000 optional-claiming event scheduled to be run at a mile on the turf. The race drew a strong and well-balanced field of 11 for the grass, with five main-track-only entrants on deck as the major beneficiaries should the gloomy forecast hold true.

Among the many horsemen keeping a close eye on the skies this weekend is Tom Albertrani, whose Lunaire would be among the leading contenders if the race goes as carded on the turf. Lunaire is coming off a couple of solid efforts in races moved from the grass to a fast main track to close out his 2018 campaign, although Albertrani said the circumstances are different for Sunday and that he is leaning toward scratching if faced with another surface change.

“I have mixed feelings about whether I’d run him on the dirt again,” said Albertrani. “First of all, as well as he’s run on the dirt in his last two starts, I think he’s a much better horse on turf. He is a half-brother to Sadler’s Joy. Secondly, he’s fine if he runs on dirt against a field strictly full of turf horses. It puts him in a different league with them. But there are several main track onlys in this race who probably would prefer the main track a lot more than my horse.”

Albertrani said he does like his chances with Lunaire if the race goes on the turf.

“I think it’s a good spot for him,” said Albertrani, who trains the homebred for Woodslane Farm. “He’s doing very well right now, he’s been very consistent in his last several races, and I really think he can handle this next level.”

It’s pretty hard to draw a line through many of Lunaire’s 10 potential rivals if the main event stays on the grass. Key contenders include the graded stakes winner Shakhimat; the 8-year-old Galton; recent entry-level allowance winner Another; the graded stakes-placed Night Prowler; and the stakes-winning Mo Maverick, who is perfect in two starts over the local course.

If the race comes off the grass, the list of main-track-only runners is a strong one. It includes the Dale Romans-trained duo of Grade 3 winner J Boys Echo and Rocking the Boat; Raising the Flag, a winner of his last three starts including an entry-level allowance race here earlier in the meet; and Conquest Windycity.

In addition, Todd Pletcher entered the speedy Uncle Mojo in the body of the race despite the fact the former Grade 1 competitor has never run on grass. He also would likely benefit from a surface switch.