Allowance races boost Thursday program

Whereas some recent programs at Gulfstream Park have been found noticeably lacking in high-end races, that is not the case for the Thursday card at the south Florida track.

Three allowances, all part of the Rainbow 6 sequence (races 5-10), anchor a 10-race card that starts at 12:50 p.m. Eastern. The Rainbow 6 started a five-day race week Wednesday with a $86,148 jackpot.

Here’s a quick rundown of those allowances:

◗ Race 5: Harlan’s Darlin, stakes-placed last fall, will make her first start in nearly 11 months. Trained by Ralph Nicks, she is the wild card of this $43,000, first-level turf sprint for fillies and mares. Contenders with more recency include Don’t Tell Vanessa, Missworldvenezuela, and Summer Rae.

◗ Race 8: A few of the better older horses on the south Florida circuit will travel a one-turn mile in this $44,000, second-level race with a $62,500 claiming option. Hy Riverside, trained by Antonio Sano, has come to peak form in recent starts and figures to be favored over Wildcat Wish and Brown Almighty.

◗ Race 9: As a $43,000, first-level turf sprint, this is the male counterpart to race 5 – and it’s probably the deepest race of the day. Trainer Dane Kobiskie holds a strong hand with a pair of lightly raced 3-year-olds in Shoot Craps and While Ye May, both working well at Palm Meadows after having been gelded since their most recent start.

Gold catches fire with 3 wins

After a slow start to the Gulfstream summer meet, trainer Stanley Gold suddenly went on a tear last weekend.

Gold had gone winless with his first 22 starters at the meet, which began July 1, before winning with all three of his starters last weekend, all in 2-year-old maiden races: Herecomesthedude and Dazzling Dixie both won Sunday, following Sweet Tooth Haven on Saturday.

Herecomesthedude and Sweet Tooth Haven were easy winners in their career debuts, and both will wheel back Sept. 3 in the Florida Sire Stakes series – Herecomesthedude in the $300,000 Affirmed and Sweet Tooth Haven in the $300,000 Susan’s Girl.

“We knew the timing was going to be a little close,” Gold told Gulfstream publicity. “I would have liked to have a little more time, but you can’t rush a horse into a race. They got ready for these races, and they both ran back to their works.”

The Susan’s Girl is coming up particularly tough. Cajun Delta Dawn, unbeaten in three starts, and Shes Got the Look, a 16-length maiden winner, are among the other fillies expected to run.