Angles point to Perfect Design

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Turf to dirt and third start off a layoff are two of the more popular handicapping angles. Perfect Design fits both criteria and is as good a play as any in a wide-open Wednesday feature at Gulfstream Park.

A field of 12 was entered for the second-level allowance race run at 1 1/16 miles over the main track. There are no standouts and few throwouts among the dozen.

, a 5-year-old daughter of Marquetry, has already run twice in this condition at the meet, finishing fourth on Jan. 9 on dirt and last on Feb. 6 on turf. In the dirt race, Perfect Design was running for the first time in eight months and was beaten less than two lengths.

"It was her first race in nine months - she got a little tired," trainer John Kimmel said. "I figured I'd put her back in. It didn't go on the dirt, so I tried the turf. It was a stupid idea; the turf was too soft. She was exhausted by the end of the race."

Perfect Design will break from the rail under Edgar Prado on Wednesday, and figures to take this field as far as she can.

"She's a great gate horse, she has speed and the rail, and her fitness should improve enough where she can carry it," Kimmel said.

and Fiesta both finished ahead of Perfect Design in that Jan. 9 race. Lady Adare was going turf to dirt last time and makes her third start off a layoff in here. Trainer Allen Iwinski is enjoying a solid meet, with 11 winners from 37 starters. Pat Day takes the call.

Fiesta actually had the lead late in the Jan. 9 race, and tired late in her first start in two months. Any improvement puts her in the mix for trainer Luis Olivares.

Joyful Ballad, Gone for Christmas, and Chase Gap are others who deserve consideration. Joyful Ballad ships in from Tampa Bay Downs, where she has won two straight for trainer Tom Proctor.

Chase Gap finished fifth going seven furlongs in this condition on Jan. 17, her first start in 13 months. She is sent out by Gulfstream's leading trainer, Todd Pletcher, who is 24 for 75 at the meet.

Gone for Christmas, wearing blinkers for the first time, won her two-turn debut on Dec. 28 at Aqueduct. She has to overcome post 12, but has Jerry Bailey in the irons to help her do just that.