Avellino returns to dirt at right distance

It’s more about distance than surface for Avellino who returns to dirt in a first-level $75,000 allowance/optional-claiming race for 3-year-old fillies scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs.

While she did win her maiden at second asking on dirt last spring for trainer Jena Antonucci, Avellino has made the first two starts of her 3-year-old campaign over Gulfstream Park’s synthetic surface. She has finished third in each race, with speed figures comparable to her best on dirt.

“We haven’t been completely committed to one surface,” Antonucci said. “We’ve been trying to stretch her out a little bit. This was originally seven [furlongs], but with her tactical speed and a smart ride, distance shouldn’t be an issue.”

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Avellino’s third-place finish in a Florida-bred allowance on Jan. 14 at Gulfstream proved to be a key race, with Karaya and Epona’s Hope, the first two finishers from that race, coming back to win their next starts.

Avellino has been forwardly placed in all of her races, but Antonucci said she sees signs of a maturing horse, one who may be able to sit off horses as she gains experience.

“Just more settled a bit,” said Antonucci, who added when she was breaking the horse for owner John Grossis “she didn’t want to settle as much. She’s become more of a racehorse, more seasoned as she’s gotten more races under her belt.”

Samy Camacho rides Avellino from post 2.

Trainer Carlos Munoz is just 1 for 49 at the meet, the one win coming with Corinth in a maiden $25,000 claiming race on Dec. 8. Corinth, who is back in this spot, has continued to run well, albeit without winning. She finished third, beaten just 2 3/4 lengths by Mystic Lake, in the Gasparilla Stakes in January. Mystic Lake came back to win Sunday’s Sophomore Fillies Stakes Florida-breds at Tampa, while Corinth came back to run second to Managing Mischief in this condition last month.

Obstreperous, trained by Robert Smith, won for maiden $16,000 claiming on Feb. 24 and then came back to run a solid second in a starter $25,000 allowance to Hopesndreams, who was winning her third consecutive race.

Betsylicious, trained by Gerard Ochoa, finished fourth in the same Feb. 28 race in which Corinth was second. Peggysue I Love U, D’lightful Summer, and Barbsdreamcometrue, a first-out winner for maiden $40,000 claiming complete the field.

◗ Forever Souper earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in Sunday’s $110,000 Turf Classic, one of six stakes run for Florida-breds on Florida Cup Day. It was Forever Souper’s fourth win in his last six starts, second consecutive stakes victory, and sixth win from 13 overall starts. He won two allowance races last summer at Monmouth Park for trainer Mike Trombetta and a race like the $100,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes at the Jersey Shore track on May 25 could be one option for the 5-year-old gelding by American Pharoah.

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