Awsum Roar has good shot to run 'em down in turf sprint

With plenty of speed in the field, Awsum Roar has the right running style to win Sunday’s featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park.

With Edgard Zayas aboard, she came from a stalking position to win a $16,000 starter race for fillies and mares going five furlongs over firm turf on March 18. The 7-year-old New York-bred mare will have speed to run at while going the same distance at the same level Sunday. Zayas retains the mount, and with a positive weather forecast the turf course will likely be firm.

The 10-race card, which features mostly highly competitive races, gets under way at 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Awsum Roar is a gem of consistency. Beginning with a third-place finish in a $35,000 maiden claimer on July 16, 2016, at Gulfstream, she has compiled an enviable record of 11-6-6 from 31 starts. Her first win came in her second start, going 5 1/2 furlongs in a maiden special weight race for statebreds at Saratoga. Her 10 other wins were in five-furlong races. All of her wins have come on turf.

Following a couple of disappointing efforts at Monmouth and Delaware for trainer Nick Caruso in September, Awsum Roar returned to Gulfstream where she has not been worse than second in her last five starts, all for trainer Antonio Sano.

Awsum Roar is versatile. She had one horse beat at the first call in an 11-horse field when she won a $16,000 claimer on Dec. 3. In her latest win, she had a perfect trip, sitting just off the speed before overhauling My Sarasota Star in the stretch. She could get a similar trip Sunday after breaking from post 2.

Tracy Ann’s Legacy will be one of the horses Awsum Roar has to run down, and if the eight-time winner shows up with her best stuff, they will have a hard time catching her.

Trained by Kelly Breen, the 5-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Shackleford is coming off a fourth-place finish in a conditioned allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on March 25. With Zayas riding, Tracy Ann’s Legacy forced a fast pace before giving way late.

In her latest victory, Paco Lopez took her all the way going five furlongs on turf in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option on Dec. 2.

Tracy Ann’s Legacy will break from post 4 with Lopez riding.

Other speed in the field includes Dahlonega, who is coming off a win in a first-level allowance race for Florida-breds that carried a $16,000 claiming option. The Gilberto Zerpa-trained 6-year-old will break from the rail with Joe Bravo riding.

My Sarasota Star and Cat’s Astray also figure to be in the mix right from the start.