Bahama Halo seeking clean trip in Sunday feature
Bahama Halo looks like the one to beat in a $75,000 optional-claiming race for 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park West on Sunday. The one-mile turf race drew seven horses and is race 3 on a 10-race card that begins at 1:15 p.m. Eastern.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Bahama Halo comes off a troubled third-place finish in the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 1. Sent off as the favorite in the one-mile turf race, she got squeezed back soon after the start, then had to steady going into the first turn.
She seemed to be full of run down the backstretch but was boxed in with nowhere to go. She finished full of run when a hole opened up along the rail on the final turn but had to steady at the sixteenth pole.
It is hard to say if she would have won the race, but her chances certainly were compromised.
In her previous start, she finished fifth in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga.
Jonathan Gonzales picks up the mount from Edgard Zayas. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him try to put her into the race early after she breaks from the inside post.
When Bahama Halo was stuck behind horses and dropping back heading into the stretch turn in the Our Dear Peggy, Devilish Romance was making a strong move on the outside. The Stanley Gold trainee took the lead coming out of the turn but couldn’t hold off Silver Diva, who rallied late.
KEY CONTENDERS
Bahama Halo, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 68-67-61
◗ The first foal out of Grade 2-placed Bahama Bound could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of her form cycle and could be tough to handle with a clean trip.
Devilish Romance, by First Dude
Last 3 Beyers: 73-56-42
◗ She has improved dramatically since switching to grass two back, and her sharp half-mile move at Gulfstream on Oct. 13 is a good indication that she is ready for another strong effort.
Bella Vincenza, by Biondetti
Last 3 Beyers: 66-59-70
◗ A Devilish Romance stablemate, she put it all together with a 5 1/4-length romp in a maiden special weight race going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Gulfstream on Oct. 1.
◗ She has good tactical speed and could get a nice trip sitting just off Backstage.
Backstage, by Put it Back
Last 3 Beyers: 55-63-76
◗ Trained by Roger Laurin, she was a front-running winner over Bella Vincenza two back and might not have cared for being eased into a stalking position when she finished sixth in the Our Dear Peggy.
◗ Expect Emisael Jaramillo to send her hard coming out of the gate. She could be dangerous if she clears early.