Beach Flower trying to win after layoff – again

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Beach Flower ran a winning race off the bench a year ago this week at Oaklawn Park, and the multiple stakes winner will attempt to do the same Sunday.

She starts in the third race, a $101,000 second-level allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles.

The race is one of two high-end offerings on the card. The eighth is a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs. The purse is $100,000.

Beach Flower won a 1 1/16-mile allowance on March 5, 2021 at Oaklawn following a four-month layoff. Sunday’s race also follows a four-month layoff.

Though she has won multiple stakes and has 11 wins lifetime, Beach Flower is eligible to the race for the $62,500 optional-claiming tag but is not eligible to be claimed as a waiver claimer. She faces five others in her return.

Elvin Gonzalez has the mount from post 4 for trainer Mac Robertson.

Beach Flower rallied from last to win her comeback race last season, but more recently wired rivals over a mile on turf July 15 at Canterbury Park.

Bold Tactics could get a nice stalking trip behind Beach Flower, Itsallinthenotes, and Lil Kings Princess. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 2 for trainer Brad Cox.

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In the eighth race, Sweet Tea meets winners for the first time following an impressive maiden special weight win Jan. 30 at Oaklawn. She set the pace and prevailed by a length. The Beyer Speed Figure of 80 she earned is the best last-race number in the field Sunday. Luis Quinonez has the mount from post 9 in the field of 10.

Sweet Tea is a daughter of Into Mischief and a full sister to multiple stakes winner Sound Machine. Fox Hill Farm owns the 4-year-old filly, who is trained by Larry Jones.

Well Spent is appealing as a four-time winner facing some less experienced rivals. She exits a key race. The third-place finisher, Joyful Cadence, came back in her next start to win an Oaklawn allowance with a Beyer Speed Figure of 84. The ninth-place finisher, Oscarette, won a first-level allowance at Fair Grounds with a Beyer of 76.

David Cohen has the mount from post 8 for Lucky Dog Stables and trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Sianara is making her first start since July for trainer Steve Asmussen, who wins at a strong 20-percent clip with horses returning from layoffs of more than 180 days, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. Sianara is a daughter of Malibu Moon and a half-sister to Forbidden Kingdom, a Grade 2 winner who was entered as a leading contender in the Grade 2 San Felipe on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Joel Rosario has the mount on Sianara, who will leave from post 6.