Bitacora marooned outside in turf allowance

The stakes winner Bitacora and jockey Tyler Gaffalione must overcome breaking from gate 11 in the featured eighth race Friday at Gulfstream. The optional $25,000 claiming route will be run at a mile on turf and carries first-level allowance conditions.

Bitacora won over the local course in June in the $100,000 Ginger Punch.

The field for Friday includes Sweet Story, who was third by a neck when racing at this same level at Gulfstream last out, and Snirvana, who is making her second start in North America. Swiss Alps is entered for the main track only.

Bitacora was fifth as the favorite in an off-the-turf overnight stakes last out, the $75,000 Panama City on Aug. 11 at Gulfstream. The race marked her first start on dirt in more than a year. One race prior, Bitacora and Gaffalione drove to a half-length win in the Ginger Punch, which was run at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Peter Walder trains Bitacora, a daughter of Dominus who has a 4-for-18 record over the grass at Gulfstream.

Bitacora also has won on a wet track. There is a 50 percent chance of rain Friday at Gulfstream.

Snirvana exits a fifth-place finish in an optional $25,000 claiming route on turf Aug. 18 at Gulfstream. She was beaten 2 1/2 lengths in what was her first out since November. Snirvana’s previous starts had come in France. Patrick Biancone trains the 4-year-old by Elusive Quality for D P Racing.

Athera can be closer to the pace than she found herself last time, when she closed from 20 lengths back for a neck win over optional $20,000 claiming rivals in a 7 1/2-furlong turf race Aug. 11 at Gulfstream.