Blast capable off the layoff
When Blast makes her first start as a 3-year-old in Friday’s third race at Gulfstream Park, a $44,000 allowance with a $75,000 claiming condition, she will be battling more than the talents of her five rivals. She also must overcome racing inactivity.
In contrast to four of her five rivals who have started this winter, Blast is unraced since a runner-up finish at Churchill Downs in a similar entry-level allowance Nov. 1. And yet she has already shown that she can get ready for a race off works, having won at first asking at Churchill Downs on Sept. 25, scoring from just off the pace for an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
Matched next against winners, she regressed from a figure perspective, running a 72 Beyer on Nov. 1, though she still ran very competitively, losing by a half-length and finishing in front of eight of her nine foes.
A daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, Blast has trained quickly over the past couple of months, capped by a bullet half-mile breeze in 48.45 seconds last Saturday at Palm Meadows.
Leading rider Javier Castellano rides for trainer Eddie Kenneally and owner Joseph Sutton.
The 2-1 morning-line favorite in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies is Summer Reading. She cuts back after fading to eighth in a two-turn, 7 1/2-furlong turf allowance. Summer Reading finished second with an 86 Beyer when she last raced on dirt Jan. 17.
Other threats include April Gaze, who is unbeaten in two starts, both against easier opposition, and the well-bred Broadway Gal.
Key contenders
Blast, by Harlan’s Holiday
Beyers: 72-80
◗ Fourteen of Kenneally’s 32 starts at the Gulfstream Park meet resulted in top-three finishes, though he has only two wins. He has six seconds and six thirds.
April Gaze, by High Cotton
Beyers: 65-66
◗ Claimed from her debut in a maiden $50,000 claimer Nov. 25 at Gulfstream Park West, she returned a winner against starter $50,000 opposition despite a slow start and traffic trouble.
Summer Reading, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 46-86-51
◗ A filly who runs hot and cold, she owns two of the three highest Beyers in the field as well as some of the lowest. Her fast races have come when she has made the lead, and she appears to have the most speed in this short cast.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Summer Reading. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is 9-4-0-2 with a $8.66 ROI over the past two years going turf to dirt in sprints. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Broadway Gal, by Congrats
Beyers: 63-40
◗ A rare 10-1 morning-line shot trained by Todd Pletcher, she is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners R Gypsy Gold, Broadway’s Alibi, and Golden Lad, with the latter two being graded winners.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Conquest Soprano. Trainer Ralph Nicks is 43-3-6-11 with a $0.43 ROI over the past five years on dirt in the first start following a trainer switch and a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan