Bramble Berry, Sunset Empire go for hot Sweezey barn in Friday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Friday’s main event is restricted to Florida-bred fillies and mares going six furlongs under first-level allowance conditions and offers a $44,000 purse. The race drew just six starters, with both Bramble Berry and Sunset Empire trained by former Jimmy Jerkens assistant J. Kent Sweezey, who is off to a strong start with seven winners during the first month of the Championship meeting.

Bramble Berry exits a second-place finish under similar conditions four weeks earlier, prompting the pace before proving no match for Royal Meghan, who drew off to an easy six-length victory. Bramble Berry earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure in defeat and has since returned with a bullet 46.80-second half-mile work at Palm Meadows.

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Sunset Empire could prove the one to catch in the main event while in the best form of her career. The former $5,000 claimer posted back-to-back victories before ending her 2020 season finishing second, beaten just a head, after making all the pace when trying allowance company for just the second time Nov. 18 at Gulfstream Park West.

Sunset Empire may get entertained early on by Comp’d, an impressive wire-to-wire winner in her only start, which came under a modest $20,000 claiming tag here Dec. 20. She will get tested for class stepping up against a field that also includes Sayonara Baby, Shes All Woman, and Let’s Be Honest.