Brandy's Girl continues to face males in Tamiami Handicap

It’s not that trainer Eddie Broome is looking to run Brandy’s Girl against the boys. It’s just that he hasn’t had any other options of late for the 4-year-old filly turf-sprint specialist, who will face males for the fifth consecutive time as one of the favorites in Sunday’s $50,000 Tamiami Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Brandy’s Girl has won her last two starts, including the Jupiter Beach Handicap on Aug. 20, when she rallied from midpack to a 1 3/4-length decision over R Limo Joe. Brandy’s Girl had come from a bit farther back to capture a high-level optional-claiming dash four weeks earlier.

“The turf sprints for fillies and mares just don’t fill around here right now,” said a frustrated Broome, who also bred and owns Brandy’s Girl. “The only good thing about facing males is that she doesn’t have to carry a lot of weight, like she would if she ran against the girls, so we are hoping to take advantage of that factor once again on Sunday.”

Brandy’s Girl will carry 117 pounds in the five-furlong Tamiami, four fewer than the top-weighted Successful Native.

Broome said Brandy’s Girl’s recent improvement is due in large part to the way she’s been ridden by Edgard Zayas and Luca Panici in her last two starts.

“I kept telling my riders to take this filly back off the pace, yet she was still on the lead in all her earlier races this year,” said Broome. “Edgard finally listened to my instructions two starts back, and although he overdid it a bit – he took her back to last – she made a big middle move, circled the field, and still won. And Luca was able to rate her a bit closer last time. “I believe you’re always much better off when you have a horse who doesn’t need the lead in these types of races.”

There certainly is plenty of speed signed on for the Tamiami, including Successful Native, who has not started since leading throughout to win the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint last September. Successful Native captured 3 of 9 starts and earned nearly $300,000 in 2016 before going to the sidelines.

“He got injured and needed some time off after that last win, but he’s been training okay, is fresh, and, coming back at five furlongs, he should be okay,” said trainer Aubrey Maragh, who also will send out Enders Cat.

“We’ve been looking to try Enders Cat sprinting on the turf, so even though he’s probably a better horse on dirt than grass, we’re going to run them both on Sunday,” Maragh said.

Extravagant Kid has chased Brandy’s Girl home in his last two starts, including the Jupiter Beach, when finishing third, beaten three lengths.

Dubai Bob and Doctor J Dub, who led early before finishing seventh in the Lucky Coin Stakes on Sept. 1 at Saratoga, own multiple wins over the local course and figure to help assure an honest pace.