Breeders' Cup winner Tapitsfly returns in Gulfstream allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s always been said that you never know who you might see show up in the entries – even in an allowance race – during the Gulfstream Park meeting. On Wednesday, Breeders’ Cup winner Tapitsfly returns to make her first start since capturing the 2009 Juvenile Fillies Turf in the $57,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares, to be run at one mile on the turf.

Tapitsfly capped off her 2-year-old campaign at Santa Anita with a half-length victory over Rose Catherine in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trainer Dale Romans brought Tapitsfly down here last winter with the intention of running her at Gulfstream Park, but following a series of setbacks wound up giving her the entire year off.

“We took a chip out of her ankle, brought her back a little quick, and her layoff stretched into being a lot longer than we’d expected,” said Romans. “It’s tough to bring any horse back for the first time off this long a layoff, but she’s been training super. Her last work on the grass here was as good as her final work right before the Breeders’ Cup. There are a lot of options for her, but we’ll let this race dictate where we’ll go with her next.”

Tapitsfly will face 10 rivals in her return, including Miss World, who won the Grade 1 Garden City two seasons ago at 3 but has since gone winless in six subsequent starts. Miss World is coming off a fourth-place finish in Calder’s Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap for trainer Christophe Clement.

Barracks Road is the only other stakes winner in the field. A Canadian-bred, Barracks Road won two one-mile stakes, the Ontario Colleen and Ontario Damsel, over her home base at Woodbine in late August. She figures to force the early pace on Wednesday along with stretch-out sprinters such as Tremendamente Loca and Go for Jan.

A lively pace would enhance the chances of Romin Robin, who was overmatched in the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap in her 2010 finale. Trained by David Kassen, Romin Robin is the only member of the field to take advantage of the $80,000 claiming option in the conditions of this race, having won a pair of three-other-than optional claimers this summer at Arlington Park.

Completing the lineup are Trix in the City, Me Love, Profiteroles, Maddie’s Odyssey, and Sweet Theresa.