Bridled Heiress looks to move forward in featured optional claimer

Bridled Heiress looked every bit like a horse needing a race when she finished third as the 3-5 favorite last month at Gulfstream Park in south Florida.

“She probably did,” said trainer Terri Pompay.

Steeled by a race that figures to do her a world of good, Bridled Heiress returns to action Friday as the obvious horse to beat in the $46,000 feature at Gulfstream, a second-level allowance carded as the ninth of 10 races. Edgar Prado has the mount.

Bred and owned by My Purple Haze Stable, Bridled Heiress was returning from a layoff of nearly 15 months on June 19. The 4-year-old gray filly had begun her career in terrific fashion in 2014, winning 2 of 3 starts at Gulfstream.

“She had a little tear in her tendon in her last race as a 3-year-old,” said Pompay, who began her career in 1995 and currently has about 40 horses split among Gulfstream, Monmouth, and Saratoga. “It wasn’t anything huge, but we had to stop on her and let her heal up. She’s a very cool horse, very talented, but she’s had issues along the way that kept her from being a really good filly. She got tired in that last race, so she’ll probably move up off that.”

Joann’s Wildcat and Distinta appear to be the main threats to Bridled Heiress in a six-furlong race that also offers a $62,500 claiming option. Four of the six entrants are in for the tag, with Bridled Heiress and Distinta the exceptions.

One other allowance (race 7) also is part of a Friday card that starts at 1:15 p.m. Eastern.

Key contenders

Bridled Heiress (Last 3 Beyers: 78-84-86)

* Florida-bred daughter of Wildcat Heir showed a nice string of works leading up to her return last month, partly accounting for her being odds-on. She has trained well in the interim, said Pompay.

Joann’s Wildcat (Last 3 Beyers: 66-76-77)

* Another Florida-bred by Wildcat Heir, she exits five straight overnight stakes and is sure to draw strong backing for trainer Larry Pilotti, who’s winning at a 35 percent clip this year.

Distinta (Last 3 Beyers: 74-65-77)

* This 3-year-old filly was a mere 10-1 when an okay seventh in the Grade 3 Azalea last out, and her 7-2-2-0 record over the Gulfstream surface contributes to making her viable here.

Zayas to miss four to six weeks

Perennial leading jockey Edgard Zayas underwent surgery Tuesday for his broken left collarbone and should be back riding in four to six weeks, according to agent Tito Fuentes. Zayas was injured July 17.