If the past is any indication, Byegone Days has a future that will be worth remembering. Byegone Days is the likely favorite in race 9 on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, a first-level optional-claiming race for fillies and mares going a mile on turf. Three of the 10 entrants are in for the $25,000 optional tag, but Byegone Days isn’t one of them. A 3-year-old filly by Old Fashioned, Byegone Days took to turf racing immediately, drawing away to a 6 1/4-length victory in a Gulfstream maiden race in June after having finished far back on dirt in her debut. Byegone Days returned about five weeks later on July 21 in a race similar to Saturday’s and perhaps showed her inexperience with a second-place finish to Determined Lady. Byegone Days came out a bit at the start of the 1 1/16-mile race, settled in a stalking position, took the lead in the stretch, and drifted out when tackled by Determined Lady. Still, she finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of the third-place horse. Determined Lady was capping a three-race win streak in that race, and she followed it up with a fourth-place finish, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes. Owned by Hardacre Farm and trained by Amy Tarrant, Byegone Days has shown that she likes to settle early, and with plenty of speed in Saturday’s race, jockey Matthew Rispoli should be able to work out a good trip on her. The stretch-out sprinter Little Alexandra, Murray’s Girl, Miss Marianne, and Maid On a Mission all figure to be on or near the lead. Maid On a Mission, 7, participated in graded stakes as recently as last summer. Trained by Peter Walder, she comes off a front-running victory in a $30,000 claiming race going a mile on the turf at Gulfstream. Miss Marianne opened up a big lead early and managed to hold on for second in a first-level allowance at a mile on turf at Gulfstream in her last start. Wild About Jass and Sweet Story are two others who would benefit from a swift pace. Wild About Jass, a 5-year-old who has won 7 of 24 starts, did the dirty work in her last start, chasing a loose front-runner, then taking the lead in the stretch going 1 1/16 miles on turf. She was caught late by Defying Gravity – no embarrassment considering that mare was winning her fifth straight race. Sweet Story has showed a strong late kick in most of her races this year, and she finally got there in her last start after a few close-but-no-cigar efforts. :: Enjoy news and analysis from DRF? Get handicapping analysis, real-time coverage, special reports, and charts. Unlock access with DRF Plus.