Cajun Delight has strong shot if she can draw in

The very real threat of rain in the forecast for Friday was evident when entries were drawn for the afternoon’s $54,500 main event with three of the nine to pass the box listed to run main track only, including the lightly raced but promising Florida-bred Cajun’s Delight. Friday’s headliner is carded under allowance and optional-claiming conditions for 3-year-old fillies at five furlongs on the turf.

Cajun’s Delight was an instant sensation, winning her debut by 5 1/2 lengths when launching her career for owner-breeder William Churly and trainer Bob Hess Jr. at Gulfstream Park last September. Her performance was so impressive, her connections decided to roll the dice and wheel her back in three weeks in the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl. Despite the short turnaround and stretch in distance, Cajun’s Delight was sent postward the tepid 5-2 favorite, although she ultimately finished a distant 12th and last after flashing brief speed.

Cajun’s Delight has worked well for her potential return Friday, with six works on her résumé including six furlongs in 1:13.80 on June 24.

“She came up with a little hind-end injury after the stakes, nothing time couldn’t fix, and it did,” Hess said by phone from Del Mar on Wednesday. “She’s ready to come back and be a nice filly, we hope, and she’s a Florida-bred, which is a great thing. I think she’s probably going to be a one-turn horse, maybe up to a one-turn mile, and eventually her future could be on grass.”

Hess said he feels Cajun Delight is ready for a top effort off the bench if she does draw in on Friday.

“It’s a real competitive race but would soften up, obviously, if it comes off the turf,” Hess said. “She was speeding a bit and not finishing real well in a couple of her works. But she came home in 24 in her last one, which was by far her best yet. If the race doesn’t come off the turf Friday, I’ve got a real nice spot going three-quarters against Florida-breds picked out for her next week.”

Cajun Delight is joined on the main-track-only list for Friday’s feature by Carolyn’s Smile and Bibiana, both of whom come off neck wins against softer opposition in their most recent starts.

Bibiana is trained by Jose D’Angelo, who appears to hold the upper hand should the rain hold off and the race go as scheduled on turf, with his speedy Swirling Candy likely the one to beat. Swirling Candy, claimed by D’Angelo for $20,000 out of a winning effort on the turf on April 5, has returned quick dividends for her new connections registering a win and a second in two subsequent starts since changing barns.

Meadow Beauty is another in the lineup exiting a recent win, having exited the maiden ranks with a wire-to-wire, half-length special-weight triumph going five furlongs on the grass for trainer Mark Casse on June 12. The My Meadowview Farm homebred by Giant’s Causeway earned far and away a career-best 72 Beyer Speed Figure for that effort.

Drop a Hint, a late-running third behind Swirling Candy in their previous encounter, Merseyside, Mane Attracton, and Royal Jewel complete the field.

Saturday’s scheduled main event, the $60,000 Thirsty Fish for 3-year-olds, was brought back as an extra on Sunday after failing to attract sufficient entries when the card closed Wednesday. Sunday’s program already had two stakes races scheduled, the $60,000 Portofino Bay, for 3-year-old fillies, and the $55,000 Home of the Brave Handicap. All three races are carded for the turf, the Home of the Brave under starter-allowance conditions at 1 1/2 miles, with Renaissance Frolic (122) and Tizarunner (120) assigned high weights among the dozen nominees.