Call Me Spicy might try new tactics in clash with Gitana

Call Me Spicy won her maiden on the front end, but she could employ new tactics Friday when she takes on probable favorite Gitana in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park.

The first-level allowance for Florida-bred fillies and mares will be run over 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta. It carries a claiming option of $20,000.

The feature is part of the Rainbow 6 jackpot sequence that will have a minimum guaranteed pool of $300,000. The 20-cent bet runs on races 3-8. It has not been solved in 13 cards since a mandatory payout.

Call Me Spicy enters Friday’s race off a 1 3/4-length win over maiden rivals July 14 at Gulfstream. She was prominent from the start, winning in her third career out. Call Me Spicy had run second in her prior two starts, and in both efforts came from off the pace.

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“She’s a pretty nice filly,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “I liked her last race. She ran a good race. What I didn’t like is that she went too fast on the lead. She was fighting with two other fillies. She was fighting from the start.”

Call Me Spicy will break from post 6 in the eight-horse field Friday.

“I can see her running behind the speed,” D’Angelo said. “I think she’ll be okay doing that. It’s a good post position.”

D’Angelo, who ranks second in the current trainer standings, said he feels Call Me Spicy is a better horse from off the pace. Edgard Zayas has the mount for owner Adam Rice.

Gitana comes off a runner-up finish at this level in a race won by Flag Woman, who is a candidate to move into stakes company, said her trainer, D’Angelo. Gitana, a six-time winner has an experience edge on a number of her rivals Friday. She starts from post 5 for owner and trainer Fernando Abreu.

Gitana has the speed to be in the race from the bell, but also could track Lovin Makes Cents, a quick horse to her inside. Lovin Makes Cents will start from post 3 off a fifth-place finish in a $20,000 starter allowance at Gulfstream. She was hooked from the start in the race, which came against open company.

Lovin Make Sense is now back with Florida-breds. Her last win came against such foes back in January at Gulfstream.

D’Angelo has starters in four races on Friday’s card as he battles Saffie Joseph Jr. for the training title. Joseph had 49 wins through Wednesday to lead the standings. D’Angelo enters the race week with 46.

◗ Bentornato, a sharp debut winner for stallion Valiant Minister, is scheduled to make his next start Aug. 12 in the $65,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream, said D’Angelo. The six furlong-race is for 2-year-olds. D’Angelo said the horse is a candidate for the Florida Sire Stakes.

Mama Maria, winner of a first-level allowance last month at Gulfstream, is being pointed for the $65,000 Sheer Drama on Aug. 19 at Gulfstream, said D’Angelo.

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