Can favorites avoid speed duel in turf dash?

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As a handicapper, what do you do when the two best horses in a field are both at their best racing on the lead? That will be the big dilemma facing those trying to sort out Wednesday’s $44,000 10th race at Gulfstream Park, a five-furlong turf dash carded under optional-claiming conditions for Florida-bred fillies and mares.

On paper, Band of Angels and Salt Pond look like the ones to beat. Band of Angels won four races in a row late last season, including a similar turf dash at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 17. She was in front turning for home in three of those races and just a length back at the top of the stretch in the fourth win. But she is coming off a pair of disappointing efforts as the favorite. She was outrun for the lead and faltered badly down the stretch on both occasions.

Salt Pond, claimed for $16,000 by trainer Mike Trombetta out of a wire-to-wire 3 1/2-length conditioned-claiming win going five furlongs over the local turf course in her 2018 finale, returns to the grass after finishing second against this same kind over a sloppy main track on Jan. 27. Her only two wins have come when she was able to shake loose and relax on the front end.

If Band of Angels and Salt Pond are destined for a potentially suicidal early pace duel, there are plenty of other options available.

Magic Two and Bright Venezuelan have won four races apiece, more than any other member of the field aside from Band of Angels, and both are at their best with pace to run at late.

Magic Two rallied to defeat open $16,000 claiming foes going five furlongs on the turf here Dec. 6, one of two victories she recorded from seven starts last season.

Bright Venezuelan won four races and earned more than $114,000 last year. She rallied to win this same condition at Gulfstream West with trainer Steve Klesaris in early October. She was claimed for $16,000 out of a sixth-place finish by trainer Aubrey Maragh on Jan. 6 and ran fourth over a sloppy track Feb. 13 in her last start.

Prospective Diva, who rallied to finish second behind Band of Angels despite an unlucky start last fall at Gulfstream West, and Pure One, turning back from one-mile and six-furlong races on dirt, also figure to be doing their best running at the end.