Celebrity Star steps down in class in optional claimer

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Corey Lanerie truly enjoys riding horses for Dave Kassen, a former jockey who has been training horses since before Lanerie was born in 1974.

“His horses always look great. We won a race together last Friday,” Lanerie said, referring to Whisper Onthe Wind. “Hopefully, we can team up again.”

On Friday, Lanerie will get a leg up from Kassen on Celebrity Star, one of the main contenders in the lone allowance at Gulfstream Park, a $46,000, second-level allowance that carries a $35,000 claiming option. Celebrity Star will break from post 3 among seven fillies and mares in the six-furlong race.

Unlike most days, the nominal feature is not part of the Rainbow 6 sequence, which runs from races 6 through 11. Assuming the Rainbow 6 jackpot was not swept Wednesday or Thursday after last being hit Jan. 13, the carryover figures to stand at more than $700,000 for Friday.

Incidentally, the first leg of the Rainbow 6 will feature the debut of Palace Rythm, a half-brother to $2.7 million earner Palace Malice. Curiously enough, the 3-year-old colt will start out on turf, whereas Palace Malice never raced on turf in 19 career starts.

First post Friday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the third race at 1:35 and the sixth at 3:05.

Race 3

KEY CONTENDERS

Celebrity Star, by DehereLast 3 Beyers: 75-74-66

◗ Her two victories over the Gulfstream main track came against better company (a first-level allowance last February and the Sunrise Stakes last May), and her two starts at this meet both were far more demanding than this.

Miss Darla, by MontbrookLast 3 Beyers: 60-53-74

◗ The only one of the seven starters in here not entered for the $35,000 tag, this 6-year-old mare with a dangerous turn of foot stands to benefit from her Jan. 29 comeback and the turnback from seven furlongs; she’s been first or second in four of her last five non-stakes attempts.

Winning for Sarah, by Graeme HallLast 3 Beyers: 68-67-48

◗ This Florida-bred mare tends to give respectable efforts from off the pace when she’s realistically spotted; would seem to benefit from a strong pace developing ahead of her.

Candy and Thunder, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 71-66-79

◗ Rail-drawn mare would appear to match up very well here – until you realize that it’s been more than two years since she last raced; she has had 12 timed works for Marty Wolfson since mid-September in preparing for the comeback.