Christmas Eve card loaded with juvenile races
Horseplayers looking to make a little last-minute holiday spending money Friday will be focused on Florida because, quite frankly, there is nowhere else to look. The only tracks racing this Christmas Eve afternoon are Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
Tampa has put together an interesting enough program with a heavy emphasis on 2-year-olds. Four of the day’s nine races are for juveniles, beginning with race 3, a first-level optional-claiming sprint for fillies.
The six-furlong contest should come down to Royal Engagement and Platinum Gem. Royal Engagement has a number of factors in her favor, but the more lightly raced Platinum Gem has a good chance to spring a minor upset.
Royal Engagement has accomplished more than anyone in the field. After winning her debut by a head at Presque Isle Downs, the daughter of Palace Malice showed added promise in a pair of Woodbine stakes, finishing third on Tapeta in the My Dear and second on turf in the Catch a Glimpse. Both of those races were won by Diabolic, a winner of 3 of 4 starts.
After those good efforts things went south for Royal Engagement, who comes into this race off ninth-place finishes in the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine and the Presque Isle Debutante.
Those races may have been the result of trying to do too much too soon as Royal Engagement made five starts between mid-July and early October. Trainer Tim Hamm has freshened her for 2 1/2 months, and she looks ready to regain her form in her dirt debut following four nicely spaced local workouts.
Platinum Gem has only started twice. She set the pace in a Delaware Park maiden race in her debut before flattening out to finish third at 2-1. Sent south to trainer Maria Bowersock, Platinum Gem reeled off an authoritative 5 1/4-length maiden win at Tampa, paying $24.80. She left her 10 opponents strung out behind her in that Dec. 4 race and has worked since.
Platinum Gem and Royal Engagement have good speed and are close on the Beyer scale. Platinum Gem earned a 74 for her maiden win. Royal Engagement’s best figure, a 75, came when second in the Catch a Glimpse.
◗ In race 4, a $32,000 starter/optional-claiming race at a mile on turf, Great Britain will be favored off a $32,000 maiden-claiming win, which made him eligible for these conditions. With that slow-early, quicker-late victory under his belt for Graham Motion, Great Britain, a gelded son of English Channel, looks set to move forward.
Chaotic Tempo is Great Britain’s leading rival after attending a quicker pace in optional-claiming company before weakening down the lane.
◗ Amani’s Image, who will race for Ben Colebrook after making her first three starts for Todd Pletcher, will be well backed in race 6, a seven-furlong maiden race for fillies. But the fact she couldn’t close into a 26.84-second final quarter when second in a mile race at Gulfstream Park in October raises questions.
Sweet Dutchess, who makes her first start since being transferred to Kathleen O’Connell, may step up at what should be a sociable price.
◗ The final 2-year-old race comes in the nightcap, a $32,000 maiden claimer at a mile on turf. Motion sends out first-time starter Karl Cares, an Alex Campbell Jr. homebred by Empire Maker with seven-pound apprentice William Humphrey named to ride.
It’s surprising to see this well-bred runner gelded so early and more surprising to see him debut for a claiming price.
Bosshog Them Dukes, third behind race 4 runner Great Britain in his last start, looks properly spotted.