Classy casts in maiden races

The lack of opportunities to run elsewhere led to a cavalry charge to the entry box for a pair of maiden dirt races for 3-year-olds on Sunday’s 10-race card at Gulfstream Park, closing day of the winter meet.

A lot of big-name outfits, some powerful pedigrees, and a handful of high-priced purchases make up the 12-horse fields carded for both the fourth, a six-furlong race for females, and the sixth, a seven-furlong race for both sexes. Sixteen were entered in each race.

The fourth marks the career debut of Center Aisle, a daughter of Into Mischief who this week last year sold for $1.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old sale at Gulfstream Park. Purchased by Larry Best’s OXO Equine and trained by Chad Brown, Center Aisle is out the mare Specification, who is a half-sister to two-time Grade 1 Pacific Classic winner Skimming. Three of Specification’s previous four foals were winners.

Center Aisle showed five works at Saratoga last summer before Brown had to pull the plug. She has worked nine times since mid-January, including a half-mile move out of the gate on March 21 in which she went 48.20 seconds, fastest of 52 at the distance.

“We almost had her ready to run at Saratoga. She had a physical issue and had to stop on her,” Brown said. “She’s really training good, excited to get her started.”

Brown said he felt Center Aisle was “quick enough” to be effective at six furlongs, “and then we’ll stretch her out from there.”

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Dance d’Oro and Say Moi are other intriguing first-time starters in the fourth.

Dance d’Oro is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of Dance Quietly, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Saint Liam and Funtastic. Ralph Nicks trains and Paco Lopez rides.

Say Moi is by Union Rags out of the four-time listed stakes winner Sweet Nanette, who has already thrown six winners. John Velazquez is named to ride for Bill Mott.

Say Moi is Velazquez’s first call. His second call is Starlit Daydream, who would need a scratch to draw in from the also-eligible list. Starlit Daydream, a daughter of Can the Man trained by Todd Pletcher, finished third in her debut, three lengths behind Fashion Babe, who came out of that Feb. 9 race to win a first-level allowance on Feb. 28.

Prairie Wings, an $800,000 daughter of Tapit, finished second in the Feb. 9 race. She would need two scratches to draw in from the also-eligible list for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

In race 6, there are six first-time starters entered, perhaps none more interesting than Rare Stripe, a son of Flatter out of the five-time listed stakes winner Lady Alexander. Rare Stripe is trained by Shug McGaughey for Calumet Farm, two icons in the sport that had previously never teamed up.

McGaughey said Rare Stripe and a New York-bred by Honor Code are the first two horses he’s had for Calumet.

Speaking of Rare Stripe, McGaughey said, “I like him. He doesn’t get tired.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher entered the first-time starter Nocturnal and second-time starter Dr Post.

Nocturnal is by Palace Malice out of a dam who is a half-sister to three-time Grade 1 winner Curalina. She has the white-hot Luis Saez up.

Dr Post had to go to the sidelines after he bobbled at the break and finished fourth to Green Light Go in his debut last July 4 at Belmont Park. He shows a promising work tab for his return, though he must overcome post 12.

Mud Pie, second in a seven-furlong race here on Feb. 22, makes his second start for Rusty Arnold and third overall, and gets a rider switch to Paco Lopez.