Comeflywithanangel returns to Michigan for Larkspur

Comeflywithanangel, Michigan’s 2014 Horse of the Year, will make her return to Hazel Park Raceway on Friday in the $20,000 Larkspur Handicap for the first time since winning her division of the Michigan Sire Stakes last September.

A 7-year-old daughter of Equality, Comeflywithanangel will face a full gate of nine rivals, in the first stakes race on Hazel Park’s 2015 calendar. The six-furlong race restricted to Michigan-bred fillies and mares, 4 years old and up.

The top six finishers from last year’s Larkspur are entered in Friday’s renewal, including winner Prayer Salute and runner-up No Touch, who have both gone winless since filling out the exacta in that race.

Larkspur Handicap, Race 5

KEY CONTENDERS

Comeflywithanangel (Last 3 Beyers: 40-54-51)

Michigan’s defending Horse of the Year has won 2 of 3 at Hazel Park and 5 of 16 at the distance. She finished third in last year’s Larkspur, but has typically done her best work at a mile or longer.

Comeflywithanangel raced on the Ohio circuit over the spring, and missed the board for the first time this year in her most recent start, a fifth-place effort in a one mile and 40-yard optional claimer on June 12 at ThistleDown. She won the previous start, a one-mile starter allowance on May 23 at the same track, by 6 1/4 lengths.

Jeffrey Skerrett will take his first mount of the Hazel Park meet for owner Marion Gorham and trainer Robert Gorham. The mare is a half-sister to three-time Michigan stakes winner Power of Titus.

Afternoon Prayer (Last 3 Beyers: 50-67-48)

Michigan has been good to this daughter of Meadow Prayer, who has won 5 of 8 starts in the state, including the 2013 Sire Stakes for juvenile fillies at Mount Pleasant Meadows. She is also 2 for 2 at Friday’s distance.

The filly won her 2015 bow at Hazel Park on May 2, wiring a four-furlong sprint field to win by 5 1/2 lengths. She enters off a last-place finish in a May 25 allowance at Presque Isle in her first try over an all-weather surface.

Gorham will give the leg-up to jockey T.D. Houghton for owner Mast Thoroughbreds.

Perfect Question (Last 3 Beyers: 29-34-45)

The stakes-winning daughter of Perfect Circle makes her 2015 debut in the Larkspur, which is her first try against aged fillies and mares in stakes competition. She was last seen finishing third in the 3-year-old fillies division of the Sire Stakes last September.

Owner/trainer Shane Spiess has been breezing the filly at Mahoning Valley and Hazel Park, most recently showing up on the work tab on June 26 at Hazel Park, where she went five furlongs in a bullet 1:03. Angel Stanley will have the mount.