The consistent Flora Fantasy brings dangerous late run

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The only non-claiming race on a 10-race Thursday card at Gulfstream drew six Florida-bred filly-mare sprinters, and in a bit of irony, the 8-5 morning-line favorite is the only horse in the field entered for an optional-claiming tag.

Flora Fantasy, with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., is the lone entrant in the $44,000 restricted allowance eligible to be claimed for $16,000. Third or better in 20 of 28 career starts, the 6-year-old mare exits a similar Feb. 23 race in which she rallied from fifth at the eighth pole to win with a late rush.

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The nominal race-9 feature will be run at six furlongs as part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which spans races 5-10. A pool guarantee of at least $1.4 million was projected, assuming a solo winning ticket did not sweep the jackpot when the five-day race week began Wednesday.

First post Thursday is 1 p.m. Eastern, with the no-spectator policy remaining in effect indefinitely because of the coronavirus outbreak.

◗ A pair of $75,000 stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters will serve as Gulfstream co-features Saturday, one week ahead of the huge Florida Derby card. Those races are the Melody of Colors for fillies and the Texas Glitter for 3-year-olds.

The Florida Derby is one of seven stakes to be run March 28. Closing day of the championship meet is March 29, with the spring-summer meet opening the following week.

◗ Gulfstream Park said that in the interest of the jockeys’ health during the coronavirus outbreak, a three-pound allowance is being granted above the assigned weight for all riders in Gulfstream races, effective as of last weekend. The allowance will be extended until normal conditions return.

◗ Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will start a suspension of five racing days Thursday, stemming from the disqualification of his mount, Yako, from first to fourth in the 12th race here Saturday. Gaffalione will resume riding March 26.