Despite long layoff, Gioielli is the horse to beat

It has been over 15 months since Gioielli last raced, but there is every indication she is going to come back with a strong effort when she runs in a first-level allowance race for Florida-bred fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park West on Thursday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

The first indication is Gioielli is trained by a hot Todd Pletcher, who is coming off a huge win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Vino Rosso. More importantly when it comes to Gioielli, in the past five years Pletcher has an extremely impressive 41 percent strike rate and $2.88 ROI with horses coming back from layoffs of a year or more.

A 4-year-old, Gioielli has yet to run a bad race. She showed she could fire fresh when she finished second after chasing the pace in her career debut at Gulfstream Park on June 2, 2018. Following a similar effort running over a sloppy track, she was an easy three-length winner going six furlongs in a maiden special weight race for Florida-breds July 15.

In her next and last outing, Gioielli set the pace before finishing fourth going 7 1/2 furlongs on the Gulfstream turf course in a statebred first-level allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option that produced three next-out winners.

Gioielli has been working steadily at Palm Beach Downs. He will break from post 2 with Edgard Zayas up. The past couple of years, Zayas has won with 35 percent of his mounts from Pletcher at Gulfstream Park West.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gioielli, by Macho Uno

Last 3 Beyers: 68-58-62

◗ The speed of the speed, she could be tough to reel in if she gets the jump on Flashing Diamond, who is breaking from the rail.

◗ She just might be a bigger and stronger horse making her first start as an older horse.

Flashing Diamond, by Corfu

Last 3 Beyers: 68-71-62

◗ The Steve Klesaris trainee is an eight-time winner and the 2-1 morning-line favorite, but she will need to break alertly leaving from the inside post with Jairo Rendon aboard.

◗ In her last start, she forced the pace before fading to finish fifth going seven furlongs at this level at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 11.

◗ At this stage in her career, she seems to want to be involved early. However, she has won from off the pace so Rendon may have options if Gioelli gets the jump on her.

Dizzy, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 71-58-68

◗ Just a single win from 15 starts is a concern. Nonetheless, the Juan Alvarado-trained 3-year-old rallied to finish third in the race Flashing Diamond exits, and could pick up the pieces if an all-out duel between Gioielli and Flashing Diamond develops.