Dixieincandyland can improve off bad-trip second

Thursday may signal the beginning of a new meet at Gulfstream Park, but there will be many familiar names among the roster of trainers and jockeys participating, at least at the beginning of the spring-summer session, scheduled to run through Sept. 27.

With Keeneland and Aqueduct having canceled their spring meets owing to the coronavirus pandemic, several Kentucky- and New York-based horsemen have kept horses in South Florida for the time being. Among them is Eddie Kenneally, who will send Dixieincandyland out in Thursday’s first-level allowance turf feature, scheduled for five furlongs.

Dixieincandyland, a 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride, finished second in this same condition on March 6, her first start off a seven-month layoff. Entering the far turn, Tyler Gaffalione had to steady Dixieincandyland sharply, costing her a couple of lengths. Dixieincandyland re-rallied along the inside to get second, 3 3/4 lengths behind front-running Miss Auramet, who was winning her second consecutive race. Dixieincandyland finished nearly two lengths clear of Awsum Roar, who is back in this spot.

“It was a good performance overall,” said Kenneally, who had been planning to run Dixieincandyland at Keeneland. “She didn’t have an ideal trip. He had to tap on the brakes going into the turn and got shuffled back a little bit. She fought on really well, was gaining at the wire. It was a good setup for Thursday’s race.”

With Gaffalione scheduled to ride Smack in this spot, Joel Rosario has picked up the mount on Dixieincandyland. Rosario and Kenneally teamed up for a turf sprint allowance win last Friday with Maniacal.

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After several narrow defeats, Smack finally broke through with her maiden score going five furlongs here on March 6. Smack was part of a terrific March at Gulfstream for trainer Christophe Clement. He won 8 races from 23 starters in March, including his 2,000th career victory last Friday with Gufo.

Smack will break from the rail, which Clement doesn’t see as a hindrance.

“On grass, inside is always a good thing,” said Clement, noting that the inside has been the place to be on the Gulfstream turf.

Clement blames himself for Smack having taken so long to win her first race in what was her eighth start.

“I did not run her short, I kept running her long,” Clement said. “It was a mistake. She’s a much better sprinter.”

Awsum Roar is a nine-time winner who has proven quite popular at the claim box. She has been claimed five times in her last 12 starts, including recently by Elizabeth Dobles for $16,000 on Jan. 29. Awsum Roar finished third in the same race in which Dixieincandyland was second on March 6. Luis Saez, who has ridden Awsum Roar to victories in two of her last four starts, has the call.

The speedy Fallen Leaf makes her 35th career start in this spot, but first since Nov. 7. Trainer Georgina Baxter has good numbers bringing horses back off layoffs of 60 to 180 days. Emisael Jaramillo has the call.

There are nine races carded for Thursday with first post scheduled for shortly after 1 p.m.