Dogwood Trail, Huasca get rematch in Uanme Stakes
Dogwood Trail and Huasca, the one-two finishers in the Grade 3 Azalea Stakes nine weeks ago, will renew their rivalry Sunday at Gulfstream Park in the $75,000 Uanme Stakes.
Both fillies have held form since they last met. Dogwood Trail was a 1-5 winner in a Florida Sire Stakes event, and Huasca was a good second in the Summer Winds on turf. They’re the obvious favorites in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong Uanme, the 10th of 11 Sunday races at the south Florida track.
In the Azalea – also run at seven furlongs as part of the July 5 Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream – Dogwood Trail led all the way at 3-1, while Huasca closed from sixth to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths as the 3-2 favorite.
The Uanme, named for the winner of the 1998 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream, anchors a card that otherwise comprises four claiming races, four maiden-claiming races, and two maiden special weight races.
Sunday normally would be the last day of the racing week, but there will be racing Monday at Gulfstream because of the Labor Day holiday. First post through the weekend is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, a half-hour earlier than usual. Next Thursday will be dark, with racing resuming Friday at 1:15.
KEY CONTENDERS
Dogwood Trail (Last 3 Beyers: 77-92-83)
◗ This Jacks or Better homebred really has developed into a nice one, as evidenced by her Grade 3 triumph and the galloping score in the FSS Three Ring on Aug. 8.
◗ She probably has a tactical edge in here as the apparent lone speed, with post 6 likely to afford her and jockey Jesus Rios a nice trip.
Huasca (Last 3 Beyers: 82-89-85)
◗ She now stretches back out to seven furlongs after actually having rallied to the lead in midstretch in the Aug. 16 Summer Winds, only to be narrowly defeated. She is no doubt a major contender here, Beyer Speed Figure-wise and otherwise.
Naval Command (Last 3 Beyers: 78-74-77)
◗ This Bill Kaplan-trained filly makes the third start of her form cycle after warming up in a couple of tough spots, the Grade 2 Princess Rooney and a Florida Sire start against males; threat on best.
Distinta (Last 3 Beyers: 81-69-74)
◗ This Summer Bird filly comes favorably drawn in the outside post off a runner-up finish at 13-1 in the Gold Mover, an effort that earned her a career-high Beyer.