Don't Get Khozy has a lot going for her in overnight handicap
Don’t Get Khozy and Crumb Bun look like the main players in the $60,000 Bal Harbour on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong overnight handicap for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as race 4 on a 10-race card that begins at noon Eastern.
Don’t Get Khozy is the starting highweight at 120 pounds and should be favored. After all, she finished in front of Crumb Bun going the same distance in a conditioned allowance race that carried a $62,500 claiming option on May 22. With Leonel Reyes riding for trainer Antonio Sano, Don’t Get Khozy was last at the first call and had to steady slightly when she was between horses heading into the turn. She ended up rallying late to get up for second, with Crumb Bun finishing fourth.
She went into the race off a 6 1/4-length romp in a first-level allowance race that carried a $25,000 claiming option on May 8. With Edgard Zayas riding, the 4-year-old daughter of Khozan put her head in front at the six-furlong mark and under strong urging drew away from her overmatched opponents. With the race over by midstretch, Zayas wrapped up on her in the final sixteenth.
Besides having the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 85, and being reunited with Zayas, Don’t Get Khozy is consistent. She has compiled an 8-10-3 record from 29 starts and has not been worse than third in her last 10 races.
Crumb Bun is second in the weights at 119 pounds. She has tactical speed and should get a nice trip from a forward position in a race that could unfold at a modest clip.
Trained by Larry Bates, the 5-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex is seeking her first win since she romped in a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on July 24. She sat just off the speed in the one-mile race before drawing off to win by 6 1/4 lengths. She followed up her easy win with a runner-up finish in the $60,000 Escena, with Don’t Get Khozy checking in fourth.
Crumb Bun is trending in the right direction, and when she was on top of her game last year she posted 84 Beyers in three-straight races.
Crumb Bun will break from post 3 with Luca Panici retaining the mount.
Hallawallah will appreciate the class relief after finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on Feb. 20, her last start. The 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride went into the Royal Delta off a win in an allowance race on Jan. 17 for trainer Juan Avila. With Zayas aboard, she rallied late to win the one-mile race with first-level conditions by 3 1/4 lengths.
Hector Berrios picks up the mount on Hallawallah for Sunday.
Too Much Tip figures to be the one they have to run down. She won’t mind being back on dirt after finishing last going five furlongs on turf in an allowance race March 25.