Elissas Secret eligible for strong effort in allowance

Elissas Secret will try to make amends for her flop as the chalk on May 16 when she runs in a starter allowance race that will serve as the featured event at Gulfstream Park Sunday. The race is for 3-year-old fillies who have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less or are in for the $35,000 claiming option, but none of the seven entered in the six-furlong sprint is in for the price.

Making her first start after being claimed for $25,000 by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Elissas Secret romped by 6 3/4 widening lengths April 19 in a spot similar to Sunday’s race.

On the basis of her blowout performance she was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in a $50,000 starter allowance with a $50,000 claiming option on May 16. She was in a striking position at the top of the stretch but came up empty late and ended up finishing third in the six-furlong race, contested over a track labeled good. The race was won by Dana Grace, who was the runner-up to Elissas Secret on April 19. It is possible the track condition had something to do with the flip-flop in positions. Or, it is possible Elissas Secret bounced after running such a huge race where she received a career-best Beyer Speed Figure.

Nobody will be surprised if Elissas Secret bounces back Sunday with a strong effort with leading jockey Edgard Zayas riding her for the first time. She will break from post 2.

KEY CONTENDERS

Elissas Secret, by Cyber Secret
Last 3 Beyers: 65-78-62

◗ Was that a bounce, or did she just not care for the track condition in her last race? Either way, she has worked well in the interim and the versatile Florida-bred looks like the one to beat.

Dana Grace, by Mucho Macho Man
Last 3 Beyers: 69-63-58

◗ The improving Kentucky-bred came from off the pace in her upset win over Elissas Secret and once again she should have an honest and contested pace to work with.

I Like Archie, by Archarcharch
Last 3 Beyers: 71-71-65

◗ She’s won half of her six starts and should get a nice trip from a stalking position. She was claimed by trainer Angel Quiroz out of her last race, a runner-up finish in a $25,000 conditioned claimer for 3-year-olds and up.

◗ Quiroz is winning races at at a 25 percent clip at the meet, and the past couple of years has a 17 percent strike rate and $2.58 ROI with claimed horses running back the first time.

Subsidiary, by Central Banker
Last 3 Beyers: 72-65-50

◗ Trained by Mark Casse, she took a big step forward when she won a $35,000 conditioned claimer for fillies and mares on May 2 and came back with a solid effort in her first try on turf in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option on June 1. Being lightly raced, she is certainly eligible to continue her progress.

◗ She came from a stalking position in her win on May 2 and could get the right kind of trip on Sunday if she doesn’t get bogged down on the rail after breaking from the inside post with Luca Panici riding.