Empress Maker could be sitting on a peak effort in stretch-out

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With a pedigree that suggests she might be any kind on the grass, one can say Empress Maker has been a bit of a disappointment to this point in her career. But the well-bred filly continues to improve with every start and may just be ready for a breakthrough effort when closing out her 3-year-old campaign going 1 3/16 miles on the turf in Tuesday’s $37,000 headliner at Gulfstream Park.

Empress Maker is by Empire Maker out of two-time Grade 1-winning mare Ticker Tape, who banked more than $1.45 million in her career. Empress Maker did not begin her own career until the summer of her 3-year-old campaign, and although never worse than third in five starts, she has registered only a single victory, that win coming against maiden competition at Keeneland on Oct. 19. Trained by Graham Motion for Regis Racing, Empress Maker will stretch out an eighth of a mile farther than she’s ever raced before on Tuesday, although her running style and pedigree suggest the added distance should not be an issue.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will counter Motion and Empress Maker with I Am Now, who makes just her second start, and first on the turf, since winning her maiden in impressive fashion here in February. She also has yet to race beyond 1 1/16 miles.

Queen’s Prize, another well-bred sort, figures to be a major player making just her second start since joining trainer Christophe Clement’s barn earlier this season. Queen’s Prize, owned and bred by Her Majesty the Queen, could not match strides with Pink Poppy when second best as the 9-5 favorite making her U.S. debut last month at Gulfstream Park West.

KEY CONTENDERS

Empress Maker (Last 3 Beyers: 73-73-63)

◗ She paired up career-best Beyer Speed Figures in her last two starts, usually a good sign that a lightly raced, young filly will break through to a career-best effort next time.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past three years, trainer Graham Motion owns a 19 percent success rate with a return on investment of $2.47 in races carded at 1 3/16 miles or longer.

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I Am Now (Last 3 Beyers: 36-78-74)

◗ She returns to her preferred surface after showing no affinity whatsoever for dirt for the second time in her career last out.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past three years, Pletcher has won with 24 percent of his starters, with a $1.83 ROI, going dirt to turf.

Queen’s Prize (Beyer: 72)

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Jockey Edgar Prado and Clement have teamed up only seven times over the past five years, including last month with Queen’s Prize, and are still looking for their first win together during that time frame.

Palace Dreams (Last 3 Beyers: 75-75-85)

◗ She owns the highest career Beyer in the field, the 85 she posted winning a second-level optional-claiming race for New York-breds this summer at Saratoga.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, trainer Brendan Walsh is just 1 for 19 with a $0.52 ROI with horses racing for the first time on Lasix.