Favorites capable over turf or Tapeta

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sunday’s main event at Gulfstream Park is a $51,000 allowance and optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up that is carded to be run at five furlongs on the turf. Although, with Gulfstream and the surrounding area having being inundated with more than 30 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday, there is a good chance the headliner will be switched to the same distance over the synthetic Tapeta course.

A change in surface could prove to the advantage of likely favorites Hope in Him and Unsociable.

Hope in Him reeled off four consecutive relatively easy victories over the Tapeta track during a three-month period from October through mid-January. But that streak ended when Hope in Him moved to the grass to finish third, beaten a neck, as a 3-2 favorite on Feb. 19. He was third again over the same surface as an even-money favorite one month later.

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Unsociable has also been dominant over the Tapeta track, winning five times and finishing worse than second but once in eight starts over the synthetic going. He made his turf debut in his most recent outing, finishing second, a half-length in front of Hope in Him, after a race-long pace duel that softened both up to be passed by upset winner Axthelm in the final yards.

Turf or Tapeta, it likely doesn’t matter for the stretch-running Famous Gent. Riding a two-race win streak, he would benefit from a hot pace scenario.

No Angel, a popular item at the claim box over his last three starts, at his best appears equally capable over either surface.

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