Friday allowance comes up strong

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While the Holy Bull is the main attraction here this weekend, it isn’t the only important 3-year-old prep on tap in the days ahead. Friday’s main event, an entry-level optional-claiming race at a mile, has drawn a stellar field led by Shagaf, Rally Cry, and Bar None.

“Whoever wins this race might turn out to be one of the [Florida] Derby favorites,” said Mark Casse, who trains Bar None for Richard Pell.

Bar None, a son of Candy Ride, won what was considered a loaded maiden race that nevertheless was run in slow time when launching his career going six furlongs here Jan. 3. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 60.

“I don’t know what to think about that race because they did run slow,” said Casse. “I don’t have an explanation for that. All I can tell you is that we don’t try to necessarily win first time out, so when one of our horses does that, it shows you how talented they are, and I believe this horse will move up big off that first start. But it’s a loaded field, so we’re going in cautiously optimistic.”

Shagaf, trained by Chad Brown, won by six lengths in his only start Nov. 22 at Aqueduct. Rally Cry, trained by Todd Pletcher, won a maiden race here Dec. 26 in his second start.

◗ There will be a carryover of $88,263 in the late pick five when racing resumes Wednesday. Owner and trainer Carlo Vaccarezza swept Sunday’s late daily double with the longshots Little Baltar ($79.60) and Little Big Girl ($75.20). The Vaccarezza double returned $2,562 and led to a carryover of $174,032 on Wednesday in the Rainbow 6.