Friday card includes pair of optional-claiming races

Friday’s 10-race program at Gulfstream Park features a pair of optional-claiming and allowance races, both carded at a mile on the main track, the first for Florida-breds and the second for older fillies and mares. Both events offer a $47,000 purse.

Assertiko, winner of his last two starts against mid-level conditioned claiming company, might be the slight favorite in the sixth event for trainer Ron Spatz. He is one of four 3-year-olds in the field along with R U Lucky, Flash Pass, and Bahamian Prince.

On the other end of the spectrum is the 9-year-old veteran French Quarter, a winner of three of his last five starts while a popular item at the claim box. The son of Shakespeare was haltered by trainer Fausto Gutierrez for $6,250 out of an easy five-length victory at a mile on May 15 and will be seeking his 15th career win Friday.

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Parx Racing invader Lil Miss Hotshot, who has finished second in five of her last six starts, including her local debut under similar conditions three weeks earlier, may be the tepid choice in the co-featured ninth race. She’ll face seven rivals, including Spatz’s Sky Chaser, who had a modest two-race winning streak ended when finishing a tiring third in her most recent outing going 6 1/2 furlongs on May 28.