Gemma's Curls switches to Tapeta in Sharp Susan Stakes
Gemma’s Curls ran a big one in the Desert Vixen two Saturdays ago at Gulfstream Park before settling for second. Now she’s wheeling back while switching surfaces as the likely favorite in the $65,000 Sharp Susan, the highlight of a 12-race Saturday card at Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Gemma’s Curls will have Chantal Sutherland aboard from post 3 in the Sharp Susan, a 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta race that drew six 2-year-old fillies. In the Aug. 6 Desert Vixen, a Florida Sire Stakes event at six furlongs on the main track, the daughter of Bucchero held an open lead past the furlong pole before being run down in the final 70 yards by Lynx.
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If the Sharp Susan were on the main track, Gemma’s Curls would rate a solid favorite, but it’s not. Handicappers will have to decide whether her main-track form will transfer to the all-weather surface for up-and-coming trainer Jorge Delgado, who happened to win the Dr. Fager, the male division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Aug. 6, with Awesome Strong.
Standing in as worthy challengers to Gemma’s Curls off maiden victories over the Tapeta are Jellybean (post 6, Edgard Zayas), an Arindel homebred, and Showgirl Lynne B (post 4, David Lopez), a Constitution filly trained by Bob Hess. They earned modest Beyer Speed Figures of 61 and 58, respectively, in their local scores.
Rounding out the Sharp Susan lineup are Le Boiana, Fast Kimmie, and the maiden Gratia.
With such a short field, the Sharp Susan is carded early in the day as race 4 and therefore is not part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence, which spans races 7-12. The Rainbow jackpot was emptied last Saturday by forceout.
First post is 12:25 p.m. Eastern, with the Sharp Susan going at 1:58.
The Sharp Susan is named for the winner of the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride over the Gulfstream turf in 2007 for Bill Mott.
Race 10 on Saturday is a $43,000 first-level main-track allowance sprint for Florida-breds. The Distractor, with apprentice Ailsa Morrison riding, looks like the one to beat for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in a field of seven.
Mostly sunny skies and a high of 89 are in the forecast for Saturday.
◗ Rene Diaz, the Kentucky-based apprentice who began the week with 48 career wins, is named to ride one race Saturday at Gulfstream but will be taken off while staying north, said agent Joe Santos.