Gierkink's preview: Despite rain, turf races stay on grass

Following heavy rain Friday and scattered showers Saturday, turf racing may be scrapped.

Potential scratches in the fifth, a seven-furlong maiden special for 2-year-old fillies, could lead to one of the live also-eligibles drawing in. Aniell finished second to stablemate and future Natalma Stakes winner Conquest Harlanate in an Aug. 3 maiden special on the grass. Ice Festival was favored when she debuted in the same event but could manage only fifth after tracking the leaders on the outside.

Pengally Bay, a debuting Pulpit filly trained by Roger Attfield, is jockey Gary Boulanger’s first call in the fifth. Her work tab looks promising.

The 10th race, a seven-furlong conditioned claimer, could belong to Daylight Cat if there’s a surface change to the Polytrack. She graduated on the lead in a $50,000 maiden claimer, which was yanked off the grass, when returning from an 11-month layoff Sept. 12.

Spider Dust will be scratched from the 10th in favor of an easier spot Wednesday. True Attraction could be a speed threat if she draws in off the also-eligibles.

Conquests Stable runners prepping for BC

Conquest Harlanate and Conquest Typhoon already have punched their tickets to the Breeders’ Cup by winning local 2-year-old BC Win and You’re In qualifiers on the grass. Both will prep for the BC over 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack here Sunday, with the former going postward in the Grade 3 Mazarine for fillies and the latter lining up in the Grade 3 Grey.

Possible upsetters in the Mazarine include Del Cielo (20-1), who figures to lead the way in her first venture around two turns, and Dixie Twist (9-2), who is bred to run long.

Imperial Dream (8-1) could give Conquest Typhoon a run for his money in the Grey. Both are sons of Stormy Atlantic, and Imperial Dream is out of a mare that notched a 1 1/16-mile stakes on the Poly.

The maiden Hollywood Critic (20-1) is held in high regard by trainer Barb Minshall, who won a stakes here last Sunday with Strut the Course.

Horse to watch

SHOW SHAPE
Trainer: Steve Attard
Last race: Oct. 3, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 55

She came along the inside from fourth to finish a clear second in a slow-paced allowance won by the promising favorite Green Doctor. She galloped out strongly after the six-furlong sprint and might handle a route of ground, with lots of stamina in her pedigree.