Gierkink's review: Bear's Gem makes amends

Friday, May 30, review

Need for speed?

Front-runners won five of the nine races, but I would stop short of calling it a legitimate speed bias. Horses could close effectively if the pace was on the quick side, such as in the eighth, with the favored Citius coming wide to win the five-furlong dash for $50,000 claimers by daylight.

Bear’s Gem captures headliner

Stakes winner Bear’s Gem started slowly before going wide over an inside-favoring track in her disappointing season opener in the Ballade Stakes. She made amends in the featured allowance sprint for Ontario-sired females, scoring after an inside stalking trip under Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Longshots Kay’s Grace and Lynnessa both rallied wide for second and third after favorites Silent Treat and Rootham Triple E’s dueled themselves into submission on the front end.

Bear’s Gem ($16.30) was the first of two winners on the card for trainer Reade Baker, who also took the ninth with 6-1 maiden winner Divine River.
Trainer John Mattine also doubled up on the afternoon with a pair of geldings who each went off at around 4-1 – Red Fever and Candles on Friday.

Horse to Watch

EXECUTIVE FIVE
Trainer: Mark Fournier
Last race: May 30, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 77
He raced five wide near a hot pace in a tough five-furlong tilt for $50,000 claimers and was caught in late stretch by the favored Citius after waiting to switch leads until the sixteenth pole. It was his second consecutive solid effort since getting claimed by this underrated trainer for $25,000 in November.