Gladys, a full sister to Rachel Alexandra, makes first start

All eyes will be on Gladys this Friday when the full sister to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra launches her career in the sixth race at Gulfstream Park.

Gladys goes in a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies over six furlongs. She will break from the outside post in the field of 10.

Gladys has been prepping at Palm Meadows for her debut for Dede McGehee and trainer Kelsey Danner. She will face a significant rival in Speeding, a daughter of top sire Into Mischief who was third in her career debut last month at Gulfstream Park.

Gladys is by Medaglia d’Oro, who is getting 13 percent juvenile debut winners and 16 percent 2-year-old winners overall. Her dam, Lotta Kim, was a winner at 2 and a stakes winner at 3.

Rachel Alexandra went 3 for 6 at 2, winning her maiden over five furlongs in her second career start and closing her first season of racing with a victory in the Grade 2 Golden Rod. Overall, she won 13 of 19 starts for earnings of $3.5 million. Her victories include the Preakness, Kentucky Oaks, and Woodward.

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Angel Arroyo has the mount on Gladys.

Gladys has one other full sibling, Samantha Nicole, whose two wins came in dirt routes. Her other recently raced siblings include half-brothers Dolphus, a winner at Gulfstream; Wooderson, who was second in his career debut at Gulfstream; and Airstreem, a 3-year-old who is working at Palm Meadows after a fourth-place finish in his debut in December at Fair Grounds.

Gladys faces a handful of runners with some experience. Mastering Bela, who is out of a Group 1-placed mare, was second in her debut last month at Gulfstream. Make a Scene, a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Fast Scene, was fourth in her debut last out, which came on turf at Gulfstream. Najwa was third in her debut last month at Gulfstream.

Joyful Heart will cut back to one turn in the featured seventh race, a first-level allowance at five furlongs on turf. It carries an optional claiming price of $25,000.

Joyful Heart was fourth over a mile on the grass last month at Gulfstream and before that won at five-eighths in July. Joyful Heart is by Kitten’s Joy. His dam, Blue Heart, was a multiple stakes winner who ran out $487,051.

Cristian Torres has the mount from post 10.

The chief threats include Getthe Muny Bernie, who was second at this level last time in his first start against winners. He will break from the rail under Miguel Vasquez. Ikeisgreat, who is trained by Danner and will be ridden by Arroyo, is back on turf. Another major player is Fully Loaded in his second start since May.