Gulfstream: Closer Looks for February 12, 2014

Race 2

One Proud Gal

Finally draws inside and that fact, combined with the blinker addition, can help with the upgrade; her sire won a G3 stakes and 444K overall; the dam never raced; among the winning siblings is 80K earner Peeds in a Pod.

Fantastic Voyage

Has yet to finish in the money but did she show more spark in the latest run despite the very wide racing path involved; may not receive as fast an early pace this afternoon, however, and that will likely block her chances of ending the drought.

Rainbow At Midnite

Only one blemish on the record and she was facing better stock in that assignment; her sire won a G1 and 1.21 million while the dam won 2 of 17 and 94K; among the winning sibs is 121K earner Rock the Rainbow.

Shot Girl

After a solid debut run, she was caught wide in that second try over the lawn; her sire amassed 254K including a G2 tally; the dam won 1 of 6 and 34K; winning siblings include 39K earner No Paparazzi.

Santa Mia

Some encouraging breezes on display for this daughter of G1 type Wildcat Heir who captured 424K and whose descendants have won 54 out of 311 initial starts; the dam went zero for 6 lifetime; sib to 127K earner Favorite Flashback.

Confident Lady

Did not recover from a slow break in her maiden voyage last month; her sire was zero for 2 while the dam involved never competed; this is her sole foal to start; can improve with surface switch and equipment change.

Trio of Mischief

Compared to most of these, she is among the most consistent performers; she was jammed up between rivals last time out while in the midst of a bid; can be more of a presence here with a better timed rally from midpack.

Dreaminofcarmela C

Ran well in her first start under these silks recently; the previous effort was noteworthy also as she flashed speed in that key race; should be able to stay within range once again and might also be a square price for a change.

Tina's Coming

A major player today if she can clear the field from this outpost; she was in a bad spot early on in her latest run when part of a multiple speed duel; races for the lowest price tag of her career now and should be in the mix with clear, outside sailing.-Jim Kachulis

Race 3

Grizzly Song

Caramori good with this move; he is 8 for 34 or 24% the last 5 years with debuting MSW runners with a median payoff of 7-2; Unbridled's Song has hit with about 14% of his firsters in a 857-runner study; sire graduated in debut at 2, won the 1995 BC Juvenile, the Florida Derby and Wood the next year; Grade 2 winning dam won twice at 2, earned over $1.1 million; this is her first to race; he looks fit enough.

A Touch of Poetry

Well clear in the short field in the debut, then he hooked the blur named Havana; place horse in last took a MSW, then won the Champagne before a 2nd in the BC Juvenile; stakes placed 3 for 17 dam won at 2, earned nearly $160K; this is her first to race; may like it here.

Talon's of Tuscany

Arch about 10% with firsters in a 414-runner sample; Grade 1 winning sire graduated in juvenile debut, took 5 of 7, earned almost half a million; SP 4 for 18 dam earned $135K; 1 of 3 siblings won; that runner, Rich City Dude, won at 2, took 5 of 37, banked nearly $130K; drilling like a serious horse.

Storm Viper

Colt seemed on the verge after the November race but then faltered on grass and stopped badly from the rail; more experienced pilot hired; look for rider to send hard and hope for the best.

Alto Sky

Sky Mesa about 13% with debuters in a 370-runner sample; sire was unbeaten in 3 juvenile starts, took the G1 Hopeful, earned over $600K; SP dam was one for 10, cashed on grass; lone sibling took 1 of 2, banked over $20K; barn on patient side but trainer has hit with 10% of his MSW debuters in the last 5 years.

Mac West

Catalano 19% the last 5 years with debuting MSW runners; Indygo Shiner 7 for 105 with debuters; sire won at 2, took a Grade 3, won twice on grass, banked nearly $450K; dam was 0 for 3; one of 3 siblings won; that runner, Sam Sharp, took 5 of 33, earned nearly $130K, cashed in 3rd start in England; respect everything from this clever barn.

Eternal Bull

Harlan's Holiday about 14% with debuters in a 477-runner sample; sire won 4 times at 2, banked $3.6 million, never turfed; 2 for 15 dam earend nearly 2 grand a start; 4 of 5 siblings won; G1 placed top kin Blonde Fog took 1 of 3, earned about $125K; love the spacing of the drills.

Appealing Alex

See rail for sire stats; Grade 1 winning 3 for 12 dam took debut at 2, banked nearly $500K; lone half bro lost 6 times; could get speed from Successful Appeal on the bottom side and he is drawn right.-Brian Mulligan

Race 4

Cannwyll

Wasn't up to snuff over Woodbine's Polytrack and here on the dirt, for a trainer who's having a solid meet; son of Milwaukee Brew sheds some weight with the 10-pound bug taking over, but would be a big surprise.

Texas Tex

Lost a nail-biter as the troubled favorite while halving in value to this price Jan. 20, when he was ridden by the capable bug Davis for the first time; has obviously found his proper place in the scheme of things, and may welcome the slight turnback to seven-eighths; half-brother to G2 stakes winner Park Avenue merits top billing.

Monomoy

Classic winner Bernardini has sired 11% debut winners; dam notched one sprint and banked $6K--she's dropped the versatile stakes-placed router Liberty Cap ($196K) and Slinger ($139K); has a successful trainer/rider combo, but Brown is just 1 for 27 (4%) with maiden-claiming first-timers at GP over the past five years ($0.61 ROI).

Leathers Slappin

Checked in a distant third in each of his two most recent excursions, while earning low Beyer numbers; possesses the pedigree of a sprinter, so the stretchout to seven furlongs might not be to his benefit; trainer/rider duo is 0 for 10 at the meet; on the edges.

Take My Time

Was along for third behind Texas Tex in his latest, which was his second straight high placing going a mile at this level; trainer is 0 for 3 first-time off the claim with the addition of blinkers in the last five years, but all three of those runners made the board; contender.

Gavel Down

Louisiana-bred was beaten in double digits in all three of his outings, including in a recent $16K tilt at Calder; gets a rider switch to the capable Trujillo, who has his work cut out for him; outsider.-Ron Gierkink

Race 6

Dance With Gio

Her lack of early speed is a big concern, especially when considering the way that this turf course has been playing, but this stakes placed miss looks like a solid fit at this level of competition; respect her as a contender, but she might find herself with a lot of work to do through the lane.

Kiss the Stars

She's won six of 11 turf starts and it was nice to see her regain some of her better form the last two time she's raced over turf; high when percentage barn is more than capable of having one ready to run well fresh and Carmouche is a go-to rider for them.

Noor Un Nisa

You have to go back 16 starts to November 2010 to find the last time she recorded a victory and this mare has yet to post a win from 11 turf starts; it is a little interesting to see that she's making her first start wearing blinkers today, but leaning toward others regardless.

Sweet Dreamin

All three of her wins have been earned racing over dirt and simply feel that she's never run a race that is strong enough to suggest that she can jump up with a competitive performance against these on her best day; she has the look of an outsider.

Another Please

She's run some decent races over turf in her career, and two of her three victories have been earned over this turf course, but it's tough to give her a favorable push against these when seeing what she's been doing lately; runner-up from latest returned to win next out at Aqu on 12/18 going 6f vs. 16k claimers with a 58 Beyer.

Starship Freedom

Her two most recent races have been poor performances but this is a mare who has shown the ability to step up with a decent effort from time to time and she does bring some early speed with her.

Special Jak

The 78 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for her latest performance represents the best last race figure in this field and it's interesting to see that she's making her first start over turf since moving into this barn; Castellano has won with 4 of 10 mounts for this outfit at the current meeting.

Feelingbettertoday

Trainer changes haven't seemed to have a big impact on Calabrese-owned horses in the past and this mare has to be respected as a top contender while dropping in class and making her first start for Vazquez with blinkers going back on.

Kellster

She hasn't made much of an impact in her two starts over turf and she looks like another in here who's going to need to step up with a performance that is much stronger than anything she's done to this point in time in order to contend.

Urquia

She's probably going to need to see a number of these show up with less than their best to get the job done, but she has been a pretty consistent performer, and it wouldn't be a shock to see her land a spot underneath in the exotics.

Indy Breeze

A case can be made for her recent form being her best, but her two starts over turf have only been so-so performances, and she looks like she prefers distances shorter than today's one mile assignment.

Princess Zaima

Her overall form hasn't been strong enough to give her a competitive look against these and she's really struggled to get anything going in her four attempts against winners; her lack of early speed makes her a candidate to be outrun every step of the way.

Wild Kira

Not that this will be the toughest spot if this race has to be taken off the turf, but this mare will need to find her way back to one of her better performances if she's to have a chance at the top spot.-Brian Pochman

Race 7

Cat Ten

Sire is 12-for-80 with 1st-turf starters; is out of an 0-for-12 grass dam (65K) who's only other foal to race is 0-for-1 grasser Get It On; trainer has fared well with 1st-turf runners since 2013 (2-for-6); stamina has been the issue in all 3 races so figures to be a pace presence for part here.

Henry's Song

Snuck through the claim box in the unveiling; steps up in class today off a solid effort when rallying past runners in her career debut noting some runners improve dramaticaly 2nd-time out; the opening quarter was quick in the unveiling loss and could find herself on or near the lead for this.

The Careless Cat

Cutting back a half furlong adds to the appeal; long layoff following the debut fade but the unveiling rider stays right here winning 24% for the trainer since 2013; working on dirt like she might fire a lot bigger race for career start 2 which is almost always an improvement effort.

Eilatan

Ran to the 47-1 debut odds and would need a massive-form switch to graduate here; sire is 36-for-416 with 1st-turf starters; is out of a 1-for-8 grass dam (55K) who produced 2 foals to race on turf (0-for-3 combined); solid-human connections; a high-percentage turf-sprint trainer with the new rider who is having a stellar GP-winter meet.

Wickedness

Sire is 16-for-123 with 1st-turf starters; 16-for-158 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 3-for-17 dam (154K) who won 2-of-11 on turf (80K) producing 5 winners from 7 other foals to race; 2 of 5 foals to race on grass are turf winners including stakes winner Ayla Bella (3-for--7 turf 53K).

Kimberly Is That U

Sire is 25-for-312 with 1st-turf starters; 65-for-556 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 3-for-17 dam (106K) who went 0-for-1 on grass producing 7 winners from 7 other foals; 1 of 3 foals to race on turf is a grass winner (3-for-15 Star Dixie 155K).

Zindaya

66 days since posting a field-best Beyer speed figure at today's distance on GP grass; the winner from last repeated in a GP-optional claimer with an 81 speed figure while she beat the 9th-place finisher a 49 Beyer next-out GP-$12,500-maiden-claiming graduate; gets 1st Lasix for this a 26%-win angle for her trainer; there is a lot to like.

Bonnie Breeze

Most runners move forward 2nd-time out but her Beyer regressed 22 points as she was troubled at the gate break losing all chance; adds blinkers trying to shake up the form hoping for a sharper start for a trainer 1-for-25 since 2013 with turf sprinters and overall 1-for-37 on grass.

Inwood Drive

The runner-up finisher from last Beyered 77 in a next-out GP-MSW win; stamina issues at much longer but could appreciate 5F today; breaks wide so sure to lose ground; 41 days since her grass debut loss which represents a career-low speed figure; one-good angle she races for a high-percentage-fresh barn.

Street Smoke

Main Track Only entry's sire is 20-for-102 with 1st-time starters; is out of a stakes-winning dam (2-for-14, 120K) who produced 2 winners from 2 other foals to race including 70K-earner Prophesy (5-for-26); most-recent workout was terrific.

Hanalei Hailey

High-win percentage 1ster trainer adds to the appeal; MTO's sire is 105-for-741 with 1st-time starters; is out of a SW-dam (3-for-11, 298K) who produced 8 winners from 9 other foals to race including 168K-earner Scampering (3-for-10).-Art Gropper

Race 8

Schoolgirl Mia

Didn't have anything to offer first out at this level across town, but she did have some trouble settling through the wide run and figures better for the experience; dam was 0 for 1 on the footing and this gal's lone sib to try the green was 0 for 2 over the stuff so don't know that she's going to take a big step forwards second time out, but she probably wouldn't need to improve a whole bunch from a figure standpoint to get in the mix for a minor share at a price.

Lady Joyfull

New York bred hasn't shown much stamina in any of her 4 sprint starts including once on the local lawn; maybe she's a little closer early from this inside slot, but it's tough to imagine she'll have enough left to take to this trip; just watching today.

Big N Toasty

She brings speed to the table after failing to save much for the drive in either of her starts this year; hood comes off and maybe that helps settle her down, but she has had a few chances to get back to the big effort on the Laurel lawn last year and she's yet to come close; sharp main track drill in tow do expect she'll be winging from the bell; though they'll likely have to come and get her, prefer others on the win end.

Great Cross

Hood comes off for the drop in price following a solid effort behind a slow clip went sent off as chalk last time; Leparoux gets back aboard a filly who returns in just a week for this one so have to think she has more to offer and the pace in front of her can't be any worse this time; many danger.

Successful Sweep

Took tote support first out against MSWs on the dirt last summer and lost her best shot at the break before running on to get a share; idle since, she'll return for a barn that doesn't do so well first time back and their numbers with initial turf starters are pretty weak as well; sire gets 12% winners from his first time surface runners but the SW dam was off the board in both of her grass starts and her other foal to race was 0 for 4 on the green.

Beth Ann's Kitten

Twice beaten chalk is offered for a tag for the first time in her return to the lawn in her local debut; filly has shown some improved early interest since moving to this barn and maybe that helps her sit close to a front runner who looks to have things to herself early in here; runner up in each of her 3 surface spins has had her chances but with Castellano taking the call looks to be the one to down.

Go Solo

She's run ok for a tag on dirt after failing to get going in her debut on the lawn in New York back in the fall; dam was an 8 time route winner but 0 for 6 on the lawn and none of her other foals to race tried the green; maybe she handles the trip but don't know about the footing; have to side with others on the win end.

Showtime Samurai

Wasn't beaten much when put on the lawn for the first time last month and now she'll go second off the break for a barn that does well with the move; filly will drop a notch in price and maybe that helps as both of her sibs are surface winners including G2 SP, G3 SW and 545K earner Northern Passion who won twice on the lawn so she has a right to go better second time over the stuff.

Punteada

She's beaten 2 runners home in her 3 starts and that came on the local main track; filly will get Lasix for this and maybe that helps some but one of the gals who defeated her quite handily last time returns in this spot as well; barn has been on a poor run here; passing.

Hidden Intentions

Filly finished third the first time she stepped on this sod last year but hasn't been able to hit the board in any of her 3 subsequent tries over the footing; beaten last out chalk did catch slop in that one and maybe the move back to the green helps get her going; fact she's had 10 tries without being able to seal the deal has us limiting her use to underneath in exotics from an outside draw in this spot.

Dance for Megan

Hood comes off for her return to the local sod while breaking from this outside slot; she ran ok on the green first out in New Jersey this past fall and did show improved early lick in her return to the footing last time but had little to offer late in that one; tough to get excited about her chances in here.-Steve Grabowski

Race 9

Friends Pro

Considering she hooked a clear winner last time, the race was not all that bad; show horse in last won for this very price next out, then lost in a $25K claimer; this miss has a shot to grow into her skin as kin to near $400K earner Pro Prado; apparently not much of a work horse and she will have to come out of there to avoid getting shuffled.

City in Sky

Off a career Beyer and never been in this low; that's a good place to start; note miss was over 6 clear in last but she has lost ground in the lane in 5 of 6 vs. winners; top last race Beyer in the pocket and capable barn due for a bit of luck.

Tough to Stop

She controlled the pace and the result but some may not have cared for the off going; 12/29 show horse cashed next out in a maiden $35K seller with a 57 Beyer; winner 12/29 repeated in a $16K claimer, was 2nd beaten 4 vs. $25K foes; she was losing ground late, but Ziadie can keep them going good once they get good to the tune of 39%.

Sensational Value

Pushed into the stakes in third start and she has not looked all that sharp since; considering the cut back, she could find herself behind a wall of horses turning for home; must prove she can go this far.

Over the Cliff

Miss has some semblance of speed but can't see her clearing here; the drop can't hurt but she needs a rebound run.

Whisper Wisdom

She got a feel of the surface but must prove it on the conventional dirt; fully extended in the win and she was forced to steady in last; show horse 11/15 graduated in a maiden $25K WO claimer with a 49 Beyer; another slice?

Who Is This Lady

Over 3 clear two back, then the regression; grinder will need things to break just right; would not want to take too short a number.

La Chuchi

Toss her sloppy races and the form brightens; pretty snappy move on the 2nd suggests she is feeling pretty good about herself; miss looms an astute claim.-Brian Mulligan

Race 10

Acquisition

Putting blinkers back on might help this miss and she has run races in the past that are strong enough to make her presence felt in here; it is worth noting that she was beaten by a couple of today's rivals in her latest start, but still feel that she's worthy of contender status.

Alondra Sky

Through 14 starts, she's yet to produce a performance that is up to the level of the top contenders in here, and from five turf starts, her best finish is sixth; she has the look of an outsider.

Devious Maddy

She was upset minded in her latest outing when coming up just a neck short and that level of performance can play well against these; it looks like she's found herself in another spot where she's eligible to be involved in a comfortable early pace.

Bellatara

Saint Anddan has been a poor influence as a turf sire and this mare has yet to record a 1-2 finish from 16 starts over turf, and 14 of those starts have been over this turf course; looking toward others.

Guigue's Miracle

Her turf form has clearly been better than her dirt form but it doesn't look like her best effort is strong enough to put any pressure on the top contenders in this one; feel that she has to be listed among the outsiders.

Lady Go Go

She showed a little something sprinting over turf at second asking, but outside of that performance, her form hasn't been very encouraging at all; connections will hope for better with the addition of blinkers.

Bet On Kitten

This filly has every bit the look of a top contender while dropping in to face 25k maiden claimers and the rider switch to Castellano is worth noting as he's won with 12 of 29 (41%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting; if there is a concern, it's that she lacks in the early speed department.

Transformer

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his first-time starters and with approximately 13% of his turf starters, and dam was winless from 10 starts, including nine turf attempts; this filly is a 1/2 to stakes placed Union Victory (5-9, 137k, no turf starts).

Nobody's a Saint

She hasn't been able to get much going in her first two starts, but she did take a step in the right direction in her turf debut in her latest outing, and it's a little bit interesting to see a rider switch to Lopez for this.

Hit Squad

She closed out 2013 with a couple of decent performances, and even though she was beaten by today's rival Bet On Kitten in her latest outing, she still has a little bit of appeal while meeting up with maiden claimers for just the second time.

Nice to Regal

She was beaten by today's rival Devious Maddy in her most recent start, and not only will she need to step it up along the Beyer Speed Figure scale to have a chance at the top spot, but she lacks early speed, and that has been a problem for horses racing over this turf course lately.

Forever for Always

Her first two starts over turf were respectable performances and it wouldn't be a shock if she was able to bounce back with a sharper try after being given some time off; she's not out of the question while dropping in class for this.-Brian Pochman