Gulfstream: Inside Information lures large, high-quality field

Saturday’s Grade 2 Inside Information has come up one of the most attractive and competitive stakes of the meet. A field of 11 fillies and mares will contest the seven furlong-sprint, including reigning Eclipse Award winner Musical Romance, likely favorite R Holiday Mood, Her Smile, and Groupie Doll.

The remainder of the lineup consists of Belle of the Hall, Catch a Thief, Funny Sunny, Hot Summer, Magical Feeling, Much Rejoicing, and Persuading.

R Holiday Mood is already a two-time stakes winner at the meet for trainer Todd Pletcher, having taken the Ocala and Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie.

“She came out of her last race well, seven-eighths should be right in her wheel house and she loves the track,” said Pletcher.

Her Smile, a wide-running fourth behind Musical Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, is expected to improve off her third-place finish behind R Holiday Mood in the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie.

“She definitely needed the race,” said Chad Brown, who took over training Her Smile after she was purchased privately by Frank Stronach shortly after the Breeders’ Cup. “She was a little closer to the pace than normal in the Hurricane Bertie, which was by design because we wanted to give her a shot to win and there wasn’t a lot of pace in the race. But that’s really not her best style. Hopefully there will be a little more pace in this one and she’s definitely more effective going seven furlongs.”