Gulfstream: Monday card full of starter allowances

This side of the Claiming Crown, the Monday card at Gulfstream is a rather unusual one.

All 12 races are starter allowances that roughly equate to mini-stakes, with each worth $50,000 or $60,000. As the races were being made Friday, racing officials were prepared to split one or more of the overfilled races to replace any that might not have drawn a sufficient number of entries.

Among the more notable names expected for Monday were Manchurian High and Key to Power, both stakes winners on turf. Trouble Kid, disqualified from first in the Frank J. De Francis Dash last fall, also was entered by trainer Ramon Preciado but could scratch in favor of waiting for the Gulfstream Park Sprint.

◗ Trainer Michelle Nihei started 1 for 20 at this meet before winning back-to-back races with First Thought on Wednesday and Fair Prospect on Thursday. Both prevailed by open lengths in maiden company.

“I’m proud of those two and the others that have been knocking on the same door,” said Nihei, who earned a doctoral degree in neuroscience and exercised horses for Todd Pletcher before opening her stable in 2007. “We feel like the barn has been training well as a whole.”

◗ In tandem with Fasig-Tipton, Gulfstream will host a “Jockeys and Jeans” promotion for the third straight year Feb. 28, the Sunday after the Fountain of Youth. The event benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. More information is available at (954) 457-6201 or at gulfstreampark.com.