Gulfstream Park: My Pal Chrisy shortening up in Paseana Stakes

The six-furlong distance of the $100,000 Paseana Stakes for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park on Saturday seems less than optimum for My Pal Chrisy at this stage of her career. But she is the class of the field with earnings approaching $500,000 and should start as a strong favorite against four others, including recent Calder stakes winner Capitalism At Risk.

My Pal Chrisy is a three-time stakes winner who has won 8 of 38 career starts and $471,168. Her wins have been divided equally between sprints and routes, but her last two victories have come in two-turn races at Calder.

My Pal Chrisy will be coming off a one-mile race Saturday, having finished second in the $75,000 Nancy’s Glitter Handicap at Calder on July 20. One start prior, My Pal Chrisy came rolling for third in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney at six furlongs at Calder on July 6.

In preparation for the cutback in distance, My Pal Chrisy worked a bullet half-mile in 47.80 seconds at Gulfstream. The move was the fastest of 18 at the distance Aug. 6. The Paseana will be her first start for Miller Racing and trainer Marty Wolfson. The owner-trainer team also will send out Bringingdown Babel, who adds pace to the Paseana.

Capitalism At Risk might prove to be the dominant speed, however. She picked up the 18th win of her career last out when she wired a field of $10,000 optional claimers at Calder on Aug. 2. She also won the $71,000 U Can Do It on the front end this summer at Calder, taking the six-furlong race by a nose June 8. Capitalism At Risk is owned by Amaty Racing Stables and trained by Herman Wilensky. She will break from post 5, outside of her primary pace rival, Bringingdown Babel.

Juan Delgado has the mount on Capitalism At Risk, while J.J. Gonzales will ride My Pal Chrisy.

Rounding out the field are Latin Rocks, a half-sister to Grade 1-winning sprinter Sean Avery; and Isabelle’s Thunder, who comes off a win in a $25,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream on Aug. 4.