Gulfstream Park: Versatile Courtney Ryan attempts to remain perfect in 2014

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The ultra-consistent Courtney Ryan puts her perfect 2014 record on the line when she steps up in class in Thursday’s $51,750 optional-claiming feature going a mile at Gulfstream Park.

Participating mainly in starter allowance races, Courtney Ryan has won all four of her starts this year and is 8-2-0 from her last 11 starts dating back to last August. Three of her wins this year have come in one-turn mile races at Gulfstream Park while her other victory came at Calder.

Trainer Tamara Levy, who claimed Courtney Ryan for $6,250 in the summer of 2012, said the 5-year-old mare is “very quirky” but she thrives on the consistency of her training and racing regimen.

“She’ll go along nice and relaxed after a race, then two or three weeks after a race she’ll turn this corner and we have to start finding a race for her,” Levy said. “This is definitely a step up in company, but it’s getting difficult to find starter races to go for her.”

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

Courtney Ryan has a versatile running style that makes having drawn the rail less of a worry for Levy.

“She’s absolutely super versatile and super game; she can go wherever you need to put her in a race,” Levy said. “With a short field, where you want to be you can be.”

Sheer Drama, a 4-year-old daughter of Burning Roma, makes her first start since finishing eighth behind Wedding Toast in the Grade 3 Comely last November. Prior to that, she had finished second to Wedding Toast in the Belle Cherie Stakes, a one-turn 1 1/16-mile stakes at Belmont in October.

Completing the field are Majestic River, winner of a first-level allowance race in her first start off an 11-month layoff for trainer Todd Pletcher, Danalake, Fruttidimare, and Kipling’s Joy.