Gulfstream: Pomeroys Pistol brings best credentials into Sugar Swirl
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Amy Tarrant was not very happy when her filly Pomeroys Pistol drew post 1 for Saturday’s $100,000 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park. But despite the post and the fact she will have to carry high weight of 120 pounds, Pomeroys Pistol remains the horse to beat in the Grade 3 sprint to be decided at six furlongs.
Pomeroys Pistol is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, a race it appeared she was in position to win at the top of the stretch despite bobbling at the break and getting hung wide disputing the early pace. The Sugar Swirl will cap off a 3-year-old campaign during which Pomeroys Pistol won the a pair of Grade 2 stakes, the Forward Gal and Gallant Bloom Handicap, and finished second in the Test and Prioress, both Grade 1 races.
“When they came around the turn in the Breeders’ Cup it looked like she was ready to pull ahead but it was a little crowded where she was and to be honest, she doesn’t like that track very much anyway,” Tarrant said.[bc_video_id:240016:]
As for the post position, Tarrant will just keep her fingers crossed at the break and hope for the best.
“I’m not crazy about the one post, nobody likes to be down there,” said Tarrant. “I just hope she breaks and can get a little bit away from the rail. She’s only had one work since the Breeders’ Cup but I think it was plenty. She’s ready to go and unlike Churchill Downs she loves Gulfstream Park. She just needs a little bit of luck.”
Pomeroys Pistol is one of several fillies who figures to be on or near the pace in the Sugar Swirl along with speedsters Pica Slew, Roman Treasure, Moontune Missy, and Third Chance. A hot pace would enhance the chances of the stretch-running Indulgence, who returns to the main track off a late-running allowance victory over the Keeneland turf.
“I thought her race at Keeneland was unbelievable,” said Marty Wolfson, who trains Indulgence. “In her previous race, the TCA at Keeneland, she was about 10 wide into the stretch and was beaten less than three lengths by a field that included the winner and runner-up from the Filly and Mare Sprint. I’m not sure whether she’s better on turf or dirt but as long as there is some pace, she’ll be fine. And the one post is not likely to help the favorite.”
Third Chance brings a four-race win streak into the Sugar Swirl and has looked sharp in a pair of five-furlong works since shipping from Chicago. Third Chance has won her last four starts by a combined 29 lengths but will get a class check moving into graded stakes company for the first time on Saturday.
Pica Slew has started just twice since capturing Calder’s Grade 3 Azalea during the summer of 2010 and not since finishing a distant sixth after contesting the pace in the Grade 1 Santa Monica on Jan. 30. Pica Slew is currently under the tutelage of Brian Lynch, the fifth trainer to race her in just seven career starts.
Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3), Post Time: 4:45 ET Saturday
Purse: $100,000; 6 furlongs
Post |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
ML Odds |
|
|
Pomeroys Pistol |
A. Tarrant |
J. Castellano |
5-2 |
|
|
Pica Slew |
B. Lynch |
L. Contreras |
8-1 |
|
|
Roman Treasure |
A. Iwinski |
J. Bravo |
4-1 |
|
|
Catch A Thief |
T. Hills |
P. Lopez |
8-1 |
|
|
Indulgence |
M. Wolfson |
J. Leparoux |
6-1 |
|
|
Strike The Moon |
M. Trombetta |
E. Prado |
10-1 |
|
|
Moontune Missy |
E. Harty |
M. Cruz |
15-1 |
|
|
Third Chance |
J. DiVito |
J. Santana |
3-1 |
