Hanalei Hailey back from seven-month layoff in sprint feature
An interesting assortment of filly-and-mare sprinters will square off in the lone allowance race Sunday at Gulfstream Park, and bettors might well have a difficult time settling on a favorite.
Hanalei Hailey, well drawn in the outside post in a field of nine, is one of several candidates for favoritism in the ninth of 10 Sunday races at the south Florida track, even though she’ll be returning from a layoff of more than seven months. The $40,000, first-level race carries a $25,000 claiming option when set for six furlongs on the main track.
David Fawkes is the new trainer of Hanalei Hailey for the partnership of Stonestreet Stables and Biagi Thoroughbreds. Hanalei Hailey, a 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, was last seen in early December, winning a Tampa Bay Downs maiden race by 11 1/4 lengths before being sent to Stonestreet’s satellite training facility in Ocala, Fla., for some regrouping.
The nominal feature is part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence, set for races 5-10. The Rainbow 6 jackpot was emptied Thursday when one winning ticket worth $164,483 was sold.
Also on the Sunday card are two Lasix-free maiden races for 2-year-olds (races 4 and 8). Two similar races for fillies were carded for Saturday. Purses for all those experimental races are $65,000 each.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days until another four-day race week resumes Thursday.
First post Sunday is 1 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 5 p.m.
KEY CONTENDERS
Hanalei Hailey (Last 3 Beyers: 59-55-26)
◗ Initially trained by Todd Pletcher, then Derek Ryan, this Virginia-bred filly had a steady series of works at home base before Fawkes breezed her over the Gulfstream surface July 9.
Miss Darla (Last 3 Beyers: 64-16-75)
◗ This rail-drawn filly was a last-out winner in slightly easier company and would figure into this mix given a similar effort.
Spanish Concert (Last 3 Beyers: 69-60-76)
◗ Beaten at odds-on in her latest, this Florida-bred mare matches up well Beyer Speed Figure-wise and otherwise as one of four in here entered for the optional $25,000 tag.
Tar and Feather (Last 3 Beyers: 64-67-42)
◗ This Jacks or Better homebred seeks a third straight victory when taking the requisite ascent up the class ladder.
Kipling’s Joy (Last 3 Beyers: 37-63-73)
◗ Her connections might well be giving up on her by running her for the optional tag, but all those stakes on her past performances make her tough to summarily dismiss.