'Harmony' again faces Gold Mover

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gold Mover and Harmony Lodge, who traded decisions the last two times they met, renew their rivalry Sunday in the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The ungraded 6 1/2-furlong race is also the seasonal debut of Belterra, a top 2-year-old filly who was hampered by illness last year at 3. Completing the field are Preferred Option,

Silk Concorde, and the Mark Shuman-trained entry of Rebecca's Charm and Dance the Slew.

When Harmony Lodge defeated Gold Mover by three lengths in the Grade 3 Shirley Jones Handicap here on Feb. 14, it was the first race for Gold Mover since she defeated Harmony Lodge in the Safely Kept Handicap at Arlington Park last Oct. 26.

In the Shirley Jones, Gold Mover, the 1-2 favorite, broke from the rail and was pinned down along the inside by Jose Santos, the jockey of Preferred Option. Though Gold Mover rallied, she was no match for Harmony Lodge, who put away a pace challenge from Forest Heiress before drawing clear.

Mark Hennig, the trainer of Gold Mover, said he believes his filly got a lot out of that race.

"She's trained so much better since the race than she did going into it, so we're encouraged," he said. "That was the longest break she ever had so maybe she did need one."

With regular rider Jerry Bailey in California Sunday, Edgar Prado rides Gold Mover, the 117-pound highweight, from post 4. Gold Mover is 4 for 6 at Gulfstream, including a win in this race last year.

Harmony Lodge has already won the First Lady and Shirley Jones handicaps at this meet. She won the First Lady from off the pace and the Shirley Jones from on the pace, and at 5 years old appears finally to be living up to her $1 million purchase price.

"She seems like she's gotten better and better," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "Her coat wasn't great when we first got down here, and she didn't look as good to me then as she does now."

With regular rider John Velazquez in Tampa on Sunday, Pat Day has the mount on Harmony Lodge, who figures to be a stalking presence.

Belterra went 3 for 3 as a 2-year-old, including a victory in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes. A throat problem - which required surgery - hampered her at 3 and she was stopped on after developing a fever in June. Trainer Carl Nafzger believes Belterra will be better at longer distances.

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