Huasca tackles turf for first time in Summer Winds
The obvious question is whether Huasca can handle the switch in surfaces, assuming the $75,000 Summer Winds isn’t rained off the turf Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
With a decisive edge in Beyer Speed Figures and overall form, there seems little doubt that Huasca will be a stout favorite in the Summer Winds, a five-furlong turf race that serves as the highlight of an 11-race card at the south Florida track. And with a 50 percent chance of rain being forecast every day through this weekend, her chances for victory would only be heightened if the race happens to be forced to the main track.
Owned by St. George Stable and trained by Efren Loza Jr., Huasca has been a major player in recent months in far more competitive spots than this. The gray filly was second in the Miss Preakness at Pimlico in May, won the non-graded Tangelo at Gulfstream in June, then was second as the favorite behind Dogwood Trail in the Grade 3 Azalea on the July 5 Summit of Speed card at Gulfstream in her most recent appearance.
For this turnback in the Summer Winds, Huasca will have the added advantage of the far-outside post in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies while getting a call from Eddie Castro.
One allowance (race 3) also is part of a Sunday card that starts at 1:15 p.m. Eastern.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days before another four-day race week starts Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Huasca (Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-86)
◗ From 10 lifetime starts, none has come over turf, so clearly that’s the only factor to prevent her from being 2-5, assuming the race stays on the grass; clear sailing for Castro from this comfy post.
Katie’s Kiss (Last 3 Beyers: 82-80-75)
◗ This Stonestreet Stables filly has achieved a level of consistency while having found her niche in these turf sprints for David Fawkes, who also will send out Courtly Lark in here; she is a solid prospect to grab a nice chunk of the purse.
Knox County Zip (Last 3 Beyers: 65-67-65)
◗ This City Zip filly has brought home a check after all seven of her starts this year and figures to do so yet again; she has settled into a routine of giving them a head start, then making decent headway down the lane.
Courtly Lark (Last 3 Beyers: 70-65-71)
◗ This turf-bred Florida-bred homebred finally got through her maiden condition last month and should continue proving a useful sort even as the spots get more demanding.