Hurricane Bertie coming up light

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Only 12 fillies and mares were nominated to the highlight of the coming weekend at Gulfstream, the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie on Saturday – and easily the most accomplished on the roster, Frank’s Rockette, probably will bypass the $100,000 race to wait instead on the $250,000 Carousel on April 10 at Oaklawn Park, according to Riley Mott, assistant to his father, trainer Bill Mott.

In her absence, the likely favorites are Pacific Gale, Cory Gal, and Royal Meghan for the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie, which obviously is expected to get a short field. Pacific Gale, trained by John Kimmel, comes off a 16-1 upset of the Grade 2 Inside Information in her most recent start Jan. 23.

The $75,000 Silks Run, a five-furlong turf race for older horses, also will be run here Saturday.

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Meanwhile, Riley Mott said Candy Man Rocket has returned to Payson Park in good physical shape after finishing a distant 11th as the 8-5 favorite Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby. Mott noted the colt did not break particularly well and “basically threw in the towel” when the eventual runner-up, Hidden Stash, ranged up alongside him with about a half-mile to go in the 1 1/16-mile race.