Iffy turf a headache for handicappers

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - With a pick six carryover of nearly $138,000 up for grabs at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, handicappers will likely want to get an early jump and start poring over the past performances for the last six races on the card. But there could be one problem.

Heavy rain inundated south Florida on Sunday and Monday, leaving the status of turf racing on Wednesday up in the air. A decision likely won't be made until some time that morning, which poses a serious problem for pick six players since three of the last five races in the sequence are scheduled for the grass.

Should the first of the three turf races get switched to the main track, B. B.'s Concert might become a single. Entered for the main track only by trainer Manny Tortora, B. B.'s Concert is coming off a 1 3/4-length victory over a strong field of optional claiming rivals at Calder, earning a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

If the $50,000 claiming race goes as scheduled on turf, the potential for a hot pace should enhance the chances of Everything to Gain and Grand, who finished a neck apart under $35,000 claiming tags earlier in the meet.

The seventh and ninth races are split divisions of an entry-level allowance race carded for 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf.

The first division features a mix of turf and dirt horses. On grass, the English-bred La Neige, stakes-placed Rahystrada or improving Tillman's Legend appear the top contenders. Main track maiden winners Finallymadeit, Metzger, or Durango Light would become major players if the race is run on dirt.

La Neige held his own against listed and even Group 2 and Group 3 competition in his native England at 3 and appears to be working extremely well at Palm Meadows for his U.S. debut.

Rahystrada made all three starts on turf at 2, improving with each succeeding outing, culminating with a third-place finish in the Grand Canyon Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Tillman's Legend won his maiden on dirt but turned in a career-best 83 Beyer when finishing an even fifth coming off a 4 1/2-month layoff on Jan. 26.

The finale may be the most difficult race to assess, especially if it comes off the grass. Only two members of the field, the recently claimed Truer Than True and Hello Prospector, have won on dirt, with Hello Prospector's main-track triumph coming three years ago in his native Brazil.