Impressive Edge, Alex Again meet in Sunday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Another baker’s dozen is on tap Sunday at Gulfstream Park, where track officials are doing their part to satiate racing fans’ hunger for action. Only so much as one open allowance is part of a 13-race card that begins at noon Eastern, and it comes well before some patrons will have settled into their comfort zone, assuming they’ve been able to enjoy a laid-back Sunday morning like most normal Americans.

That nominal feature is carded as race 3, a $48,000, first-level, seven-furlong race that drew a field of six 3-year-olds whose accomplishments did not warrant their participation on the huge Fountain of Youth card that was being run here Saturday. Impressive Edge and Alex Again, both from reputable stables, drew on opposite ends of the starting gate as likely favorites.

Impressive Edge, trained by Dale Romans, exits a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes, which was won by Favorable Outcome over Three Rules. He’ll break from post 1 under Corey Lanerie.

“He was in a little deep last out, but we wanted to see where we stood with him,” said Romans. “Obviously, this condition ought to suit him better.”

Alex Again, trained by John Servis, adds blinkers after finishing a distant fourth to the Todd Pletcher-trained Malagacy at this level last month. He’ll have Nik Juarez aboard when breaking from post 6.

The balance of the compact lineup consists of Awee’s Dude, Mai Ty One On, Do Yahwanna Salsa, and It’s a Dude.

As early as it is, the feature is not included in the daily Rainbow 6, which runs Sunday from races 8-13. A Florida-bred allowance (race 9) and a starter optional claimer (race 11) are part of the Rainbow 6, which had a $109,732 rollover jackpot after Thursday’s action.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before a five-day race week begins Wednesday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Impressive Edge, by Harlan’s Holiday
Last 3 Beyers: 74-73-54

◗ Purchased nearly a year ago for $400,000, this colt was highly regarded but disappointing in two starts at 2 before being transferred to Romans, who sent him out to a stylish maiden win here Jan. 15 prior to the Swale.

Alex Again, by Afleet Alex
Last 3 Beyers: 63-71-50

◗ A couple of solid efforts at Servis’s main year-round base of Parx Racing earned him a trip south for the Cash Is King partnership, best known for its exploits with this colt’s sire.

Mai Ty One On, by Put It Back
Last 2 Beyers: 70-73

◗ After winning his December debut for Jane Cibelli, he too ran into a Pletcher buzz saw in his latest when finishing fourth in a Jan. 26 allowance to One Liner, the eventual Southwest Stakes winner.