Interesting in good spot for first U.S. win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s been 18 months since Interesting last visited the winner’s circle, but that drought should finally end early Sunday afternoon at Gulfstream Park when the lightly raced Irish-bred filly takes on six rivals in the $51,750 allowance feature at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. The race is one of eight on Sunday’s program, all for fillies and mares.

Interesting, a daughter of Raven’s Pass, launched her career in Europe, winning two of her first three starts during the summer of 2012. She also was second later at 2 in the Group 3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly.

Interesting was sent to the United States to join Tom Albertrani’s barn during the latter half of her 3-year-old campaign. She has finished off the board in her only two North America appearances but did show improvement when racing on Lasix for the first time in her most recent start.

Interesting set a contested pace along with English Class while making her 2014 debut Feb. 8, the latter flattering the effort when returning to win a similarly conditioned optional-claiming race with a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in her next start. Interesting eventually weakened from her effort, finishing 3 3/4 lengths behind race winner Kitten’s Point.

Ceci N Red finished six lengths in front of Interesting when the pair met going a mile in December and looms the one to beat off a game third-place effort against midlevel starter-allowance opposition March 19. Ceci N Red, a three-time winner in 2013, seeks her first victory since defeating lower-level optional-claiming opposition Oct. 5 at Parx.

Other key contenders in the main event, which goes as the second race on the card, include Kipling’s Joy and Ready’s Legend.

Kipling’s Joy returns to turf for the first time since defeating softer optional-claiming company going 7 1/2 furlongs here Jan. 25. The outing came in the filly’s first start since joining trainer Marty Wolfson’s barn at the end of her 3-year-old campaign.

Ready’s Legend, the only 3-year-old in the field, returns to allowance company after finishing ninth in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs, making her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher.