Involuntary could give Carroll first win of meet

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Like many trainers down here, Josie Carroll was packing Monday, preparing to ship the bulk of her horses to Woodbine, with a handful headed to Keeneland. Unlike a year ago, when she won five races at Gulfstream Park, Carroll won’t be sad to leave south Florida, where she has yet to win a race from 27 starters since the meet began Dec. 3.

There are still a few days remaining, and Carroll could be ready to break through Thursday, when she sends out Involuntary in a second-level optional $62,500 claiming race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Involuntary, a 4-year-old daughter of City Zip, will be making her first start for Carroll. Involuntary was purchased for $80,000 by Frank Stronach out of the Keeneland November sale. In 2016, Involuntary won 3 of 6 starts for her owner and breeder Catherine Wills and trainer Arnaud Delacour. Her only bad race was a last-place finish in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel last Sept. 24, her most recent start.

Before then, Involuntary had finished in the top three in all five of her starts – she was disqualified from third and placed fifth in the Penn Oaks. She won the Drumtop Stakes at Suffolk Downs and finished second to My Impression in the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park in July. My Impression has since won two more stakes.

Involuntary has nine recent breezes under her belt, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.20 over the Palm Meadows turf course March 19.

“She seems to do everything she’s supposed to do,” Carroll said Monday at Palm Meadows. “It looks like a nice spot off the layoff for her.”

Making it even nicer for Involuntary is that she looks like the lone speed under Javier Castellano.

“It does look like she’s a filly that will be close to the pace,” Carroll said.

Trainer Marty Wolfson sends out the uncoupled entry of Emyvale Court and Inside Out. Hidden Turn, a winner of an optional claimer here Feb. 23, is another contender.

KEY CONTENDERS

Involuntary, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-81

◗ Won her debut at 1 1/16 miles off workouts at Tampa when in the barn of Delacour.

DRF FORMULATOR Fact: Over the last two years, Carroll is 5 for 12 with a $4.75 ROI with horses making their first start for her after running for other trainers. She is 1 for 4 in such circumstances when a layoff of 180 days or longer is factored in.

Inside Out, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-94

◗ Came with a strong late run to be second behind the stakes horse Mississippi Delta in an optional $100,000 claimer here Feb. 24.

◗ Could be compromised by a seeming lack of pace in this spot.

Gotachancetodance, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-86

◗ Returns from a 140-day layoff for leading trainer Todd Pletcher.

◗ Has enough tactical speed to be close to an expected slow pace and get the jump on the closers.