Kinsley on the improve for Friday feature
Kinsley has improved substantially in her last two races, and if she keeps moving in a positive direction, she will be tough to handle in a $16,000 optional claimer that will serve as the featured race Friday at Gulfstream Park West. The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on a 10-race card that starts earlier than usual at 12:20 p.m. Eastern.
Kinsley has been slow to develop for trainer Todd Pletcher. She did show some promise when she finished fourth in her debut at Saratoga as a 2-year-old last year. However, in her second start, she finished a distant seventh as the favorite in a one-mile maiden special weight race at Belmont.
Making her first start as a sophomore, Kinsley never got involved while running over a yielding turf course at Belmont on June 17. The lights came on in her next start, though, when she romped by 10 lengths in a maiden special weight race at Monmouth on July 18. Returning two months later, she seemed to be floundering while running over a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park before closing with a rush to finish second in a one-mile, $16,000 optional-claiming race.
Kinsley forced an honest pace in her blowout win at Monmouth, but with other speed in the field, Edgard Zayas probably will let her settle into a stalking position after she breaks from post 3.
Garden Princess will try to make amends after finishing third as the favorite in the same race that Kinsley exits.
Making her first start for trainer Ralph Nicks following a two-month layoff, Garden Princess chased a fast pace before tiring in the stretch. She is eligible to improve with a race behind her.
KEY CONTENDERS
Kinsley (Last 3 Beyers: 75-70-61)
◗ She won for fun the only time she went around two turns and could be sitting on a big effort in her second start back.
Garden Princess (Last 3 Beyers: 65-24-50)
◗ Following double-digit-length losses at Belmont, she ran a much-improved race in her first start for Nicks and should make good use of her speed from the inside post.
Lots of Chocolate (Last 3 Beyers: 56-58-68)
◗ Trained by Joseph Hennessy, she won a maiden special weight race going six furlongs at Gulfstream on Sept. 19.
◗ As a full sister to Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Dialed In, she could thrive in her first try going around two turns.