Knarsdale reboots career in turf sprint
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jonathan Thomas can’t really account for why Knarsdale tailed off in 2017, the only year the now 5-year-old mare has ever raced. But he can attest to the way she has trained in recent months, and that might be good enough for some Gulfstream Park fans to back her Thursday.
“She’s an interesting filly,” Thomas said.
Knarsdale is one of nine fillies and mares in the 10th of 11 races, a $51,000 first-level allowance at five furlongs on the turf. She’ll be one of the logical favorites, despite making her first start in 17 months following a lengthy regrouping at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., where Thomas makes his primary base, and, more recently, here at Gulfstream, where Thomas has a dozen or so additional head.
Knarsdale’s only victory came going wire to wire at Aqueduct in her debut. In her last race – her only start on turf – she finished last of 11 in a Belmont allowance sprint.
“But she has been training forwardly,” Thomas said.
Javier Castellano has the call on Knarsdale, who will break from post 3 in a competitive dash that also includes Conquest Tizfire, Little Dipper, Jimi Bags, and Swayed as logical contenders.
First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with a $44,000 allowance (race 5) restricted to Florida-breds being the only other Thursday race that’s not for maidens or claimers. The feature is part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence that spans races 6-11.
KEY CONTENDERS
Knarsdale, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 36-47-67
◗ After her successful debut in April 2017, she was third and fourth in back-to-back dirt sprints before running last in her final two attempts. She was trained by Jimmy Jerkens for those races.
Conquest Tizfire, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 76-78-73
◗ Blinkers go on the 6-year-old mare, who has compiled six runner-up finishes alongside her lone victory. She most recently was fifth in a blanket finish in a similar spot here Feb. 1.
Little Dipper, by Eskendereya
Last 3 Beyers: 66-72-64
◗ This Kelly Breen trainee also took part in the Feb. 1 race in which Conquest Tizfire competed, setting a swift pace after being sent from the rail and fading to seventh.
Jimi Bags, by Jimmy Creed
Last 3 Beyers: 47-79-69
◗ She made her first two starts for trainer Jason Servis and her last two for Dermot Magner.
◗ She finished second and then 10th for Magner in two-turn allowance races on the Gulfstream turf.
◗ The red-hot Irad Ortiz Jr. rides.