Liberally seeks confidence boost in optional claimer at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Tom Albertrani said he’s dropping Liberally out of the Grade 3 La Prevoyante, hoping to get a confidence-boosting victory for his mare in Friday’s $55,000 optional claiming feature at Gulfstream Park.

He’s not alone.

Joining Liberally in Friday’s 1 3/8-mile main event on the turf are Tarrip and Bodua, both of whom also ran in the La Prevoyante and are trying to get back on the winning track following extended losing streaks.

Liberally has not won a race since shipping to the United States from Europe last winter. She is multiple stakes placed, with a r é sum é that includes a third-place finish last March in the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs. She was fourth in the La Prevoyante, after being forced to steady briefly on the opening turn.

“I don’t think the trouble in the La Prevoyante cost her a placing,” Albertrani said. “She just appears to be a notch below winning a graded stakes race. She seems to run the same race every time, she’s a one-paced horse but she is a grinder and will go long, so that should be to her advantage in this spot. Hopefully, we can get her a win to boost her confidence and then maybe we’ll bring her back in the Orchid like we did last year. If not, she may even be retired.”

Tarrip finished third, more than four lengths in front of Liberally, to kick off her 2011 campaign in the La Prevoyante. She also finished third after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap to close out her 2010 season seven weeks earlier.

In fact, Tarrip, a homebred trained by Christophe Clement for Castleton Lyons, has finished third in five of her six starts since registering her last victory, which came over the Polytrack at Keeneland on April 14.

Bodua is winless since she captured a restricted overnight stakes at Woodbine during fall 2009, a streak of nine straight races without a victory that culminated with a poor eighth-place showing in the La Prevoyante.

Codetta is the only member of Friday’s field coming into the race off a victory, having rallied to a neck decision going 1 1/8 miles under first-level allowance conditions at Keeneland on Oct. 30. She wore down pacesetter Huxley Winner in late stretch, despite jockey Jesus Castanon’s saddle slipping early in the race.

Lady S, Doe Run, Riviera Chic, Pearly Blue, and Distorted Promise complete the lineup.