Lismore set for 3-year-old debut in Monday feature

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Some of her opponents have comparable Beyer Speed Figures and an edge in experience, but there seems little doubt that a gray filly named Lismore will be a clear-cut favorite Monday in the nominal feature at Gulfstream Park.

After winning a Nov. 9 maiden race on the Aqueduct turf in her second career start, Lismore rallied to be second behind Consumer Credit in a Nov. 29 stakes race at Gulfstream Park West in her only subsequent outing. That latest effort now stands out even more among the 3-year-old fillies in the seventh of 10 Monday races since Consumer Credit proceeded to capture the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant as the favorite here Jan. 24 in her next start.

Purchased last March by Shamrock Farm for $140,000, Lismore will be making her first start in the allowance ranks when breaking from post 9 under Luis Saez in a $48,000, first-level race scheduled for a mile on turf. Since her latest at Gulfstream Park West, Lismore has been sent through three recorded workouts by trainer George Weaver at Palm Beach Downs.

First post for the Presidents Day card is 1 p.m. Eastern, with two starter allowances directly following the feature as races 8 and 9.

After Monday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days until live racing resumes Thursday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lismore (Last 3 Beyers: 74-67-64)

* Tiznow filly has done very little wrong in her nascent career and already has developed a useful stalking style that should serve her well in this spot.

* Weaver, a former assistant to Todd Pletcher, had his most productive season since going out on his own in 2002 when his stable earned almost $2.7 million last year.

Tap It Out (Last 3 Beyers: 73-42-65)

* Finished ahead of 12 rivals when getting a savvy ride from Gabriel Saez in a Jan. 15 maiden race at a slightly shorter distance and now draws favorably on the hedge for trainer Alan Goldberg, who shows above-average numbers in the categories that apply here.

Walking the Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: N/A-63-62)

* Ramsey homebred will be forgiven by many fans for bolting in the Nov. 29 stakes race won by Consumer Credit while being given a solid chance to rebound when also well drawn toward the inside. The triumvirate of the Ramseys, Mike Maker, and Julien Leparoux is always a threat.

Miss Margaret (Last 3 Beyers: 70-68-72)

* Gray Florida-bred has been very consistent if not terribly effective while amassing almost $70,000 in earnings and remaining eligible for this condition. She always seems to give a forward effort.

Flying Tipat (Last 3 Beyers: 61-62-58)

* Beyers don’t say a lot for her, but improvement from ages 2 to 3 is not uncommon and would make her a player in her first start in more than four months.