Liza Star gunning for five in a row

Ron Paolucci will be running half of his Gulfstream Park stable on Friday when Liza Star chases after her fifth straight win in the fourth race. Paolucci will soon be expanding his presence in Florida.

“Real quick, real fast,” he said Wednesday.

Paolucci is sending six horses to trainer Peter Walder within the week and plans to have 25 to 30 in place for Gulfstream Park’s championship meet. Those horses will be split between Walder and trainer Bob Hess Jr., and the group will include Heavenhasmynikki, winner of the Grade 3 Vagrancy last out at Belmont Park, and Justleavitalone, a 2-year-old filly by Creative Cause who was stakes-placed in her career debut in July at Woodbine.

Liza Star is based at Gulfstream with the Paolucci-owned stakes winner Storm Advisory. She’s been unbeatable over the past several months and should go favored Friday in an optional $10,000 claiming race for fillies and mares. It will be run over 5 1/2 furlongs.

Liza Star started her streak May 18, winning a $6,250 claiming race over six furlongs at Gulfstream. Paolucci claimed the mare that afternoon, with the intent of sending her to Walder.

“I generally try to look at my trainer strengths, and Pete is a guy who does good with horses who show speed,” Paolucci said. “This filly had a few races where she showed speed and so I called him.”

In he first start for her new connections, Liza Star won for a $12,500 claiming price June 23 at Gulfstream. She proceeded to win an optional $12,500 claimer for Florida-bred fillies and mares on July 21 and an optional $16,000 claiming race over open company in her most recent start Aug. 17, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

“We’re not really sure how good she’ll be,” Paolucci said. “Her numbers have improved dramatically.”

Paolucci said Liza Star also seems to be continually improving in her training.

“If she were to win this race, we’ll give her a shot against some good horses,” he said. “We almost ran in the Florida-bred stakes last time, but that race drew Stormy Embrace and it was coming back quick. If she wins, she’ll get a little test.”

Liza Star is a 5-year-old mare by Cool Coal Man. She could show the way from post 4 on Friday, or she could track Nikki Bella and Lil B Quick. Miguel Vasquez has the mount for Walder.

Gulfstream has two other optional-claiming races on the card. In the second race, Durlyn goes for her fourth straight win. The optional $10,000 claimer for fillies and mares will be run at a mile. The seventh race is an optional $12,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Florida. The six-furlong sprint is led by Awesome Action and Spectre Bond, who won his debut with a Beyer of 100 back in 2017 at Belmont Park.